Lasqueti Island
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Lasqueti Island is an island off the east coast of Vancouver Island in the Gulf of Georgia, Powell River Regional District, British Columbia, Canada. A passenger-only ferry connects the island to the community of French Creek, near Parksville. The ferry makes two to three runs per day, five to six days per week.
Lasqueti Island is the least developed of the major Gulf Islands. Its roads are unpaved, and it is the only one of the larger Gulf Islands that is not connected to BC Hydro's electrical power grid. Solar, wind, micro-hydro and fossil fueled generators power the island. According to the Canada 2001 Census the island, defined as the Powell River E Regional District Electoral Area, had a population of 367 persons and a land area of 73.56 km² (28.4 sq mi).
Lasqueti is a major enclave of Canadian counter culture. It has a yearly Arts Festival on Canada Day Weekend, featuring local painters, sculpters, poets, fiction writers and historians. Some people believe that this island may have more artists and intellectuals, per capita, than any locale in Canada. Acquaculture includes Lasqueti Clams (see geoduck) [difficult to obtain in BC because they are exported to Japan, where they are highly valued] and prawns. Land crops include shallots and garlic. The island is divided between two micro-climates, rain forest and temperate -- some old growth rain forest trees still exist, as well as cacti, arbutus and succulent plants. Soils for the most part form shallow, stony deposits over bedrock which is almost entirely igneous and largely basaltic.
Its sailing and sea kayaking is among the finest, but most challenging in lower British Columbia. Tides and currents may become forbidding without warning -- the winter weather down the Strait of Georgia has been responsible for various careless mariner's death.
There is a hotel and a restaurant in False Bay, where the ferry arrives and departs. There is also a pizza parlour open at odd hours. Darzo's roadside baked goods stand operates on an honor system and is always worth checking out. There are at least two B&B's on the island, but business may tend to be seasonal. Transportation on the island is limited. It is neither tourist friendly nor tourist hostile. Should you desire to visit the island it is recommended that you be somewhat self-sufficient. Potable water may be scarce at times, in different places on the island. One must take food along, because no real markets exist on the island, just an informal food cooperative.
An excellent provincial park exists on a nearby island, Jedediah Island Marine Provincial Park, which is the site of a heritage farm of a former settler.
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