Pender Island

Pender Island
—  Island  —
A view of North Pender Island's shoreline
The Southern Gulf Islands, including North and South Pender.
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional District
Government
• MP	Elizabeth May (Green)
• MLA	Murray Coell(BC Liberal Party)
Area
• Land	34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Population
• Total	2,500
Time zone	PST (UTC−8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC−7)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pender Island

Pender Island is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located in the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Pender Island is approximately 34 km² (13 sq mi) in area and is home to about 2,500 permanent residents, as well as a large seasonal population. Like most of the rest of the Southern Gulf Islands, Pender Island enjoys a sub-Mediterranean climate and features open farmland, rolling forested hills, several lakes and small mountains, as well as many coves and beaches.

Logistics

Pender Island consists of two islands, North Pender and South Pender, which are separated by a narrow canal originally dredged in 1903. In 1955 the islands were connected by a one lane bridge, as it remains today.

Most of the population and services reside on North Pender Island, with the highest concentration surrounding Magic Lake.^[1] South Pender Island is generally more rural, but includes the Poets Cove Resort and Spa, formerly known as Bedwell Harbour Island Resort.

History

At the time of Contact, Pender Island was inhabited by Coast Salish peoples speaking the North Straits Salish language. There is an Indian Reserve at Hay Point on South Pender Island,^[2] which is home to members of the Tsawout and Tseycum First Nations.^[3] The Poets Cove Resort was built on an ancient First Nations village site.^[4] The provincial government's 2007 settlement with the Tsawwassen First Nation included hunting and fishing rights on and around Pender Island—an arrangement to which the Sencot'en Alliance objected, saying those rights are theirs under the 1852 Douglas Treaty.^[5][6]

A Spanish expedition led by Francisco de Eliza visited Pender in 1791, naming it "Ysla de San Eusevio".^[7] The islands, along with Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast, were given their current name by Captain Richards for Staff Commander, later Captain, Daniel Pender, RN who surveyed the coast of British Columbia aboard HMS Plumper, HMS Hecate and the Beaver from 1857 to 1870.^[8]:134 The first permanent resident of European descent arrived on South Pender Island in 1886.^[9]

Culture

Pender Island is a popular destination for fishing, boating, scuba diving and other outdoor pursuits. The island also boasts a 9-hole golf course. In 1937 several Pender residents put up money to purchase a 60-acre (24 ha) parcel, on which to develop the course, from George Grimmer, a son of Pender pioneer Washington Grimmer. These first individuals and many others took out memberships as well as planned and developed the layout of the golf course. Incorporated as a society in 1945, with the exception of a brief hiatus during World War II, Pender Island Golf Course has existed ever since. There is also a 27-hole Disc Golf (frisbee golf) course (Golf Island Disc Park^[10]) close to Magic Lake. This course is well known in the Disc Golf community and is the site of many tournaments including The Republic of Pender Invitational (The Ropi) and the Pender Island Invitational.

A view from the peak of Mount Norman (on South Pender Island) - the highest peak on either of the Pender Islands.

There are numerous art galleries, shops, restaurants and local events to frequent on the North and South Islands. Summer is generally a busy time, while the island pace slows down considerably during the winter months. Spring and fall are pleasant times of the year, with fewer tourists and mild weather.

The Pender Post, Islands Independent, and the Island Tides are locally-published independent newspapers. The Pender Islands Handbook a reference and travel guide.

Parks and beaches

• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve has opportunities for boating, kayaking, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing. A difficult 1.5 km trail at Beaumont leads from the Ainslie Point parking lot to the shoreline via steep switchbacks that cut through dense temperate rainforest. The difficult 1.5 km trail at Mt. Norman ascends 244 metres to a panoramic look-out with views of the San Juan Islands. The moderate 1.5 km trail at Roe Lake meanders through the Shingle Bay uplands to one of the Southern Gulf Island's only freshwater lakes.^[11][12] At Roesland, visitors can explore a historic 1908 farmhouse which has been restored by members of the Pender Islands Museum Society.^[13]

Camping

• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve has two options for campers: the drive-in, frontcountry sites at Prior Centennial Campground or the walk-in (or boat-in) backcountry sites at Beaumont. Prior Centennial has 17 reservable sites [1] and amenities include potable water, pit toilets, picnic tables and fire pits(seasonally available). Beaumont has 11 sites, and amenities include pit toilets and 15 mooring buoys for boaters. There is no potable water at Beaumont and no campfires are permitted, regardless of season.^[11]

• Private camping is available at Port Browning Marina[2]. The sites are drive-in and frontcountry. Tents can be pitched anywhere on the large waterfront lawn of the marina.

Transport

Pender Island can be accessed by regular ferry service provided by BC Ferries from Swartz Bay (near Victoria), Tsawwassen (near Vancouver), and other southern Gulf Islands. There are also scheduled seaplane and water taxi services. Pender Island also has one public grass landing strip and a helicopter pad (Pender International) located near the main shopping mall, the Driftwood Centre. Select helicopters can also land at Fire Hall #1. Bedwell Harbour is an official port of entry for sailors from the United States; Port Browning and Otter Bay also offer anchorages.

Shopping

The island's main shopping area is called the Driftwood Centre. The Driftwood has grown over the years, and is now home to Tru Value Foods, Pender Island Bakery, Pender Sushi, a BC Liquor Store, Pender Island Pharmacy, HSBC, a post office, Pender Island Realty, Angeline's Hair Studio, Talisman Bookstore and Gallery, Revolution Fitness, Time to Play, Raeven Tool Rentals, Island Wine Cellars, an insurance office and House on Pender (a flower and tile shop).

The stores at Hope Bay are about a five minute drive from the Driftwood Centre. Hope Bay is home to the Red Tree Gallery (featuring local art), Sladen's, Hope Bay Hair Salon, Touch of Wellness Massage Therapy, Dockside Realty, a cafe and a Goldsmith Shop. Hope Bay Studio is a rental hall with large windows looking directly at an astounding ocean view. Regular classes include yoga, Dance, Bellyfit, Art and various workshops. This space is available to rent from Dockside Realty.

Just North of Hope Bay is Southridge Farms Organic Foods, a grocery store featuring fresh Paninis and Coffee. Across the street is Home Hardware, the local building center and lumber yard.

On Saturday mornings from Easter through Thanksgiving, the Farmer's Market at the Community Hall offers local produce and handcrafts, as well as entertainment. The Nu-To-Yu is a local second-hand store open Friday and Saturday throughout the year.

Morning Bay Vineyard on Pender Island is open for wine tasting and sales 12 months a year. Friday to Sunday in winter, and Wednesday to Sunday in Summer, Morning Bay sells estate-grown wines as well as a line of wines made from Okanagan fruit.

Real estate

Real estate in the area is in high demand, due to the island's waterfront views as well as its proximity to both Vancouver and Victoria, BC. Pender Island is served by several realtors and local agencies. At least half of the properties sold on Pender Island are recreational properties, so the population of the island typically grows tremendously during the summer months as the "part time residents" return to the island.

See also

• Daniel Pender
• Juan Carrasco
• Pender Island Invitational

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pender Island

• "Pender Island (community)". BC Geographical Names. http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/40055.html. 
• "North Pender Island". BC Geographical Names. http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/17115.html. 
• "South Pender Island". BC Geographical Names. http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/20697.html. 
• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
• Pender Islands Conservancy Association
• Pender Islands Museum Society