Lund, British Columbia

Lund
Village
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Regional District Powell River
Coordinates
Area 10.38 km2 (4 sq mi)
Population 243 (2006-05-16) per BCStats 2006 Census Profile
Density 23 / km2 (60 / sq mi)
Founded 1889 (1889)
MP John Weston (Conservative)
 - MLA Nicholas Simons (NDP)
Timezone Pacific Time Zone (UTC-8)
 - summer (DST) Pacific Time Zone (UTC-7)
Postal code V0N 2G0
Area code 604
Location of Lund, British Columbia

Lund is a small craft harbour and unincorporated village in Powell River District, British Columbia, Canada. It is located along the northern part of the Strait of Georgia on the mainland BC coast. The main landmark in the village is the Lund Hotel, established in 1905. By boat from Lund, the Copeland Islands (Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Park) and Desolation Sound, (which includes Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park) are nearby. Lund is home to many shops and services including a general store, a restaurant overlooking the water, kayak and adventure tourism stores, and Nancy's Bakery, a favorite of locals as well as tourists. Lund is also home to the world's largest chess set.

Contents

History

Lund was named by brothers Frederick and Charles Thulin when they settled at the harbour in December 1889. It was named after Lund, Sweden from where they came.[1] When they arrived, there were native homes around the harbour.[2] The Thulins built a store and in 1892 a post office was added followed by the first licenced hotel north of Vancouver two years later. Logging and fishing were the source of income in the early years. Transportation was by water. A second hotel, called the Malaspina, was built by the Thulins. When the original hotel was destroyed by a forest fire in 1918, the newer hotel, which continues to operate in the village to this day, was renamed the Lund Hotel. A paved road leading south to Vancouver was completed in 1954 and coastal steamer service ended two years later. The original wharf built by the Thulins was damaged by a storm in 1954 and replaced by a government wharf.[2]

Transportation

Lund is the northern terminus of Highway 101 Pacific Coastal Highway, a 15,200km highway along the Pacific Coast extending from Canada to Chilé. The highway is locally known as the Sunshine Coast Highway. Powell River is 22 kilometres (14 mi) south by road, from where BC Ferries offers service to Comox on Vancouver Island to the west across the Strait of Georgia. From Powell River transportation is also available by private aircraft or scheduled service with Pacific Coastal Airlines, which offers half-hour flights to Vancouver. Road access to Vancouver to the south involves two ferry crossings of fjords along the Sunshine Coast.

Lund harbour provides marine vessel access including regular water taxi service to Savary Island and is accessible by chartered float plane.

Government and politics

As an unincorporated community, municipal government is provided by the Powell River Regional District.

Lund is part of the West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country federal riding. John Weston, of the Conservative Party is the Member of Parliament. He was first elected to represent the riding in the 2008 election.

Nicholas Simons of the NDP was elected to represent Lund as part of the Powell River-Sunshine Coast constituency in the 2005 BC general election and re-elected in 2009.

Docks at Lund Harbour

References

  1. ^ Akrigg, G.P.V.; Akrigg, Helen B (1973) [1969]. 1001 British Columbia Place Names (3rd [rev.] ed.). Vancouver: Discovery Press. p. 106. OCLC 923074. 
  2. ^ a b White, Howard, ed (1994). "Shirley Corbett". Raincoast Chronicles Eleven Up. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. pp. 33, 36. ISBN 9781550171051. OCLC 30664446. 

External links