courtenay is a canadian city in british columbia, canada. courtenay is on the east coast of vancouver island. the current mayor of courtenay is greg phelps. courtenay has a population of 21,940 people as of 2006. in 1946, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the west of courtenay. a lot of chimney's were destroyed- there was also damage to the local post office and elementary school. it was the largest earthquake to hit vancouver island.