Lasqueti Island: Difference between revisions

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Lasqueti Island is an island off the east coast of Vancouver Island in the Strait 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 days per week, weather permitting.

History

Lasqueti Island was named in 1791 by Spanish Naval officer José María Narváez, commander of the Santa Saturnina.^[1]

Demographics

The island had a population of 426 in the Canada 2011 Census, up 18% from the Canada 2006 Census ^[2], and a land area of 73.57 km² (28.4 sq mi).

Lasqueti Island is the least developed of the major Gulf Islands. Its roads are mostly 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.

Community

It has a yearly Arts Festival on Canada Day Weekend, featuring local painters, photographers, sculptors, poets, fiction writers and historians. Performing arts include: Tsk Tsk Review (a backwoods-themed burlesque), The Bolting Brassicas (marching band), and the Lasquirkus (circus).

Lasqueti is neither tourist friendly nor tourist hostile. There is a hotel and a restaurant in False Bay, where the ferry arrives and departs. The cookie stand operates on an honour system and is always worth checking out. There are at least two B&B's on the island, but business is seasonal. Transportation on the island is limited. 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 should take food along, because local markets can operate at odd hours, depending on the season and demand. There are no public camping facilities on the island.

Its sailing and sea kayaking is among the finest, but also among the most challenging, in lower British Columbia. Tides and currents may become foreboding without warning -- the winter weather down the Strait of Georgia has been responsible for various mariners' deaths.

Aquaculture and agriculture

Hazelnuts growing in one of many orchards on Lasqueti Island.

Aquaculture includes clams, geoducks, oysters, honey mussels, and prawns. Agriculture include seasonal vegetables, orchards, nuts, and berries. There are a few farms on Lasqueti Island. Their products range from blueberries, apple juice, eggs, to maple syrup. There also is a shellfish farm and a shellfish hatchery. There are two world class dog breeders on island, breeding Belgian Malinois and Saint Bernards.

Flora and fauna

The island has drier and wetter microclimates, the latter often characterized by red cedar and the former by native cacti, arbutus and succulent plants.

Geography

Soils for the most part form shallow, stony deposits over bedrock which is almost entirely igneous and largely basaltic.

Panorama of False Bay from Heath Islet. In view on the horizon is Vancouver Island to the left and Finnerty Islands in the middle. False Bay is on the right side.

Islands near Lasqueti Island

Major:

Texada Island

Minor:

Jedediah Island
Finnerty Islands
Jervis Island
Bull Island
Sangster Island
Jenkins Island
Sisters Lighthouse

Parks

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.

In popular culture

Lasqueti Island is featured in an investigative news report by Global's 16x9 called Off the Grid^[3]. Which aired on April 28, 2012.

References

^ * Walbran, Captain John T. (1971). British Columbia Place Names, Their Origin and History (Facsimile reprint of 1909 ed.). Vancouver/Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 0-88894-143-9.
^ Statistics Canada. "[[Canada 2011 Census]]". Retrieved 2012-04-19. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
^ "16x9 - Off the Grid". www.globalnews.ca. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.

49°29′N 124°15′W / 49.483°N 124.250°W / 49.483; -124.250

External links

[1] * Walbran, Captain John T. (1971). British Columbia Place Names, Their Origin and History (Facsimile reprint of 1909 ed.). Vancouver/Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 0-88894-143-9.

[2] Statistics Canada. "[[Canada 2011 Census]]". Retrieved 2012-04-19. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

[3] "16x9 - Off the Grid". www.globalnews.ca. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.

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@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 *[http://www.mudgirls.ca/Site/circus.html/ Lasquirkus]
 *[https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bolting-Brassicas-Marcing-Band/226268396964/ The Bolting Brassicas]
+*[http://www.lasquitesaintbernards.com/Lasquite_Saint_Bernards.html/ Lasquite Saint Bernards]