Geography, Climate & History
The City of Parksville is situated in a protected bay on the east coast of Vancouver Island and enjoys a mild, sunny climate due to the sea-level elevation and protected location. The predominantly wet Pacific weather systems of the west coast release their moisture as they cross the Vancouver Island mountains, resulting in a much drier climate on the east coast.
The mild climate and low rainfall has been instrumental in attracting large numbers of retirees from across Canada to the area. Although Parksville enjoys a four season climate, it is not unusual to see golfers on the course in January while skiers enjoy the deep powder of nearby mountains and boaters are out enjoying the ocean.
- Annual Rainfall: 37 inches or 95c annually
- Average July Temperature: 23.5*C
- Average January Temperature: 4.7 C
- Growing Season: April to October
- Annual Sunshine: 2,047 hours
- Average water temperature of ocean: 21 C
Ferry service to Vancouver Island is available at Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, WA and Port Angeles, WA. On Vancouver Island the major ferry terminals are located at Nanaimo, B.C. and Victoria, B.C. The diverse climate and geography of the island has created a magnificent backdrop for the many facilities offering fishing, boating, cycling, skiing, kayaking, whale watching, site seeing and beachcombing.
Vancouver Island's southeastern coast has been inhabited by the Coast Salish First Nations people for thousands of years. The Coast Salish had villages and settlements extending from Victoria to Campbell River when Captain George Vancouver explored the areas coast in 1792.
In 1945 Parksville was incorporated as a village, becoming a town in 1978. By 1981, the population exceeded 5,000 persons and Parksville officially became a City. In the mid 1990's Parksville reached an unprecedented growth rate that consistently exceeded 5% per year. The present population is just over 12,000 persons.