News

Bear Mountain Resort

Location: Victoria, B.C.

Developer: Len Barrie

Size: estate lots, 14,000 to 60,000 square feet; home sites, 6,000 to 12,000 square feet; townhouses, 1,300 to 3,600 square feet; condo suites, 460 to 2,600 square feet; fractional ownership suites, 1,900 to 2,600 square feet

Price: estate lots, start at $1-million; home sites, $260,000 to $650,000;townhouses, $700,000 to $1.6-million; condo suites, $285,000 to $2.6-million; fractional ownership suites, $189,000 to $299,000

Sales centre: Special presentation tomorrow at the Westin Prince, 900 York Mills Rd., west of Don Mills Road in Toronto; 2050 Country Club Way at Bear Mountain Resort, Victoria.

Contact: (888) 533-BEAR (2327) or http://www.bearmountain.ca/roadshow

The sales team for a master-planned golf and lifestyle resort near Victoria, B.C., are in Toronto - the final stop of a cross-country tour to promote a development that has already attracted many Torontonians.

Situated on a mountainside about 20 minutes by car west of Victoria on Vancouver Island, the retreat, called Bear Mountain Resort, offers recreational opportunities, a gentle climate and views of the mountains and ocean.

To learn more about the development, interested persons can register online for a presentation at the Westin Prince in North York at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

"To date, sales from Toronto have grown to approximately 2.5 per cent of our total sales, but with new initiatives like our road show presentations, we anticipate this number will continue to grow," marketing director Kerri Moore says.

"Depending on the response, you will likely see more of Bear Mountain Resort not only in Toronto, but throughout Ontario and further east."

The first 10 phases of lots are sold out, as are several condos, townhouses and fractional ownership properties.

Over the next 10 to 12 years, the resort will add 1,112 lots for single-family homes, as well as 220 townhouses and 1,997 condominiums - for a total of 3,329 residences - making it one of the largest developments in Western Canada.

"The response to Bear Mountain's real estate offering from Canadians has been overwhelming, and we know why: We offer ... options that fit every lifestyle, whether the goal is to raise children, visit twice a year to play golf or eventually retire here," says the director of real estate, Dale Sproule.

British Columbia's economy is "strong and the future outlook in terms of employment and economic growth is exceptionally bright," he adds.

Len Barrie, a former National Hockey League player who is the developer of Bear Mountain Resort, envisioned it as a renowned golf destination. He opened its signature Jack and Steve Nicklaus-designed golf course in 2003, followed by the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort and Spa in 2006.

A Nicklaus golf academy is also in the works, and the first nine holes of another Nicklaus-designed course will open in July. The last nine will open in the fall, giving the resort 36 holes in all.

Other resort activities are also popular, including hiking, biking, tennis and squash. The surrounding area offer walking trails, beaches, provincial parks and recreational facilities.

The resort includes a state-of-the-art athletic club and a village with cafés, shops, galleries and bistros, as well as natural open space, landscaped parks, and a plaza that will feature music and art.

The Mountain Market will house a health clinic, dentist, insurance company, and other services starting this fall.

Resort residents have access to VIP services, which arrange entertainment, childcare and catering.