The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) proudly promotes healthy, active lifestyles by maintaining the Comox Valley Sports Centre, Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds. Each year, the facilities are home to multiple programs, services and events to serve the community’s recreation needs.

Follow along to learn more, ask questions or share your input about the Comox Valley recreation facilities, programming and plans. Welcome!

Friends and Freedom from Recreation Opportunities

Hilary Doucette, executive director of the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society, knows well the three “F”s of horses: Friends, forage and freedom. She also knows that for clients of the CVTRS, two of those “F’s” - friends and freedom - are critically important as well.

The CVTRS is in its 40^th year of providing access to horses and riding lessons for children and adults with disabilities. Each week, over 60 clients spen time caring for and riding these 1,000 lbs animals – an empowering experience that is extremely beneficial for them both physically and emotionally.

Riding a horse can simulate a body’s natural walking movements for someone who uses a walker or wheelchair, for example. Riding a horse can calm heartrates for people struggling with anxiety. Horses can be a first friend for those who struggle to make connections elsewhere.

“We think of our big worlds – but for someone with a disability their world can be very small,” said Doucette. Therapeutic riding can get those people physically active and into nature – sometimes one of their few opportunities to do so.

Doucette has been with the non-profit society since 2014 – drawn to the opportunity to work with the animals as a self-described ‘horse-person’ herself. She’s proud of the program, of the riders, and of the obvious stars of the show: the horses.

Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society calls the barn and some neighbouring fields of the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds’ home – and they’re thankful for the stability this gives their program.

“One of the things that shows a vibrant, healthy community is access to recreation – and we need to provide it to all of our community members,” said Doucette.

Investing in the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds supports programs like Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society – along with the many other uses of the facility like festivals, horse riding competitions and access to trails and the beautiful river.

The Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds, including the barn, trails and fields, are owned by the Comox Valley Regional District. Investing in recreation facilities to benefit the community has been identified as a priority of the CVRD Board. This article is one in a series celebrating recreation in the Comox Valley.

Curling Provides Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Mickey Colburn’s 55+ years of curling have taken her all over the country – but nothing beats the feeling of home (or a second home) like she has at Comox Valley Curling Centre.

The curling rink is where you can find the avid 69-year-old athlete up to five days a week – sometimes multiple times in a day. As a hub for recreation and social and community connection, the centre plays an important role in Mickey’s – and many others’ - physical and mental health.

“I love the sport. I love the competition. It’s continuous learning – and I love the social side,” said Colburn.

To Colburn, curling is the perfect sport. It has a wide range of entry points – in terms of physical capability, level of experience, and degree of competition. People at all levels can find a curling option that makes it possible for them to be active and build community.

The potential she sees in the sport is why she has encouraged it for so many people she knows – and why she’s been so steadfast in creating a successful Junior Learn to Curl program. The weekly program brought nearly 400 students into the Curling Centre this year, introducing them to a new opportunity to participate in sport.

“It’s a niche that they can find some success in and as soon as they have some success, they’re off.”

It may be a second home, but for Colburn the curling centre is a home with a wide-open door – creating opportunity for so many in the community.

“Come out and watch - and if you want to learn, there are tons of people there who will help you learn.”

The Comox Valley Curling Centre is owned by the Comox Valley Regional District, leased and operated by the Comox Valley Curling Club. This article is one in a series celebrating recreation in the Comox Valley.

Swimming for Exercise and Community

Judy Cowan always loved swimming as a child – and she knew when she retired, she’d want to spend more time in the water.

“You know, your muscles change and you need to get out and do something in retirement and so we tried the pool one day,” said Judy about she and her husband Steve. In the water, she met a 92-year-old swimmer named Patricia, who introduced her to others and made her feel welcome. More than 12 years later, Judy and Steve are still swimming seven days a week.

She didn’t realize what a lifeline that pool time would become – for her physical health, and her mental health.

Their exercise in the water has helped with health issues. Judy recovered from knee surgery with the pool and no longer takes arthritis medication. She’s 73 years old and moves well. But – the real draw is the community she gets to be a part of.

“That’s what continues to bring us to the pool – it’s not just the exercise, it’s the camaraderie.”

Regular swimmers get to know each other as they swim, and those friendships translate to dry land. During COVID, when the swimmers couldn’t get together in person, Judy kept many connected by sending a daily email with jokes, updates, birthday notes and more. She never stopped – and now has an email contact list of informal swimmers 150-names long.

Judy sees the benefit of investment in the Comox Valley Aquatic and Sports Centre pools for many of these ‘family members’ each day to get active and make friends along the way.

The Comox Valley Regional District owns and operates the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and Sports Centre. Investing in recreation facilities to benefit the community is a priority for the CVRD Board. This article is one in a series celebrating recreation.

AQUATIC CENTRE

The Comox Valley Aquatic Centre slides have received a complete refurbishment and are ready to slide! Roof work to be completed through the months of September/October.

SPORTS CENTRE

The Sports Centre updates include an exterior and parking lot painting completed, tile work within the pool completed, as well as a new dehumidifier is currently in progress.

ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD PROJECT

A new multi-sport artificial turf field is planned for G.P. Vanier Secondary School, measuring 8,790 m². This initiative, identified in the 2023 Sports Fields Strategy, aims to meet the growing recreational needs of the Comox Valley. The field will support various sports and include amenities like washrooms, player shelters, and lighting.

The project will start site construction in September 2025 and run through until December 2025, with the artificial turf and shock pad being laid in the spring of 2026.

The Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and the Comox Valley Sports Centre require yearly maintenance, so there will be a summer shutdown to give staff time to repair and maintain our Recreation facilities:

• The Sports Centre pool will close for annual maintenance in 2026. During this time, the Aquatic Centre will remain fully operational.
• The Aquatic Centre will close for annual maintenance in 2026. During this time, the Sports Centre pool will remain fully operational.

The dates once confirmed will be posted.