Gambier Island facts for kids

Gambier Island is a beautiful island found in Howe Sound, close to Vancouver, British Columbia. It's quite large, about 17,049 acres (or 6,900 hectares) in size. The island is located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) north of Horseshoe Bay, a community and ferry terminal in West Vancouver.

Gambier Island is a wild and quiet place, with not many people living there. It's much calmer than its neighbor, Bowen Island, which is very popular with people visiting for the day or for summer holidays. You can only get to Gambier Island by B.C. Ferries passenger boats, water taxi, or other private boats. There aren't many roads connecting different parts of the island.

The people on Gambier Island choose two representatives, called trustees. These trustees work with the Islands Trust, a special group that helps manage land use and development on small islands in British Columbia. Other islands nearby in Howe Sound include Keats Island and Anvil Island. Gambier Island is part of a larger area called West Howe Sound, Electoral Area F, which is within the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Who Lives on Gambier Island?

About 125 people live on Gambier Island all year round. But in the summer, the population grows to over 600 people! This is because many families have summer homes there. The island is known for its beautiful views and peaceful atmosphere, which makes it a favorite spot for artists and writers.

Island Communities

The main area where boats dock and people gather is called New Brighton. It's on the west side of the island. Another important spot is Gambier Harbour, also known as West Bay, which has a wharf and boat dock. At the very north end of the island, you'll find Ekins Point.

There are also several smaller communities on the island that are "off-grid." This means they don't have regular power lines and often use their own ways to get electricity, like solar panels. Some of these communities include Douglas Bay, Daisy Bay, Gambier Acres, Ekins Point, Brigade Bay, Fircom Plateau, and Sea Ranch.

What's on the Island?

Gambier Island used to have a general store, but it closed around 2010. There is also one bed and breakfast where visitors can stay. If you need to bring large items to the island, like building materials, special companies can transport them by barge from Gibsons or Horseshoe Bay.

The island has a volunteer fire service, which is run by people who live there and help keep everyone safe. There are no facilities on the island to process garbage, so residents need to take their trash off the island. Gambier Island also has a community center where people can meet and hold events.

On the southeast side of Gambier Island, you can visit Halkett Bay Provincial Park. It's a great place to explore nature and enjoy the outdoors.

A Look Back: Gambier Island's History

The Squamish people, who are Indigenous to this area, called the island Cha7élkwnech. This name refers to the island's deep, protected bays. For the Squamish people, Gambier Island was an important place for hunting deer and gathering other natural resources.

The island was later named by Captain Richards in 1860. He named it after James Gambier, who was a very important leader in the British navy. Admiral Gambier also served as a negotiator for the Treaty of Ghent, which ended The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. In the 1930s, a logger named Ken Reid cut down a huge fir tree on the island that was 14 feet (about 4.3 meters) across!

See also

In Spanish: Isla Gambier para niños