The Department of National Defence has purchased a 52-unit apartment building in Courtenay to help ease housing pressures for Canadian Armed Forces members working at 19 Wing Comox.

Federal officials say the $19.1 million building on Cumberland Road will be added to the base housing portfolio, with CAF members expected to begin moving in by summer 2026.

The announcement marks the second recent housing acquisition in British Columbia, following the purchase of a similar building in Esquimalt.

Defence officials say the purchase was completed using a new multi-departmental approach that cut the usual approval process from one to two years down to just 12 weeks, allowing military members to access housing more quickly.

19 Wing Comox Commander Colonel Christopher Shapka says the need is urgent.

He notes the base is planning several major investment projects over the next decade, while existing housing is already at maximum capacity and waiting lists are long. He says the Courtenay building provides a local and immediate solution to help reduce demand.

The building, located at 574 Cumberland Road, will be jointly managed by 19 Wing’s Housing Section for training units and by the Canadian Forces Housing Agency for residential units.

National Defence says the Courtenay purchase is part of a broader effort to expand military housing across the country.

Projects are underway or planned in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Manitoba, including new construction, building acquisitions, and partnerships with the private sector.

The federal government has committed $1.4 billion over 20 years under its defence housing strategy, in addition to $490 million allocated over 10 years starting in 2021–2022, to renovate existing housing and build new units for CAF members.

To learn more, visit Government of Canada.