Passage Island (British Columbia) facts for kids
 Passage Island
Location in Greater Vancouver Regional District
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Metro Vancouver Electoral Area A |
| Coordinates | 49°20′36″N 123°18′20″W / 49.34333°N 123.30556°W |
| Additional information | |
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| • Summer (DST) |
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| Postal code | V7W 1V7 |
| Area codes | 604, 778, 236, 672 |
Passage Island is a small, beautiful island located near West Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada. It sits right across from Bowen Island. This island is mostly covered in trees and has steep cliffs. It's like a natural gateway to Howe Sound, and you'll often see the ferry to Nanaimo pass by it. Even though it uses a postal code from nearby West Vancouver, Passage Island is actually managed by the Islands Trust and is part of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It's about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away from West Vancouver by water.
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Island History
Before Europeans arrived, Passage Island was home to a Squamish village. Its name was Mi'tlmetle'lte. Later, Captain Vancouver named the island. He called it Passage Island because it lies in the middle of the Queen Charlotte Channel. It's located between Point Atkinson and Bowen Island.
In 1893, a banker named Keith sold the island for a very low price. It was just one dollar per acre. Then, in the late 1960s, a developer named Phil Matty bought it. He loved the island's natural beauty. He enjoyed spending time there, moving rocks and watching the tides. He said it was like having his own personal therapist.
Life on Passage Island Today
Today, Passage Island has 61 different land lots. Almost half of these lots have homes built on them. Many of these homes are summer cottages. People visit them for vacations. However, some families live on the island all year round.
The island offers amazing views. You can see downtown Vancouver and the University of British Columbia campus. You can also see Vancouver Island and the snowy mountains of Howe Sound.
Getting Around the Island
There are no developed roads on Passage Island. This means you won't find any cars or other vehicles there. Most residents use boats to get to and from the island. They either tie their boats to special buoys or have their own private docks. There is no public access to the island.
Power and Utilities
Life on Passage Island is very connected to nature. Most homes use solar panels to create electricity. Some homes also have wind turbines to help generate power. Propane is used for heating and cooking. For water, residents collect rainwater from their roofs. This water is then stored in large tanks called cisterns.
Unnamed Private Island
Off the very southern tip of Passage Island, there is a tiny private island. It doesn't have a name. This small island is owned by a local family.
