Qualicum was opened as a boys private school in 1935 and remained in use until 1970. It became an inn 2 years later based on an English style. The funding for the school was originally given by Robert Knight as an early inheritance to his two grandchildren Robert Ivan and George Knight. Robert Ivan was the headmaster of the school and would remain so for it entire duration. Robert was a strong believer in the 'Seven C's', which stood for classics, cadet corps, christianity, cold baths, cricket, courtesy and coporal punishment.
After it became the Qualicum inn, many features were taken from it schools days such as The College Pub which used to be the gym as got lots of school memoribilia and inlaid in the lobby floor is a replica of the school crest which was on the blazers, and also as the schools moto written by it in latin 'sequere lucem' meaning 'seek the light' . The inn was extended in 1974 with the addition of The Oxford Wing and again in 1984 with the Cambridge Wing. Today the inn continues to thrive.

There have been many ghostly sightings and strange happenings which have been reported at the inn, including busy signals on the phones at the main desk when it is known no one is there and strange noises in the bedrooms. The occurances even though are a bit eerie are not unpleasant, and seem to be from some mischevious children from the school days.