Comoxis a townlocated on the southern coast of theComox Peninsulain theGeorgia Straiton the eastern coast of Vancouver Island,British Columbia. The warm dry summers, mild winters, fertile soil and abundant sea life attracted First Nations thousands of years ago, who called the areakw’umuxws(Kwak'wala, the adopted language of theK'omoks, for plentiful). When the area was opened for settlement in the mid-19th century, it quickly attracted farmers, a lumber industry and a fishing industry. For over fifty years, the village remained isolated from the outside world other than by ship until roads and a railway were built into the area during theFirst World War. The installation of an air force base near the village during theSecond World Warbrought new prosperity to the area, and in recent years, Comox has become a popular tourist attraction due to its good fishing, local wildlife, year-round golf and proximity to theMount Washington ski area, theForbidden Plateau, andStrathcona Provincial Park. The town is also home to aRoyal Canadian Air ForcebaseCFB Comox, an airport for both military and commercial airline use and the HMCSQuadraSea Cadet training facility. The mild climate has attracted many retirees to the area in the 21st century, resulting in a high rate of growth and a sharp increase in the median age of residents.
Together with the City of Courtenay and the Village of Cumberland, Comox lies in an area known as ''The Comox Valley'' situated between the Beaufort Range and Comox Glacier in the west, and the Strait of Georgia in the East. The nearbyComox Glacieris visible from many parts of the town and is the area's signature landmark.
