Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the peaks of Vancouver Island’s interior ranges, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is one of British Columbia’s most sought-after places to call home. Comprising three diverse municipalities, the regional district has a rich history shaped by Indigenous heritage, resource industries, and a tight-knit coastal culture that has long attracted people looking for a different pace of life. These days, the district’s reputation is no longer a well-kept secret. The valley is growing fast, and the CVRD’s board of directors is working to ensure that growth is matched by the infrastructure needed to sustain it. From transportation to recreation to emergency services, the board has been proactive in identifying the facilities and services a growing community requires and investing in them. Two current fire hall construction projects – one in Union Bay and one on Mount Washington – are prime examples of that commitment in action. At the centre of both projects is Bruce Green, the CVRD’s regional rural fire chief and a man who has spent his entire career working to keep the communities of the Comox Valley safe. Bruce grew up in the valley, raised his family there, and has provided more than 30 years of service to its fire departments. He became deputy chief in 2007, took on the full-time role of fire chief in 2015, and in 2022 stepped into the position of regional rural fire chief, overseeing departments on Hornby Island, Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Denman Island, Merville, Mount Washington, and Oyster River. He has shepherded both fire hall projects from conception – and his investment in the region is as personal as it is professional, as he’s lived there all almost all his life and has never wanted to leave. AUGUST 2026
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