Explore The Comox Valley Collective Magazines
The Comox Valley Collective is our inaugural magazine and is created and published by ROAM Media Inc. Launched in the winter of 2014, it is a quarterly publication focused on the Comox Valley region that releases on every solstice and equinox (mid March, June, September, and December).
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
The economic boom of the early 20th century brought more than coal to the surface. This is the tight-lipped history of the Comox Valley sex trade.
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IN THE FIELD
HIDDEN RICHES
Long before it became a popular tourist destination, two adventurers stumbled upon the unexpected while exploring the Upana Caves.
Words & Painting
ON A WING AND A PRAYER
The misunderstood sport of speed flying requires practiced skill and careful calibration. It can also take a leap of faith.
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BREAKING THE SURFACE
Vol. 20 Intro by
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IN SEARCH OF THE SIMPLE LIFE
Through an ever-changing landscape, a visual artist finds direction with a four-month road trip in a customized Chevy school bus.
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CURIOUS CREATURES
Catch-and-release aquariums provide a unique learning experience, sparking deep appreciation for the natural world.
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FRIENDLY COMPETITION
As well as a destination trail race, The Cumby is a fundraiser to protect the forest it winds through.
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LITTLE VALLEY: JUSTIN YARETZ
Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in.
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FEATURED ARTIST: ALEX MAERTZ
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: PAIGE OWEN
SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION
In partnership with School District 71, skilled timber framers are teaching their craft to Comox Valley youth.
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IN HER ELEMENT
Through the push and pull of turbulence and peace, strength and submission, a surfer awakens.
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PROTECTING THE BALANCE
Roughly one-sixth of Denman Island residents are a member of the Association for Denman Island Marine Stewards, an organization doing work on the ground for the sake of surrounding waters.
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THE RETURN OF GIANTS
Following a decline due to the West Coast’s whaling history, the humpback population around Vancouver Island is making a massive comeback.
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CRUMBLING CANNERIES
The profits from a thriving fishing industry dried up, and businesses moved on. Some of the sites left behind are in hazardous decay, polluting our oceans and tarnishing BC’s coast.
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AQUA MAN
The original underwater superhero swims the waters of the Pacific Northwest.
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CURRENT DEMAND
The nutrient-rich waters of Baynes Sound provide the ideal conditions for oyster harvesting, drawing workers to the Valley’s steady industry.
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CRUCIAL AND COMPASSIONATE CARE
The Vancouver Island Hospice Society provides assistance for people with terminal illnesses and the families that surround them. One woman takes to the bike to provide support in return.
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CONTINENTAL DRIFT
During a kayaking trip to Ecuador, a local photographer’s interests converge with like-minded North American adventurers.
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A LIFE THAT BENEFITS OTHERS
Now a permanent resident of the Valley, A Tibetan Buddhist Monk has turned hardship into a teaching legacy.
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THE WATERS WITHIN
Reflecting our past through a lens of sustainability to voice our hope for the future.
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ABANDON SHIP
Orphaned by their owners, a number of derelict boats litter the shores of Comox harbour. Due to murky jurisdiction and a lack of accountability, they’ll remain indefinitely.
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IN THE FIELD
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UNLIKELY SHIPMATES
A coast dweller and her dog navigate life's currents aboard a small sailboat.
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HOME BASE
The history of CFB Comox tells of the West Coast’s strategic landscape and Canada’s defence strategies dating back to 1942.
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PLAYING THE LONG GAME
A lot of change comes with the passing of multiple decades, but a committed gathering of floor hockey players shows that some good things stay the same.
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BEARING WITNESS
Just across the Salish Sea, only 70 kilometres from Campbell River as the crow flies, the Xwémalkwu (Homalco) people share the land with dozens of grizzly bears—and awe-struck visitors.
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LITTLE VALLEY: CADENCE HERRON
Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in.
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FEATURED ARTIST: JENNIFER EATON
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: SHERYL HANULA
GROUND RULES
In a rapidly growing community, development sprawl and the preservation of common space is a tense subject. Despite new demands and changing ownership, our old habits are hard to break.
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WHAT TIME LEAVES BEHIND
The Trent River’s unique ecology has made its banks host to many exciting fossil discoveries, by palaeontologists and casual visitors alike.
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WINTER FUN FOR EVERYONE
Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports strives to make the joy of skiing and snowboarding accessible to all.
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SMOOTH MOVES
Through hard work and distinct vision, a network of local trail builders are carving out the future of mountain biking in Cumberland.
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A CUSHY ARRANGEMENT
Life on the back eddy of a ski attracts a revolving cast of characters.
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A CHILLING TURN
For a pair of spirited river surfers, a surge of excitement for ideal conditions quickly turns dangerous.
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IN THE FIELD
Words & Photos
WHAT MOVES US
The rivers of the Comox Valley have the power to carry us home.
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LONG MAY YOU RUN
Dancing In Gumboots is an intimate portrait of a bygone era on the coast, telling the tales of bold and inventive women arriving to the Valley in the '60s and '70s.
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Photos courtesy of