The #1 Outdoor Adventure Show in North Vancouver Island

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - More than 2,600 people went to the North Island Outdoor Adventure Show last year.  
 “Most of them were from Courtney and Campbell River. A good portion from Parksville, Nanaimo and then it got pretty slim, but Quadra, Gold River, Victoria, Qualicum. There was one that really  blew my mind: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia,” explained Joel Wheeldon, Program Coordinator with the Strathcona Regional District.  Google ‘what is the #1 outdoor recreation show in North Vancouver Island,” and the first result will most likely be the North Island Outdoor Adventure Show. It is held in the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex, in Campbell River, a function of the Strathcona Regional District. This year it will be held on the weekend of April 20 & 21. Admission is FREE! The show is open 9:30 am – 5 pm on Saturday  and 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday. 
 The sponsors are Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours, Qaya Way West Transportation, All-in One-Party Shop, and 97.3 FM the Eagle. Cortes Currents: What are you trying to accomplish through this event?  Joel Wheeldon: “The vision is to provide a community event that showcases all the great  outdoor activities that North Vancouver Island has to offer, also  giving a chance for the outdoor adventure companies an opportunity to promote and sell all their great products all in one place. There's a lot of stuff that some locals and even tourists probably don't know that we offer here.” 
 Cortes Currents: What kind of things are you showcasing that people don't already know about?   
 Joel Wheeldon: “We’re trying to showcase anything from boating, fishing, hunting, camping, recreational vehicles, paddle sports, mountain biking, adventure tours.   We've got a couple of vendors that are doing outdoor and marine education courses, some photography stuff, survival gear. I'm probably missing a few, but that's the gist of it.”