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One of the most
vibrant places to visit in Campbell River is the historic Pier Street area. Located along the
downtown waterfront of Discovery Passage, it offers a fun, hustle bustle atmosphere, especially in summer months. Pier Street,
which extends from the Museum at Campbell River to the tip of Ostler Park, is the birthplace of the town of Campbell
River. It includes such historical locations as the third Willows
Hotel, built in 1901 by Frederick and Charles Thulin (now the site of the Bargain Shop), the former Courthouse, Police Station
and Jail (later became Pier House B&B), and the Iaci Block (now the Foreshore Building). The first commercial wharf in
Campbell River was located along Pier Street, and Union Steamships stopped there to load and unload freight and passengers. The first barbershop,
the first general store, and the first café were also located along this stretch.
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| First Wharf and General Store |
The
Pier Street Farmers Market is held every Sunday from mid of April through October (Thanksgiving) in front of the Maritime Heritage Centre. The market
started in 2002 as an initiative of the Pier Street Association in the hopes that it would invite people to the area. That
it did. The market quickly became a popular community affair; special event weekends often attract more than 4,000 visitors!
It is not only the wide variety of homemade wares, arts and crafts, and fresh produce that bring the crowds, but also the
enticing atmosphere, hot food and live music.
Text courtesy of "Off the Beaten Path - Discovering the
Campbell River Area". Book is available at The Framing Post.
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| Pier Street was nominated for a Chamber Award of Excellence |
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| Pier Street - Discovery Pier and Harbour Precinct |
For several years members of the Pier Street Association have been working to improve the appearance of Pier Street, and their efforts have paid off. It is lovely to wander along the street on a warm, breezy day, enjoying the charming
ambiance that marine murals, chainsaw carvings, flower barrels, and carefully placed bundles of driftwood pilings bring. There
are plenty of interesting shops to browse through, and lots of places to stop and wet your whistle. Many community events
are held in Ostler Park, or in other locations along Pier Street, so don’t miss out on festival days, when the area is packed with cheerful locals and delighted
visitors. A lot of attractive murals can be viewed along Pier
Street.
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| Pier Street Farmers Market |
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| Farmer at the Market |
Following
its motto “Celebrating our roots as we grow our future”, the Pier Street Association showcases the history of
Campbell River on location in creating a “Historic
Mile”. Campbell
River’s history is made visible on more than 20 information
panels, each containing a historical photo and a brief chronicle of the pictured area. These panels are located in the area
surrounding the birthplace of Campbell River.
This “Historic Mile” for citizens and visitors
alike stretches from the Museum at Campbell River to the Robert Ostler Park. Visitors get a handout for a self-guided tour
which describes the historical trail and area in the Museum, Visitor Centre, in hotels and Pier Street stores and restaurants,
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