Coal Harbour, British Columbia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Not to be confused with Coal Harbour, the body of water in Burrard Inlet and the adjacent neighbourhood of Vancouver.

Coal Harbour in northern Vancouver Island is named after a small and unsuccessful local coal mine that was founded in 1883. The village's most successful industry, however, was whaling. It was the last whaling station in British Columbia when it closed in 1967. The station utilised the original buildings of the RCAF.

The townsite and surrounding area was the site of a Royal Canadian Airforce base for seaplane patrols in the Northern Pacific during World War II. Many of the original buildings still remain, such as the general store (the old RCAF Coal Harbour, gymnasium), and the officers barracks immediately overlooking the harbour. RCAF Stranraers and later Canso-As (the Canadian designation for Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats built by Canadian Vickers) were based here. Anti-aircraft ordinance, ammunition storage for depth charges and considerable concrete fortifications were built. A Stranraer was lost with all its crew during the war in mysterious circumstances.

There is a small, free museum dedicated to the RCAF station built and maintained by a private individual in the sole remaining Canso hangar.

[edit] Whaling Station

After the war the buildings were bought by Canada Packers and whaling operations began. Whales were harpooned by a fleet of up to 5 small "chasers" with harpoon guns. Whales were brought up by steam windlass on the main slipway formerly used by planes and then flensed on the main concourse and processesed in the main buildings. Japanese whalers operated jointly with Canadian partners. The Taiyo group operated the Coal Harbour fisheries from 1962-1967 using a land station at Coal Harbor. They caught mostly sei (2153), sperm (1108), and fin (837) whales. Some blue and humpback whales were also taken. The plant was powered by two WWII US destroyer steam engines.

Canada Packers took over the facility when Taiyo pulled out in 1967. The facility lay idle until sold for scrap by Canada Packers It was dismantled between 1972-1975 by Argus Salvage of Qualicum, B.C.

[edit] Coal Harbour Today

In the 1970s, a copper mine was established near the site and ran until 1996.

Today few of the original WWII building remain, the General Store and the Commanding Officer's barracks still standing and being used as of 2010. The community is linked with a good metalled road to Port Hardy. The local school has been closed and students commute to nearby Port Hardy. Coal Harbour is now a bedroom community for Port Hardy, but local industry remains in the form of seaplane services, connections to major fishing lodges. There is a General Store and a local government wharf.

The village is also known for its gigantic jawbone of a blue whale. Nearby is the headquarters and main community of the Quatsino First Nation, the band government of the Gwat'sinux group of the Kwakwaka'wakw.