Courtenay City Hall Site 1952-1995 The Courtenay City Hall stood on this site for forty-three years until it was destroyed by fire on July 2, 1995. The site has served the community well. The land was donated by City founder Joseph McPhee in 1886 for the construction of Courtenay's first schoolhouse until that building was relocated to 4th Street in 1915. A new building was built to house the local police detachment. In 1926 the building served as the headquarters and staff sergeant's residence of the British Columbia Provincial Police. In 1952 the building was redesigned by local architect W. A. Owen in its memorable Elizabethan style to serve as our former landmark Courtenay City Hall. This plaque sits in the garden that was moved here in 1952 from the site of the original city hall on Duncan Avenue.