About Us
Our Legacy Stands Out
My family has been on Vancouver Island for four generations. My great grandparents, Elbridge and Alice Christie, settled in Victoria in 1890. My other great grandparents, Thomas and Kate Michell, arrived in Cumberland around 1915. My grandparents, Dr. Reginald P. Christie and Mabel Michell Christie, settled in Royston in 1919 and founded Upper Island Development Ltd. in 1957. They worked hard to create this company which my uncle, Harold Christie, later expanded by acquiring and developing properties in Comox, Courtenay and Union Bay. Their hard work in building Upper Island has now allowed me the opportunity to create new and sustainable communities in the Comox Valley. These include “The Estates” and “The Uplands” at Forest Hill, Union Bay. These two new communities will provide greater opportunities to enjoy our beautiful region. I am proud of Upper Island Development’s long history in the Comox Valley and I look forward to building on this legacy in a sustainable and responsible manner.
- Andrew Saxton, President, Upper Island Development Ltd.
Mabel Michell Christie
The Founders
Dr. and Mrs. Christie moved to the Comox Valley in 1919 from Victoria. They built a home in Royston where they raised their three children; George, Harold, and Joan. Dr. Christie, a dentist, opened offices in Courtenay and Cumberland where he practiced for over fifty years. Mabel Christie served as chair of the school board and as a trustee for 27 years. In 1957, the Christie’s founded Upper Island Development Ltd. and began developing real estate in Comox and Courtenay. Most notably, they developed over 20 acres at Goose Spit.
Harold Christie
The Builder
Harold, who was born and raised in the Comox Valley was trained as a school teacher and taught in Trail, BC for a number of years. He longed to come back to the island and pursue his real passion, real estate development. In the early 1970s, he took over Upper Island Development and made three important investments: he bought and developed over 100 acres in the town of Comox; the old Marriott Farm just South of Courtenay; and over 250 acres in Union Bay. He developed these lands into the Guthrie Road area in Comox; Christie Parkway in Courtenay and Garvin Road in Union Bay.
Andrew Saxton
The Innovator
Andrew is the son of Andrew Saxton, Sr. and Joan Christie Saxton. His training is in finance and he worked in banking for over 16 years. He went into real estate development in Vancouver and Surrey in the early 2000s. He was a Member of Parliament for North Vancouver from 2008 to 2015 and served as Parliamentary Secretary for Finance. In 2010, Andrew took over Upper Island Development from his uncle Harold.
