Daajing Giids facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daajing Giids
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Village
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| Village of Daajing Giids | |
City Harbour
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 Daajing Giids
Location in British Columbia
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Haida Gwaii |
| Regional district | North Coast |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Incorporated | 2005 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 37.28 km2 (14.39 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 964 |
| • Density | 27.1/km2 (70/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
Daajing Giids (pronounced DAW-jing GEEDS) is a village in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the southern part of Graham Island, which is one of the Haida Gwaii islands. For a long time, from 1891 to 2022, this village was known as Queen Charlotte City.
The name "Queen Charlotte" came from Captain George Dixon in 1787. He named the island after his ship, the Queen Charlotte. The village itself was started in 1891. In 1908, it became the first official townsite in the islands. However, it didn't become an official municipality (a self-governing town) until 2005.
Contents
History of Daajing Giids
How the Village Started
The village began to grow in 1908 when the first sawmill in the Haida Gwaii islands opened here. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber. During World War I, there was a high demand for lumber to help build airplanes for the war. This meant more people were needed to work in the sawmill.
Early Development
As more people moved to the village for work, it quickly developed important services. These included schools, a hospital, and general stores where people could buy supplies. The village even had its own newspaper!
Changing Industries
For many years, logging (cutting down trees for wood) and fishing were the main jobs in Daajing Giids. The demand for lumber increased again in the second half of the 20th century, providing many jobs.
Today, fewer people work directly in logging or fishing. The village's economy has changed. Now, many jobs are related to tourism, as visitors come to explore the beautiful islands. However, the biggest source of jobs comes from government services. This includes people who work at the hospital, in the school district, for BC Ferries, and at local forestry and parks offices.
What Can You Find in Daajing Giids?
Since becoming an official municipality in 2005, Daajing Giids offers many services for both residents and visitors. You can find several motels, shops, and restaurants. There's also a gas station, an auto repair shop, a credit union, and an RCMP (police) station.
The village is home to the Daajing Giids Visitor Centre, which is open all year. This is a great place to get information about the area. Daajing Giids also has a small harbour, which is often the starting point for boat tours. These tours take people to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site on southern Moresby Island, a famous protected area.
Restoring the Ancestral Name
On May 16, 2022, something very important happened. The village council voted unanimously to bring back the ancestral name of Daajing Giids. This means the village officially changed its name from Queen Charlotte back to Daajing Giids. It was the first village in British Columbia to do this, according to the provincial government.
Getting Around
Daajing Giids is very close to Skidegate Landing, only about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) away. Skidegate Landing is where the BC Ferries terminal is located. From there, you can catch a ferry to Prince Rupert on the mainland.
Population of Daajing Giids
In the 2021 Census, the population of Daajing Giids was 964 people. These people lived in 488 homes. This was a small increase from the 884 people who lived there in 2016. The village covers a land area of about 35.58 square kilometers (13.74 square miles).
Healthcare Services
A new hospital opened in Daajing Giids in 2016. It is officially called the Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre, or X̱aayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay. This hospital has eight beds for patients who need to stay overnight and eight beds for long-term care.
