In 2014, the BC Government proclaimed June as BC Seafood Month; no better month to do so thanks to June also being the month of the 9th annual BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival, June 12-21, which has become BC’s largest of its kind.
Originally started as a dinner and one day event by the BC Shellfish Growers Association (BCSGA), the Festival has blossomed to be a 10-day extravaganza, with numerous gala dinners and culinary events, producer farm tours, concerts, and educational & industry development seminars - all targeted to west coast seafood enthusiasts and the larger aquaculture industry.
Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism partnered with the BCSGA three years ago to help grow the event to become a destination level attraction to drive overnight accommodations, as well as to continue the original mandate of the festival which was to drive increased awareness and support for the shellfish and seafood industry producers and related businesses.
New highlights for 2015 include Fresh Fest in the Marina, a live concert and salmon chef stations presented by the BC Salmon Farmers Association and North Island Chefs Association. Celebrity chef, Ned Bell, from the Vancouver Four Seasons Hotel and Chefs for Oceans will be at events throughout the Festival including a new BC Seafood Expo and Workshop Series with industry and consumer oriented sessions presented by seafood and sector leaders and educators, including keynote speaker Dr. John Nightingale, CEO Vancouver Aquarium. Genome BC will host its Geneskool educational workshop at North Island College, not to mention a Flying Lobster Extravaganza and Expo
Opening Reception by Flying Fresh Freight at the Old House Hotel and Spa, new family beach tours with Macs Oysters, and much more.
Festival favorites including the BCSGA Chefs Gala Dinner, Fanny Bay Oyster plant tours, Seafood Feast & Casino
Royal at the Old House Hotel, a long dinner at the Best Western, BC Seafood on Your Plates at participating
restaurants, and Comox Harbour Charters tours are confirmed in the event line-up. The Comox by the Sea
Celebration with numerous shellfish and seafood food booths, educational stations, touch tanks, and chef demos led
by Chef Bell will be held once again, with the additional of Canadian, North American and World Oyster Shucking
Champion, Shucker Paddy to present how-to-shuck an oyster demos, and assist with the Fanny Bay Oysters Shucking
Competition.