Johnstone Strait

Johnstone Strait is a 110 km (68 mi) channel along the north east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Opposite the Vancouver Island coast, running north to south, are Hanson Island, West Cracroft Island, the mainland British Columbia coast, Hardwicke Island, West Thurlow Island and East Thurlow Island. At that point, the strait meets Discovery Passage which connects to the Georgia Strait.

The strait is between 2.5 km (1.5 miles)and and 5 km (3 miles) wide. It is a major navigation channel on the west coast of North America as it is the preferred channel for vessels from the Georgia Strait leaving to the north of Vancouver Island through the Queen Charlotte Strait bound for Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii, Alaska, and the North Pacific Ocean and for south bound vessels from those areas bound for the Port of Vancouver.

The Strait is home to approximately 150 Orca Whales during the summer months who are often seen by kayakers and boaters packed with tourists. Dr. Paul Spong has been researching the Orcas in the Strait since 1970. Spong's work has included the establishment of the OrcaLab which is based on the idea that the Orcas can be studied in their natural habitat without interfering with their lives or their habitat.[1]

The Strait was named for James Johnstone of the Chatham. His survey party established that Vancouver Island was an island.

There are no cities or towns along the length of the strait. Telegraph Cove and Robson Bight on Vancouver Island are along the strait near its north end and the village of Sayward on Kelsey Bay is near its mid point.