Long before the arrival of the European settler to the Campbell River area, the Coast Salish First Nations people occupied the river shores of the Campbell living off the riches of the Salmon and the natural lush surrounding lands. The Salmon, was a spiritual symbol to the First Nations people as they also referred to the Salmon as "K'u ta 'la" . Today the Salmon is still a cultural and spiritual icon to the First Nations people of the region.

The Coast Salish in the early 1800's left their villages and moved further south Island to what is now Comox and Qualicum. Soon later the north island Laichwiltach people from the Kwaguilth First Nations in Alert Bay migrated south into the vacated villages in Campbell River and at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.

People say in the early 1500's the first European, Sir Francis Drake, arrived just south of Campbell River, BC. Soon later the word spread and in 1792 Captain George Vancouver landed on Quadra Island and Captain James Cook explored and landed, nearby, in the Nootka Sound in 1778.

Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, BC was named after Captain Vancouver's First Lieutenant, Zachary Mudge serving aboard the H.M.S Discovery. Many of the names of the Campbell River area occurred in the 1860's when a British Captain Richards aboard the H.M.S. Plumper was assigned to name and chart the area. The name Campbell River is said to be named after Captain Richards staff surgeon, Dr. Samuel Campbell. It was not until the 1880's that the first European settlers seriously started to set up shop in the Campbell River area.

As early as 1911 conservation efforts had begun of the surrounding areas. Campbell River was fast becoming, a big concern as it grew. The concern fostered into creating Strathcona Provincial Park to protect the environmental forests and wildlife of the area. Strathcona Park was British Columbia's first provincial park spanning over 600,000 acres ( 250,000 hectares) and is today, still, Vancouver Island's largest park.

Roderick Haig-Brown a local writer and conservationists in the 1900's living in Campbell River was a pillar of the areas history and conservation efforts. Roderick Haig-Brown spent most of his life documenting environmental issues and writing many articles plus publishing 25 books. Haig-Brown and his wife, Ann, are both a big part in why we have many of the natural areas preserved throughout British Columbia today. Roderick Haig-Brown's home in Campbell River is a British Columbia Heritage Site with some of his writings on display.

The Elk Falls John Hart Dam hydro development project changed the landscape of the Campbell River area in 1948 thus creating what was needed for the community to prosper. In 1952 the Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill opened its doors on the point of Discovery Passage.

Today it is Campbell River's largest employer. Campbell River BC is not only about fishing, logging and mills. The community of Campbell River's eco tourism and accommodations industry is growing because of the many nearby quality parks and outdoor activities in and around the community - making it a great spot for a vacation. Adventure tourism is a big part of "The Salmon Capital of the World".