Denny Island (Canada) facts for kids

Denny Island is an island located on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. It sits just east of the community of Bella Bella, which is also known as Waglisla. Denny Island is home to a small community and important places like Shearwater, where Shearwater Marine is located. The island also includes the site of Old Bella Bella, which is mostly abandoned now but still has Canadian Coast Guard and Fisheries & Oceans bases. About 138 people live on Denny Island.

Discovering Denny Island's History

How Did Denny Island Get Its Name?

Denny Island was named around 1866. It was named by Captain Pender after Lieutenant D'Arcy Anthony Denny. Lieutenant Denny was a commander in the British Navy. He was in charge of a gunboat called HMS Forward in this area from 1866 to 1868.

Lieutenant Denny had a long career in the navy. He started in 1850 and became a lieutenant in 1858. He commanded other ships, like the HMS Coromandel in China. Later, he commanded the HMS Dart off the coast of South America. He then joined the Coast Guard service in England until he passed away in 1883.