Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route. Campbell River claims a population (2006 census) of 32,000 and has long been touted as "the Salmon Capital of the World".The town is served by an airport (YBL), a seaplane base called YHH at Campbell River Harbour, a BC Ferries route to Quadra Island, and highways which connect it to neighbouring towns such as Courtenay, The Village of Sayward, Gold River, Port McNeill and Port Hardy.The 1948 construction of the BC Power Corporation's Elk Falls hydroelectric dam and the John Hart Generating Station — allowed Crown Zellerbach to establish the Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill in 1952, which greatly improved the town's economy. The mill is currently owned by Catalyst Paper but has been shut down indefinitely.NVI Mining operates the Myra Falls zinc, gold and silver mine in nearby Strathcona Provincial Park.Quinsam Coal operates an underground coal mine southwest of town. The mines employ hundreds of people, many of whom live in Campbell River.The city is also a growing market for retirees.