Valley storywalks 2025
what is a storywalk?
A StoryWalk is a movement and literacy boosting project that places an illustrated children’s book, taken apart and displayed page by page, along a walking route in your community. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
The Learning Centre works with community partners to literally take a book apart and display it outside, one page at a time, in the correct order. Each set of pages is then laminated onto a chloroplast backing and placed on a metal stand so as to provide minimal disruption to nature. In this way, people are encouraged to continue walking to find the next page of every book. There is literacy, there is nature, there is movement.
All Storywalk titles are available for purchase through the Laughing Oyster Bookshop.
land acknowledgement
The Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Centre acknowledges that we are on the unceded traditional territory of the K'ὀmoks and Pentlatch First Nation. Our organization believes it is not enough just to acknowledge the keepers of this land. We work to encourage our community to become informed, educated and to actively resist colonialism and neo-colonialism in the many forms it takes, while also respecting and honouring the many forms that resistance adopts in response.
Cumberland
Number Six Mine Park
Dunsmuir Ave., Derwent Ave., and First Street Cumberland access.
Discover the StoryWalk edging the trees on the south end of the park by the playground.
Shaded picnic and play area with garbage cans
Covered stage
All ages Children’s playground
Rustic pathways and Gardens
Dogs on leash
Parking and Access
There is free parking at the side of the road on Derwent Ave. and in the Cumberland Recreation Centre parking lot at the corner of Dunsmuir and Sutton. From the Recreation Centre parking lot, follow a sloped trail that leads down to the north end of the park.
The nearest bus stop is at Dunsmuir and 1st Street a 3 minute walk.
There are no paved trails in the park. It is stroller and scooter friendly with limited wheelchair access. In addition to washrooms, there is also a water pump and bike stands located in the Cumberland Recreation Centre Parking.
Courtenay
The Rotary Skypark
Courtenay Airpark is near the Cliffe Avenue and Mansfield Drive exit by the ocean.
Discover the StoryWalk in the tall grass on river side of the park by the playground.
Activities
2km of paved walkway which connects to the Courtenay Heritage River Walk
Plane Watching – Air and water takeoffs and landings from the airpark and aerodrome
Inclusive playground-designed for accessibility it accommodates wheelchairs and walkers
Picnic tables, garbage cans and water fountain
Dogs on leash
Parking and Access
There is free parking on Mansfield Drive across from the Whistle Stop.
The nearest bus stop is a minimum 10-minute walk from Driftwood Mall
**The are no washrooms at this park. The nearest toilet is a 4-minute walk south to the porta potty at the Mansfield Drive parking lot or a 10-minute walk to the north where there is a running water washroom at the Courtney Marina Boat Launch at the foot of 20th Street.
Comox
Anderton Park
75 Steward Street and Balmoral
Discover the StoryWalk at southwest corner near the path that leads directly to the Comox Shopping Mall parking lot.
Activities
Picnic tables, benches, garbage cans
Playground
Outdoor fitness equipment
Public tennis courts
Ping Pong Table (bring your own paddles and ball)
Dogs on leash
Parking and Access
There is free street parking around the park. The Comox Mall parking lot path (by the Return It box) leads right to the park and StoryWalk.
The park has bus service with stops at the Comox Bus Exchange a 5min walk and stops on both Comox Avenue and Balmoral Street.
There are bathrooms open dawn to dusk.
There are paved paths throughout the park.