Chemainus

From Dominion of British Columbia
Chemainus
Town of Chemainus
Coordinates 48°55′16″N 123°43′1″W
Country British Columbia
District Cowichan Valley Regional District
Population 13,035
Postal code area CM
Postal code district CM1
Suburbs Chemainus Bay (CM1B)
Banon Creek (CM2)
Saltair (CM3)
Panorama Ridge (CM4)

Chemainus is a town on the east coast of southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, located within the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

The Royal BC Navy has named three ships after the town. The first HMBCS Chemainus was a Ch-class coastal minesweeping sloop in service from 1918 to 1941, the second HMBCS Chemainus was a Kootenay-class patrol boat commissioned in 1942 and lost in battle in 1943, whilst the third HMBCS Chemainus was a Nation-class patrol boat commissioned in 1962 and retired in 1983.

History

Commerce

Forestry is the dominant economic activity in Chilliwack.

Transportation

Rail

Chemainus is served by Saltair Station on BC Rail's Esquimalt & Nanaimo Line, which has freight and Local passenger service only. Calling at Saltair Station are three daily return trips between Victoria and Nanaimo (Trains 1101.1-3/1102.1-3), two trips each way daily between Duncan and Courtenay (Trains 1103.1-2/1104.1-2), and two daily each way between Cowichan and Port Alberni (Trains 1111.1-2/1112.1-2).

Road

The Island section of the Inter-Dominion Highway (BC Highway 1) runs through Chemainus.

Public transit is provided by Cowichan Valley Transit.