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 (69 km²) in size and is located about 10 km 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, ATV and Go-Kart 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.

1 Population
2 Facilities
3 Camps
4 Links

[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. There are no garbage processing facilities on the island. Barging companies provide service from Gibsons and Horseshoe bay for transport of large items. Fire service is run by volunteers.

The community center hosts concerts, children's Christmas parties, barbecues, and the like. It is available for rentals.

[edit] Camps

Camp Fircom, A United Church Summer Camp for children, youth and families is located on the island's south-eastern edge, near Halkett Bay. During the summers, they offer great camping experiences and programs, a tradition that began in 1923. During the fall to spring months they offer their remote, pristine site for rental by user groups of all shapes and sizes.