Photo credit: courtenay.ca/east
COURTENAY – The City of Courtenay has taken a major step toward expanding local fire protection services by awarding the East Courtenay Fire Hall design contract to Sahuri + Associates Architecture Inc. The Western Canadian firm is well known for its work on fire halls and emergency service facilities across the region.
The new fire hall will be built at 220 Waters Place, on the current training grounds used by the Courtenay Fire Department. Design work has already started, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and finish in 2027.
As Courtenay prepares for significant population growth—more than 4,500 new residents and 2,900 additional homes forecast by 2031—the facility will help the Fire Department respond more efficiently, especially in East Courtenay, which is farthest from the downtown fire hall. The project is intended to support quicker response times and expand the city’s volunteer firefighter capacity.
“This project marks an important step in strengthening fire protection and emergency response for Courtenay’s growing east side,” said Fire Chief, Kurt MacDonald. “Sahuri + Associates brings valuable experience from similar fire hall projects across Western Canada. Together, we’ll create a practical, safe, and modern facility that meets our community’s needs now and in the future.”
The planned East Courtenay Fire Hall includes two drive-through apparatus bays, with room to add a third later, dedicated training and administrative areas, rest and dorm rooms for present and future firefighters and a specialized decontamination space for removing smoke and hazardous materials from gear.
The building will be engineered to stay functional after earthquakes or other major events and will follow the latest Canadian standards for fire hall safety and performance.
Once complete, the new facility will reduce emergency response times east of the Courtenay River, improve overall citywide emergency readiness by adding a second fire hall on higher ground and enhance recruitment opportunities for volunteer firefighters who live in East Courtenay.
The City will now begin working with Sahuri + Associates on detailed design plans. A construction manager will then be selected to oversee the build, maintain timelines, and ensure the project stays on budget.
