Minstrel Island facts for kids
Minstrel Island is a small island located in British Columbia, Canada. It's found near the entrance to Knight Inlet, close to where Clio Channel and Chatham Channel meet. A narrow waterway called The Blow Hole separates Minstrel Island from East Cracroft Island to the south.
The island has a government dock on its southeast side, right next to Chatham Channel. A small community named Minstrel Island is located on the east side of the island. There is also a place for floatplanes to land, known as Minstrel Island Water Aerodrome.
Why is it called Minstrel Island?
The name "Minstrel Island" likely comes from a visit in 1876 by a ship called the HMS Amethyst. This ship was carrying Lord Dufferin, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time. A Governor General is like the Queen's or King's representative in Canada.
One of the ship's crew members, Patrick Riley, said that the Amethyst crew often performed as "minstrels." These were entertainers who put on shows for their shipmates and visitors. It's thought that the island was named to remember one of these performances that happened in the waters nearby.
