Discovery Island (British Columbia) facts for kids

Discovery Island from the air

A trail through the trees

Discovery Island is a small island located off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. You can see it from places like Ten Mile Point, Cadboro Bay, and Oak Bay. A big part of the island, the southern section, is a protected area called Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park. This park is about 3 miles (5 km) east of Oak Bay. The northern part of Discovery Island is a special area known as Discovery Island Indian Reserve 3. It is managed by the Songhees First Nation.

How Discovery Island Got Its Name

Discovery Island was named in 1846. It was named after HMS Discovery, a ship used by a famous British explorer. This explorer was Captain George Vancouver. He sailed along the coastline of British Columbia from 1792 to 1794. His journey is known as the Vancouver Expedition. The nearby Chatham Islands were also named after his other ship, HMS Chatham.

A Safe Haven During a Sickness

In 1862, a serious sickness called the 1862 Pacific Northwest smallpox epidemic started in Victoria. To stay safe, almost all of the Songhees people left their villages. They moved together to Discovery Island. This was a way for them to keep themselves separate from the sickness. Other Indigenous people who were already sick had to leave the Victoria area. Some tried to join the Songhees on Discovery Island. However, the Songhees bravely kept them from coming to protect their community.

Thanks to their quick action and self-quarantine, the Songhees were very lucky. A doctor named John Helmcken also worked hard to give vaccines to as many Songhees as he could. Because of these efforts, the Songhees were one of the few First Nations who survived the epidemic with very few deaths. Their story shows how important it is to protect a community during a health crisis.

The Discovery Island Lighthouse

At the eastern tip of Discovery Island is the Discovery Island Lighthouse. This spot is called Sea Bird Point. The lighthouse stands where the Haro and Juan De Fuca Straits meet. These two straits form the watery border between Canada and the United States.

The lighthouse was built in 1886. It was operated by people for 110 years. In 1996, it became fully automated, meaning machines run it. The island used to have homes for the lighthouse keepers' families. It also had a helicopter pad, a power station, a well, and a dock. Sea Bird Point got its name from an American ship called Sea Bird. In 1858, this ship caught fire and was steered onto the shore to save the crew.

Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park

Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park became a park in 1972. It is a quiet, undeveloped area that covers 61 hectares. Long ago, part of this island was owned by Captain E.G. Beaumont. He bought land here in 1918. He lived on Discovery Island with his wife for almost 50 years until he passed away in 1967.

Captain Beaumont owned about half of Discovery Island. In his will, he gave most of his land to the province of British Columbia. He was a passionate sailor. Even when he was in his 80s, he would often row his boat from Discovery Island to Ten Mile Point. There, he enjoyed walking in the woods. You can still see signs of the Beaumonts' beautiful home and gardens. Their house was designed by the famous architect Francis Rattenbury.

The park is open all year round. If you want to camp, there is a fee from May 1 to September 30. During the rest of the year, there is no fee and fewer services. The park has lovely gravel beaches. There are also walking and hiking trails along the shores. These trails go through forests of fir and arbutus trees. You can hike from the lighthouse at Sea Bird Point to Commodore Point. From there, trails lead to the western shore of the park. Hikers can also climb Pandora Hill, which is 38 meters (125 feet) high. From the top, you get amazing views of the area and the Olympic Mountains.

Wildlife on the Island

In May 2012, a lone wolf made Discovery Island its home. The park was temporarily closed while officials tried to catch the wolf. However, they were not successful. It was decided to reopen the park. The wolf, named Takaya, proved to be safe around humans. He lived on the island until January 2020. Conservation officers then moved Takaya to an area near Port Renfrew. Sadly, Takaya was later shot by a hunter in March 2020.

Besides the wolf, Discovery Island is home to many other animals and plants. You might see sea lions and seals swimming nearby. Mink also live on the island. The shores are full of mussels, clams, and rock crabs. In the forests, you can find morel mushrooms and blackberries.

Climate of Discovery Island

Discovery Island has a special kind of weather called a Mediterranean climate (Csb). This means it has some of the mildest winters in all of Canada. The average temperature for the whole year is about 11.5 °C (52.7 °F). This is even warmer than nearby Victoria. Snowfall is very rare on Discovery Island. Most years, it doesn't snow at all. This is very different from most other parts of Canada.