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Union
Bay
Union Bay is located on Hwy 19A approximately 51 km (32 miles) north
of Qualicum Beach and 15 km (9.5
miles) south of Courtenay.
Salish
Sea
Union Bay is a small seaside community that is on the shores of
the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia) directly across from the north
tip of Denman Island.
The community fronts the old Island Highway, once the original highway
up to northern Vancouver Island before the new inland Hwy 19 was
built between 1996 and 2001.
Union
Coal Company
Union Bay served and operated as a bustling port by the Union Coal
Company between 1888 and 1960, delivering coal from the nearby mines
and colliers located at nearby Cumberland.
Houses and buildings rose above the ocean and wharf system required
by the Union Coal Company to export for the demand coming from San
Francisco and as a supply for the Royal Navy who were operating
off the coast.
Ocean
Frontage
Most of the dock system, pilings and railway yard that was part
of the coal era has all disappeared from the shore frontage along
Union Bay. Today there is very little heavy industry left and the
community has shifted towards sustainability in the aquaculture
sector, mainly harvesting oysters. Many residents make Union Bay
a retirement destination with the close proximity to nearby Comox
and Courtenay for medical assistance and shopping.
Union
Bay Post Office
One building you can't miss while travelling through Union Bay via
'Heritage Row' is the old post office. This heritage building that
was built in 1913, the Union Bay Post Office is only one of two
remaining wooden construction buildings in operation and still faithfully
serve the public and function as the main sorting depot for postal
delivery to nearby Fanny Bay, Denman
Island and Hornby Island.
Highwayman
Pub
If you happen to be hungry, there is a place to eat in Union Bay
at the Highwayman Pub located right on Island Hwy 19A. This licensed
premise serves oysters, clam chowder, fish & chips, various
burgers, cabbage rolls and offers a different selection of pizzas.
Union
Bay Museum
Other older buildings worth viewing include visiting the Union Bay
Museum situated next door to the post office. This quaint little
building enclosed in a picket fence awaits the visitor with the
scent of blooming flowers in the front-yard garden.
Information
on Union Bay
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