Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands - Fabulous Western Canada: Capture the Excitement of the Great West! - page 72

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Galiano Island. © Andrew Loveridge

THE SOUTHERN
GULF ISLANDS

Salt Spring Island

With its many art galleries, restaurants
and boutiques, Salt Spring Island is the
most developed of the Gulf Islands.
Aboriginals used to come here during
summer to catch shellfi sh, hunt fowl
and gather plants. In 1859, the fi rst
Europeans settled on the island and
began establishing farms and small
businesses here. During the summer,
artists and artisans fl ood the streets, ex-
hibiting their work. The Saturday mar-
ket held in the small town of Ganges is
also very popular.

The Gulf Islands consist of some 200
islands scattered across the Strait of
Georgia between the eastern shore of
Vancouver Island and the west coast
of the mainland. Among these are the
Southern Gulf Islands, which have re-
tained their wild essence and charm
by not being overly commercially de-
veloped. With no concrete and few cars
to mar their beauty, these islands con-
stitute havens of peace for stressed-out
Vancouverites and various bohemians.

Galiano Island

Gabriola Island

The fi rst thing one notices upon arriv-
ing on Galiano Island is the scarcity
of infrastructure and commercial de-
velopment. The inhabitants' passion-
ate protests to protect the ecological
balance of their island have attracted
worldwide attention. Their efforts have
enabled Galiano Island to preserve its
vast stretches of untouched wilderness,
which attract many bird lovers come
springtime. The island is also home to
several meditation centres and retreats
for New Age enthusiasts.

Nature dominates Gabriola Island, and
the best way to appreciate its distinct
atmosphere is to visit it by bike. This
peaceful haven attracts many Nanaimo
residents, several of whom have a
home on the island, and its superb
landscape provides a good spot for vis-
itors to spend a few quiet days away
from it all.