The Southern Gulf Islands archipelago, of which Salt Spring Island is the largest, dots the waters of the Straight of Georgia extending south across the U.S. border, where it is known as the San Juan Islands. It comprises of five major and wonderfully unique islands. Idyllic in landscape, rustic in character, the Southern Gulf Islands bask in balmy climate, pastoral tranquility, healthy lifestyle and some of the best protected boating waters in the world!

Salt Spring Island - The Star of the Gulf Islands:
(click on the map to see a more detailed map of Salt Spring Island)

Size: 185 sq. km (72 sq. miles), pop. approx. 12,000.

Interactive Map of Salt Spring

Demography: Wide social spectrum - young families, older semi - and fully retired people, professional people, many artists and celebrities from all over the world.

Climate: Precipitation 36 inches & 2004 sunshine hours annually (comparable to Vernon in the Interior). Winter is the rainy season, seldom below freezing, summers are usually dry and very pleasant. In a normal year, the flowering trees are in full bloom in the first week of March, often in February.

Flora and Fauna: Sun loving evergreen Arbutus (Madrona) trees, Garry Oak, Kiwi and fig trees in cultivated gardens, deer, eagles, marine mammals, California quail and many other warm weather loving wildlife. No bears, coyotes or wolves.

Ferry landings: Fulford Harbour (to Victoria), Long Harbour (to Vancouver) & Vesuvius (to Crofton).

Amenities: Hospital, 3 Elementary schools, Middle and High School, RCMP, ambulance, 8 parks, 5 community halls, 5 gas stations, 2 banks & a Credit Union, churches, taxi, water taxi, 2 major grocery stores, scheduled airlines, post offices, couriers, government agent, 2 building supply stores, marinas and lift, retails stores, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops; 2 golf courses, dive shop, kayaking outfit, horse riding, campgrounds; lakes, beaches, trails and much, much more

Enjoy local markets and village shopping, an art exhibition, theatre or a concert, relax to the soothing sound of gentle waves against the shore, have a round of golf, swim in the ocean or fresh water lakes, cycle along pastoral country lanes or hike through the quiet woods.

The "Outer Islands": While Salt Spring Island is the largest of the southern Gulf Island archipelago and has the most amenities, four other major Islands are located in the same area of the Canadian waters, all accessible by B.C. Ferries as well as scheduled airlines.

Pender Island - 37 sq. km (14 sq. miles), pop. 2,000, North and South Penders, connected by a bridge.

Galiano Island - 57 sq. km (22 sq. miles), pop. 997, north of Active Pass

Mayne Island - 23 sq. km (9 sq. miles), pop. 835, south of Active Pass

Saturna Island - 31 sq. km (12 sq. miles), pop. 290, the most southerly

(for comparison: Salt Spring Island - 185 sq. km (72 sq. miles), pop. 12,000)

Amongst and around these major Islands there are literally hundreds of smaller islands, islets, bays, coves and beaches, many of which are provincial parks, open to the enjoyment of everyone.

The pleasant climate, wildlife, miles and miles of shoreline, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, quiet forests and greenery year round are just some of the features attracting people to this region from all around the world.

Brief History:

In the early times, native people used the islands for harvesting seafood, lily bulbs and wild fowl. There is strong evidence of permanent settlements on Salt Spring. The first non-aboriginal settlers arrived in 1859. They homesteaded land, clearing the forested Island with the most primitive tools. The first horse did not arrive on the Island until 1870, the first settlers having only oxen as draught animals. Early farming was mostly on a subsistence level, but some managed to sell excess produce to Victoria and Nanaimo, although transportation was difficult. We may complain about the ferries today, but just read an account of the effort it took to reach Victoria in the 1800s and count yourself lucky! Several farmers established orchards and in the days before the Okanagan gained fame as a fruit growing area, Salt Spring was the biggest supplier of fruit in the Province.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s a new type of settler began arriving from Europe. These "gentleman" farmers, with independent incomes, lived a relatively easy life compared with that of the homesteaders who had only their own hard work to rely on. With these new arrivals Salt Spring began to develop quickly into a community with an increasing number of amenities and social activities. There is much historical evidence of dances, picnics, amateur dramatics and community involvement. Nothing much has changed, it remains a great place to live!