— Lake Park Society
On the shores of Comox Lake sits Cumberland Lake Park. Nestled on 24 hectares at the eastern end of the lake, it has provided people with an escape from urban life since 1945, when it was established as a picnic and rest area by the Cumberland Kinsmen. The Village of Cumberland took over the park a few years later and received grants to develop campsites in 1974. Owned by the Village, the campground was operated by private contractors for many years.
Then, in the fall of 2014, the Village completed a long-term vision for the Park. Inspired by the goal to protect the area and offer a place for nature awareness and programming, five residents quickly formed the Cumberland Lake Wilderness Society (CLWS) and submitted a bid to manage Lake Park. They won the contract, beating out a proposal for an amusement water park and private contractors offering various corporate campground models.
Regenerative tourism model reinvests profits locally
Ever since, CLWS, now Lake Park Society (LPS), has been managing the park with an innovative approach to tourism that reinvests all profits back into the area. The concept is known as regenerative tourism.
Former CLWS board member Terry Cryer explains that the society has always been driven by the vision that “the care and management of this magical place be kept in the hands of the community.” As a non-profit social enterprise, LPS funnels all profits from the campground, equipment rentals, and programming back into the community.
Community impact through education and reconciliation
The reinvestment comes in the form of educational programs and community events, infrastructure and accessibility improvement, local employment and mentorship, and reconciliation in action—with one per cent of LPS’ annual revenue paid to local Indigenous organizations. In 2024, the society’s community impact also included $50,000 worth of dividends disbursed to the Village.
Cryer explains that when CLWS first started out, their “greatest hope and vision was to see nature-based programming and awareness at the park.” They’ve come a long way in a decade, and, as Cryer continues, “seeing how the park has evolved is a testament to community spirit and initiative, [and] recognizing the importance of wild spaces in our communities.”
Working from its desire to create an inclusive community for outdoor adventure and education, Lake Park Society stands tall as a model for how tourism can work as a powerful tool for community building, cultural reconciliation, and environmental stewardship. And in so doing, LPS is creating lasting, positive change for residents of and visitors to this special place.
For more information on the Park, please visit https://cumberlandlakepark.ca
A snapshot of Lake Park Society’s community impact
Education
- Offers outdoor education programs for students in Grades 1 and 3 across the district.
- Partners with Indigenous organizations to provide culturally relevant education.
Community Events
- Presents concert series, movie nights, kids’ programming, and community watershed tours.
- Runs an array of week-long summer camps for kids, tweens, and teens.
Local employment & mentorship
- Employs local high school students and young adults as summer camp leaders and campground crew.
Infrastructure & accessibility improvements
- Invested in development projects like a picnic shelter roof, nature play spaces, and revegetation projects.
- Determined to maintain affordability in paddlesport and campground access.
- Committed to physical accessibility initiatives supported by grants and partnerships.
Reconciliation in action
- Transfers one per cent of annual revenue to local Indigenous organizations.
- Aims to give meaningful substance to land acknowledgements.
