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Rennell Sound near The Village of Queen
Charlotte |
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Overview: The Village
of Queen Charlotte is located on the
southern end of Graham Island on the Queen
Charlotte Islands in north-western British
Columbia, about 130 kilometres from Prince
Rupert. The administrative hub of the island,
The Village of Queen Charlotte is close to Skidegate, the
landing point for BC Ferry Service.
The Queen Charlotte Islands, commonly
referred to as Canada’s Galapagos, consist of
two large main islands, Graham Island to the
North, Moresby Island to the South and over
1500 surrounding smaller islands.
The total land area of the
Queen Charlotte Islands
is approximately 3,840 square miles; 156 miles
(250 km) from north to south. |
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Climate is mild for most of the year due to the currents of the Pacific Ocean. The average annual temperature
is about 8 degrees Celsius (46 F), and,
surprisingly, winter temperatures are
actually higher than that of inland
B.C. |
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Population:
1,045 (2001 census) |
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Access:
Most access the Queen Charlotte Islands by BC
Ferries, which depart from Prince Rupert and
land at Skidegate. This trip lasts approximately
six hours or is an overnight trip.
Once on the island, rental cars are available in
the major centers, with paved highway running
from Skidegate to Masset and Old Masset at the
northern end of Graham Island, and going through
the major centers. The Village of Queen
Charlotte is 4 km
from Skidegate. |
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Air service is available
with flights from Vancouver to Masset with
Pacific
Coastal Airlines.
North Pacific
Seaplanes offers air service from
Prince Rupert to Masset. |
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Major Industries:
Logging, Fishing, Government Service
History:
The Village of Queen Charlotte was founded in 1891
when a Crown Grant was deeded to James
Grant, Thomas Gore, and James MacKenzie.
Officially registered in 1908, The Village
of Queen Charlotte was the first registered town
site on the islands. Settlers were drawn
here to work in the large sawmill that the
North American timber company built. Once
World War One ended, the sawmill closed due
to lack of markets. The community assisted
each other to survive the Great Depression
of the 1930’s, and a prosperous fishing
industry took shape after World War Two to
present. The timber industry boom in the
later part of the 20th century
gave The Village of Queen Charlotte a stable basis for
her economy.
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B.C. Ferry Service |
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The Village
of Queen Charlotte became one the newest
incorporated cities in British Columbia in 2005,
and is the administrative hub for the island,
with federal and provincial services agencies
having their headquarters for the Islands here,
as well as the RCMP station, hospital, banking,
and local shops provide licenses to fish and
hunt. |
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Community Festivals:
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Hospital Days in late June was founded as a
means to raise funds to build a hospital in
the area, and provide it with the operating
funds. Still raising money to purchase
equipment for the local hospital, Hospital
Days is a celebration of the community.
Starting off with a parade, this festival
includes children’s events, ball games,
races, and a community dinner afterwards.
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Community Days held on Labour Day weekend
include a slo-pitch baseball tournament,
parades, children’s events, dinners, and
dances
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Kayaking on the Queen Charlottes |
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Recreation:
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Take a step back in time to see how
the pioneers to the Queen Charlotte
Islands lived. Heritage Buildings
which still exist include the
Premier Hotel, the old hospital, the
old schoolhouse and the old sawmill.
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Hikers will enjoy the trail to
Sleeping Beauty Mountain, and in
late summer examine the beautiful
Newcombe’s Daisy, unique to the
Queen Charlotte Islands.
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The formal headquarters for the
Gwaii Haanas National Park and Info
Center is located here, offering
assistance to travel to Gwaii
Haanas.
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For less strenuous exercise. The
Village of Queen Charlotte is the retail hub for
Graham Island, and many shops
showcase the works produced by the
artists of the Islands.
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Nearby Attractions:
Fishing on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte
Islands is very productive. A good hot-spot for
salmon and halibut is at nearby Skidegate. The
Village of Queen Charlotte is also a good place to hire a
charter boat and try your hand at some deep sea
fishing.
f you want to watch the fish rather than catch
them, the Skidegate Band Council operates a
Salmon Project, where you can view Coho and chum
from mid-October to June on the Honna River, 3
km west of The Village of Queen Charlotte. You will need
to contact the Band Council for permission to
enter.
The Queen Charlotte Islands are a kayakers
paradise. Novices can try the sport out in the
sheltered waters of Skidegate Inlet. For more of
an expert challenge, take your kayak out to
nearby Rennell Sound for access to the west side
of the Islands. |
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Rennell Sound is the only point on the west
coast of the Islands that is accessible by
road. However, the decent to the beach has
a 24% gradient, making it one of the
steepest roads in North America! Check your
brakes before heading down what is known as
“The Hill”, and leave large campers and
trailers at home. Once there, camping can
be found at the Cone Head Forest Service
Recreation Site, and the Rennell Sound
Forest Recreation Service Site. Bonanza and
Gregory Beaches provide excellent
beachcombing and hiking opportunities. Try
the Riley Creek Trail, found nearby the
campsites, to explore some of the
untouched rainforest. For scuba divers,
shore dives are plentiful along the coastal
road, and you can charter a boat to take you
to more great sites on the west coast of the
Islands. A boat launch is also found here
for fishermen and kayakers. |
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Yakoun Lake |
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Other campgrounds near the Village of Queen
Charlotte
include those found at Haydn Turner Park,
located at the west side of the Village of Queen
Charlotte, and Kagan Bay Forest Service Recreation
Site, just west of the city.
Nearby Yakoun Lake, about 25 km northwest of the
Village of Queen Charlotte is a popular spot for
freshwater fishing or to swim in the freshwater
lake or relax on the beautiful beach. Hikers
will enjoy the Bellis Trail heading out from
Yakoun Lake.
If you are interested in taking a gigantic leap
into the past, arrange sightseeing trips from
the Village of Queen Charlotte to Lina Island, to view
ancient petroglyphs, or to the abandoned village
of Haina, on Maude Island. |
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For More Information:
- Guide to the
Queen Charlotte Islands Haida Gwaii- Observer
Publishing, 2004
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The Village of Queen Charlotte Website:
http://www.queencharlotte.ca/
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http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3892 |
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