Our Community

 
Parksville is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island overlooking the Strait of Georgia, 37 km north of Nanaimo.  Known originally as Englishman’s River after the nearby river, it was named in 1890 for the first postmaster, Nelson Parks.  Farm settlement began in the 1870s and it was a regular stop on the wagon road from Nanaimo to Port Alberni after it opened in 1886.  Population grew more rapidly with the arrival of the “Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway” in 1910.  The city, incorporated in 1945, has developed as a commercial center for logging and agriculture and as a popular summer recreation spot, known for its sport fishing and its long stretches of sandy beach.  The population grew rapidly during the 1990s, a trend that was expected to continue.  Tourism facilities line the highway between Parksville and Qualicum Beach.  Parksville has also become a bedroom community for commuters to Nanaimo and attracts a large number of retirees.  There are numerous recreation areas and provincial parks in the vicinity.

  
Our School

 
The school has more than 350 students in attendance in Grades 6 to 8, including French Immersion classes. The school was opened in September of 1996, o­ne of three middle schools in School District No. 69.  It is located adjacent to Springwood Park, a District 69 recreational facility that includes baseball diamonds, batting cages, soccer fields, a rugby pitch and tennis courts.