Our Mission    Directors and Staff List

Comox Valley Exhibition Association Fall Fair has served the community almost continuously since 1873!

We have not found any old records telling us who were the prize winners at that first fall fair event but the names of the streets of Courtenay and Comox reflect the names of the original members of the agricultural society who organized it. CLIFFE, WILLEMAR, PIDCOCK, DUNCAN, ROBB, ANDERTON.

The original 1873 fall fair grounds and agricultural hall were on the Adam McKelvey property that was located somewhere above the pioneer church on Mission Hill. In 1893 property was leased and eventually purchased from Wm. Lewis in the area, which now incorporates Lewis Park. Lewis Centre was built a few years ago to replace the Courtenay Recreation Association Hall that was in fact the old Agricultural Hall. This building had also been home to the Farmers Institute, the Courtenay Women's Institute, the District Agriculturist and the Veterinarian. In 1928 the property and buildings were leased to the City of Courtenay for 99 years.

In 1957 the present exhibition grounds were purchased from the Crown, as the Lewis Park property was no longer large enough to accommodate the needs of the fair. These grounds were officially opened in 1958 and named Centennial Park.

During the 1960s the Fall Fair, which has always been organized by volunteers, began to experience increasingly more difficulty attracting volunteers and staying financially viable. The Board of Directors did not feel that they could continue any longer and in 1972 the agricultural society disbanded and Centennial Park was sold to the Regional District. The Regional District assumed the debt of over $70,00.00, which had been acquired from the construction of the Curling Club.

There was not an agricultural Fall Fair for the next eight years.

In 1980 a group of 4H leaders put up $50.00 each as seed money to organize an agricultural Fall Fair; the Comox Valley people had missed their Fair and were enthusiastic in their support. This event was the rebirth of the present Fall Fair which is held annually on the third weekend in August. The fair grows in diversity every year in an effort to keep it interesting and informative. Now over 14,000 people come to the Comox Valley Fall Fair every year. Come and have some family fun!

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Community Involvement

The Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair Association has always teamed up with other community organizations to help with education and awareness.

The Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair Association, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, consists of volunteers who work year round for no gain other than the personal satisfaction of staging the Comox Valley Fall Fair. We appreciate your assistance in making the Fall Fair a success. We invite everyone interested in the exhibition’s continuing success to contact the exhibition office at 250-338-8177, for information on how you can volunteer and make a difference in your community.

The Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair Association support the community by through hiring non-profit organizations to help at the fair and by donating the use of equipment to non-profit organizations. Some of the organizations we have contributed to are:

* Courtenay Volunteer Fire Department    * Comox Valley Ground Search & Rescue

* Courtenay Paramedic Bike Squad    * Comox Valley SPCA   

* Santas Workshop    * Courtenay Fish & Game Association

Our Mission

The Comox Valley Fall Fair will educate and entertain the public about the diversity of Comox Valley Agriculture with environmental awareness.