Pender Island is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located in the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Pender Island is approximately in area and is home to about 2,250 permanent residents, as well as a large seasonal population. Like most of the rest of the Southern Gulf Islands, Pender Island enjoys a sub-Mediterranean climate and features open farmland, rolling forested hills, several lakes and small mountains, as well as many coves and beaches.
Geography
Pender Island consists of two islands, North Pender and South Pender, which are separated by a narrow canal originally dredged in 1903. In 1955 the islands were connected by a one lane bridge, as it remains today. Most of the population and services reside on North Pender Island, with the highest concentration surrounding Magic Lake.
History
At the time of European Contact, Pender Island was inhabited by Coast Salish peoples speaking the North Straits Salish language. There is an Indian reserve at Hay Point on South Pender Island, which is home to members of the Tsawout and TseycumFirst Nations. Carbon dating of artifacts in shell middens near Belden Cove identify an Indian village site that has been more or less continuously inhabited for five millennia. The Poets Cove Resort was built on an ancient First Nations village site. The provincial government's 2007 settlement with the Tsawwassen First Nation included hunting and fishing rights on and around Pender Island—an arrangement to which the Sencot'en Alliance objected, saying those rights are theirs under the 1852 Douglas Treaty. Sencot'en placenames on Pender Island include ʔiləčən, and x̣ʷəl̕isən̕. On North Pender Island: šxʷsəɬqʷsət, x̣ʷəx̣ʷiʔéčsəŋ, kʷeqsən, kʷeqsən, təlasəŋ̕, sq̕ʷəq̕ʷiŋ̕əs, q̕eʔƛ̕əŋ or sq̕eʔəƛ̕əm, and x̣ʷiʔx̣ʷnəčénəm or sx̣ʷix̣ʷθəʔ. On South Pender Island: sk̕ʷən̕enxʷ, and smanəč. A Spanish expedition led by Francisco de Eliza visited Pender in 1791, naming it "Ysla de San Eusevio". The islands, along with Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast, were given their current name by Captain Richards for Staff Commander, later Captain, Daniel Pender, RN who surveyed the coast of British Columbia aboard, and from 1857 to 1870. The first permanent resident of European descent arrived on South Pender Island in 1886. In 1903, residents of Pender Island petitioned the government to dredge the isthmus between what is now North and South Pender Islands.
Culture
Pender Island is a popular destination for fishing, boating, scuba diving and other outdoor pursuits. The island also boasts a 9-hole golf course. In 1937 several Pender residents put up money to purchase a parcel, on which to develop the course, from George Grimmer, a son of Pender pioneer Washington Grimmer. These first individuals and many others took out memberships as well as planned and developed the layout of the golf course. Incorporated as a society in 1945, with the exception of a brief hiatus during World War II, Pender Island Golf Course has existed ever since. There is also a 27-hole Disc Golf course close to Magic Lake. This course is well known in the Disc Golf community and is the site of many tournaments including The Republic of Pender Invitational and the Pender Island Invitational. – the highest peak on either of the Pender Islands. The Pender Post, Islands Independent, and the Island Tides are locally published independent newspapers. The Pender Islands Handbook a reference and travel guide. Pender Island is home to Canada's first olive grove, Waterlea Farm. Owner Andrew Butt tends 100 olive trees in hopes to produce the first made-in-Canada olive oil.
Parks and beaches
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve has opportunities for boating, kayaking, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing. A difficult trail at Beaumont leads from the Ainslie Point parking lot to the shoreline via steep switchbacks that cut through dense temperate rainforest. The difficult trail at Mt. Norman ascends to a panoramic look-out with views of the San Juan Islands. The moderate trail at Roe Lake meanders through the Shingle Bay uplands to one of the Southern Gulf Island's only freshwater lakes. At Roesland, visitors can explore a historic 1908 farmhouse which has been restored by members of the Pender Islands Museum Society.
Camping
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve has two options for campers: the drive-in, frontcountry sites at Prior Centennial Campground or the walk-in backcountry sites at Beaumont. Prior Centennial has 17 reservable sites and amenities include potable water, pit toilets, picnic tables and fire pits. Beaumont has 11 sites, and amenities include pit toilets and 15 mooring buoys for boaters. There is no potable water at Beaumont and no campfires are permitted, regardless of season.
Private camping is available at Port Browning Marina. The sites are drive-in and frontcountry. Tents can be pitched anywhere on the large waterfront lawn of the marina.
Transport
Pender Island can be accessed by regular ferry service provided by BC Ferries from Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen, and other southern Gulf Islands. There are also scheduled seaplane and water taxi services. There is also a system of "car stops," Pender Island's official alternative to hitch hiking. Conveniently located around the island you will find posts with maps, and often a handy chair. A community bus also began servicing the island in 2016. Pender Island also has a helicopter pad located near the main shopping mall, the Driftwood Centre. Select helicopters can also land at Fire Hall #1. Bedwell Harbour is an official port of entry for sailors from the United States; Port Browning and Otter Bay also offer anchorages.
