Community Spotlight Series: Evergreen Hospitality Group

We're excited to feature Evergreen Hospitality Group as this month's Community Spotlight. Evergreen Hospitality Group owns and manages The Coast Parksville Hotel, The Tide’s Inn, Sea Edge Motel, and Paradise Mini Golf. We spoke to Regional General Manager, Karim Mohammadi, about life in Parksville Qualicum Beach and some of his favourite local spots.

How would you describe the place you live to someone who is yet to visit?

"I love welcoming people to Parksville Qualicum Beach because words don't do our home justice. There are places both awe-inspiring & quietly comforting - I wouldn't know how else to explain the first time walking through the towering old growth of Cathedral Grove, seeing the bioluminescence swirl around your feet in the ocean at night, or counting the stars during the magical experience of a beach fire at Sea Edge. There's a feeling here which is both humbling and exciting!"

What do you love about where you live?

"Parksville boasts the warmest ocean waters in Canada for swimming and is known for its wild west coast rainforest. However, travel magazines may not share what makes this place special: our community. Whether it's protecting the natural world, ensuring the well-being of those around them, or respecting the traditions and culture of those who were here first, there is a strong sense of community that strives to do what's right—a community I am proud to be a part of!

Having had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors for both the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association and the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce, I have interacted with several business owners and operators in the area, and what makes these interactions unique is the genuine belief that we can all achieve success together - while also enriching the lives of everyone around us. That kind of feeling makes it rewarding to wake up every morning, and it's why I feel grateful to live, work, and play in Parksville, the ancestral lands of the Qualicum and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations."

What other businesses should people see during their visit?

"Our area is truly blessed with some fantastic spots! For a sunny patio and the best Gin Caesar (dangerous words, I know), I would absolutely recommend Extreme Eatery in Parksville. For the west coast experience, I would check out the Qualicum Beach Café – while their seafood is spot-on (especially the Seafood Gnocchi), I personally LOVE the Bison Carpaccio. The service at both is first in class! For things to do, our guests love Ocean EcoVentures – ethical whale-watching tours just down the street from the Coast Parksville Hotel."

You have a free day in PQB. What do you do?

"It sure depends on the time of year! In the winter/spring, the slopes on Mount Washington are temptingly less than an hour away. In the summer, I love to run along the Parksville boardwalk and try the different food trucks in the Community Park. I also like to cool off at one of the many amazing swimming spots – Top Bridge comes to mind. When friends have a free day with me, a game (or two) of Mini Golf at the Paradise Fun Park is both unwinding and exhilarating. Sometimes a trip to the top of Little Mountain can be humbling – you can see for miles, and it gives such a great perspective on how little our footprint is on the wild expanse of Vancouver Island."