Qualicum Beach - Out and About

My brother told me that the locals call Qualicum Beach, Q Beach so I will too. We'll be here for over six weeks, so we're not residents but we do feel more like locals than strangers. Q Beach has a population of between 8000 and 9000 and is reputed to have the oldest average age (around 61) of any place in Canada.

Historically the Salish people had inhabited the Qualicum Beach area for hundreds of years. The word Qualicum means "Where the Dog (chubb) Salmon Run" in the Pentlach language. It is considered within the traditional territory of the Qualicum First Nation.

In 1886 a road reached Parksville and was extended to Qualicum in 1894 and the arrival of rail service in 1914 boosted the tourist trade.
BuenaVista by the Sea, the place we are staying, is one of the oldest still-operating resorts was built in 1937.

I'm not sure if we fit in but we have been out and about almost every day doing what we usually do – tour around and find sights that interest us. It is definitely different from the desert!! 

Everywhere you look there is special manicured garden spots and invitations to beautify.

Downtown is filled with specialty shops of all sizes and descriptions and coffee shops in almost every nook and cranny.

The aisles in the local grocery store are extra wide to accommodate the numerous walkers and over at the hardware store, they have a special place for customers to park their scooters. 

 

As with most smaller communities, Q Beach has its Farmers Market filled with home-style type products. 

 

 

I was so tickled when we discovered the Salvation Army Thrift Store Boutique. 

Doesn't that say it all - a trendy senior community!