Gambier Island

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Note: For the Gambier Islands in Polynesia see Gambier Islands.

Gambier Island is an island located in Howe Sound near Vancouver, British Columbia. It is about 17,000 acres (or 6,893 hectares) in size and is located about 10 kilometres north of the Horseshoe Bay community and ferry terminal.

A rugged and sparsely populated island, it is far quieter than its neighbour Bowen Island, which is popular with day-trippers and summer vacationers. Gambier Island is accessible by water taxi or by boat. A central gravel road allows travel by car and ATV between the small communities of the island.

The island elects two trustees to the Islands Trust, an organization that unites small island communities in British Columbia to oversee development and land use.

[edit] Population

There are about 200 long-term residents on Gambier, but the population swells to about 600 in the summertime due to the summer holiday homes found on the island. The island's scenic setting and solitude makes it popular with artists and writers.

[edit] Facilities

Gambier Island has a general store and one Bed and Breakfast. The main wharf and settlement area is called New Brighton. Gambier Harbour, another small community, lies to the east, with another wharf and boat dock.