Official Community Plan

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COURTENAY TODAY

Culture is the representation of who we are. It speaks to our values from the past and present, our traditions, and our expressions. The living culture of the K’ómoks First Nation is the bedrock of the “Land of Plenty” – lands and waters rich in living heritage, which includes the area known today as Courtenay. K’ómoks First Nation’s oral history and archaeology reveal a rich and bountiful relationship between the K’ómoks and the Land of Plenty. The totems at the corner of Duncan Avenue and 6th Street offer a tangible example of this recognition of place and culture. More opportunities to honor this heritage continue to be explored by the City and numerous cultural partners.

Courtenay’s wider cultural ecosystem is rich and varied, estimated to be practiced and provided by the over 4,000 cultural workers in the region. 1 Local arts and culture assets include the tangible and intangible: special places, heritage buildings and streetscapes, festivals, ceremonies and celebrations, art installations, farmers markets, independent restaurants, and hands-on opportunities such as community development initiatives and arts programs. The City invests in arts, culture, and heritage through a number of community partners including the Comox Valley Art Gallery, the Courtenay and District Museum, the Sid Williams Civic Theatre, and the Comox Valley Community Arts Council. These cultural

1 Comox Valley Arts Council 2017 local inventorying

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan