Denman Island facts for kids
Denman Island looking south from Comox
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 Denman Island (Sla-dai-aich [k'omoks First Nation name meaning "inner island".
Location in British Columbia
Denman Island (Sla-dai-aich [k'omoks First Nation name meaning "inner island".
Location in Comox Valley Regional District
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Strait of Georgia |
| Coordinates | 49°33′N 124°48′W / 49.550°N 124.800°W |
| Archipelago | Gulf Islands |
| Area | 51.03 km2 (19.70 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional district | Comox Valley |
| Islands Trust | Local Trust Cttee. |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,391 (2021) |
Denman Island is a beautiful place in British Columbia, Canada. It is also known as Sla-dai-aich or Taystayic in the Comox language. This island is one of the Northern Gulf Islands. It is part of the Comox Valley Regional District. Denman Island is also part of the Islands Trust group. About 1,391 people live here all year round.
Contents
Island History
Denman Island was first home to Indigenous peoples. These included the Pentlatch and Sliammon groups. We know this from old shell mounds, burial sites, and stories passed down. The Pentlatch people called the island PUNCHLATT.
In 1862, a serious smallpox outbreak greatly reduced the population. The people who survived moved to join the K'ómoks people in nearby Comox.
Europeans first saw and mapped the island in 1791. This was during a Spanish ship's journey. Later, in 1860, Captain Richards named the island. He named it after Rear Admiral Joseph Denman.
The first European settlers arrived on Denman Island in the 1870s. Some came because of a coal mine nearby. The mine was across Baynes Sound from Denman Island. Several large families moved to Denman Island in 1876. These included the McFarlane, Piercy, and Graham families.
Life on Denman Island
Getting to Denman Island is easy with a ferry. Ferries connect Denman Island to Hornby Island. They also connect it to Vancouver Island at Buckley Bay. The ferry to Vancouver Island is a special cable ferry called the MV Baynes Sound Connector.
The main village on Denman Island has a few important spots. You can find a general store and Post Office there. There are also two community halls and a museum. The Dora Drinkwater Volunteer Library is a great place to find books. The island also has a community school and an Anglican church. The Arts Centre is a hub for creativity.
You can also find a hardware store and a craft store. Abraxas Book Gifts is a popular book and gift shop with a coffee spot. The Denman Island Health Centre is located nearby on Piercy Road.
Many talented artists live on Denman Island. Potters, weavers, and painters have called it home for decades. The island covers an area of about 51 square kilometers (20 square miles).
The famous author Emily St. John Mandel grew up on Denman Island. She used it as inspiration for her fictional Delano Island in her book Station Eleven.
Nature and Parks
The western part of Denman Island has thick forests. These forests are filled with tall Douglas fir trees, western hemlock, and western red cedar. The eastern part of the island has sandy soil. You can often see beautiful arbutus trees near the shore.
Provincial Parks to Explore
Denman Island is home to several amazing provincial parks. These parks are great for exploring nature.
- Sandy Island Marine Provincial Park: This park is off the northern tip of Denman Island. You can walk to it at low tide!
- Fillongley Provincial Park: A lovely park managed by B.C. Ministry of Environment.
- Boyle Point Provincial Park: Another beautiful park from the B.C. Ministry of Environment.
- Denman Island Park and Protected Area: This park is also managed by the B.C. Ministry of Environment.
Local News and Media
Denman Island has its own local media. The Flagstone is a monthly journal that shares news and art. The Grapevine is a weekly paper with news and ads. There are also many active online groups for the island community.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Denman para niños
