Groundbreaking ceremony held for new Union Bay Fire Hall

The Comox Valley Regional District is celebrating the start of construction for the new Union Bay Fire Hall.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the future fire hall site to mark the official start of construction.

The project carries a budget of $6.3 million, funded through the Canada Community Building Fund, B.C.’s Growing Communities Fund, and more than $2.7 million in long-term borrowing. Funding breakdown:

• $2.3 million — Canada Community Building Fund
• $1.7 million — Area A
• $200,000 — Area B
• $400,000 — Area C
• $1.195 million — Growing Communities Fund
• $50,000 — Reserves
• $2.755 million — Long-term borrowing

Union Bay Fire Rescue chief Ian Hamm attended the ceremony and called the milestone the result of nearly three decades of effort.

“Today marks a milestone of nearly three decades in the making,” he said. “For close to 30 years, our community and this department have worked, planned, and hoped for a new fire hall that meets the needs of the people we serve. Seeing construction finally begin is more than just a building going up, it’s a commitment to safety, resilience, and the future of our region. I’m incredibly proud of our members, grateful to our community, and honoured to witness this long-awaited project become a reality.”

The new hall will replace the existing facility, which was built in 1956.