Quadra Island
Encyclopedia
Quadra Island is an island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island
, British Columbia
, Canada
, part of the Discovery Islands
. It is separated from Vancouver Island by Discovery Passage
, and from Cortes Island by Sutil Channel
. The population of Quadra Island and surrounding mainland inlets as of the 2006 federal census count (excluding Indian Reserves tallied separately) was 2,472, down from the 2001 federal census count of 2,548.
Quadra Island was given its name in 1903 by the Geographic Board of Canada, in honour of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
.
There are two small business centres on the island, one near the Vancouver Island
BC Ferry
terminal at Quathiaski Cove
, and one near the Cortes Island
ferry terminal at Heriot Bay
. The island has many beaches, trails, lakes, and parks. Main Lake Provincial Park
is located on the northern part of the island, and Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park
is on the eastern shore, near Heriot Bay
.
The island is home to a thriving art community, as well as a growing number of white-collar professionals who commute to Campbell River
, on Vancouver Island.
There is an elementary school on the island. Schoolchildren in grades 7 through 12 travel by ferry to Campbell River to attend École Phoenix Middle School or Carihi Secondary School.
The Cape Mudge Reserve on the south tip of the island is home to the We-wai-kai, one of the main bands comprising the Southern Kwakiutl (the other being the We-wai-kum based in Campbell River
on Vancouver Island. Together they are known as the Laich-kwil-tach
(historically known as the Euclataws or Yucultas, names which are more familiar to speakers of British Columbia English
). The Nuyumabales Cultural Centre is located within the Cape Mudge village and holds an important collection of art and regalia from earlier times, items that were repatriated after many years from museums elsewhere.
The Southern Kwakiutl (part of the larger Kwakwaka'wakw
ethnic grouping) migrated into the northern Georgia Strait from Queen Charlotte Strait
over two centuries ago, enslaving, displacing and absorbing the Comox and Pentlatch peoples who formerly lived there.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, part of the Discovery Islands
Discovery Islands
The Discovery Islands are the islands in the Discovery Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland in British Columbia. These islands are sometimes considered to be part of the Northern Gulf Islands....
. It is separated from Vancouver Island by Discovery Passage
Discovery Passage
Discovery Passage is a channel that forms part of the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the Discovery Islands which lie off the British Columbia coast north of the Georgia Strait. It was named by Captain Vancouver for his ship, the HMS Discovery...
, and from Cortes Island by Sutil Channel
Sutil Channel
Sutil Channel is a channel, or strait, in British Columbia, Canada, located at the north end of the Strait of Georgia, between Quadra Island and Read Island to the west, and Cortes Island to the east. It connects to several channels to the north, including Calm Channel and Hoskyn Channel...
. The population of Quadra Island and surrounding mainland inlets as of the 2006 federal census count (excluding Indian Reserves tallied separately) was 2,472, down from the 2001 federal census count of 2,548.
Quadra Island was given its name in 1903 by the Geographic Board of Canada, in honour of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was a Spanish naval officer born in Lima, Peru. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain , this navigator explored the Northwest Coast of North America as far north as present day Alaska.Juan...
.
There are two small business centres on the island, one near the Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
BC Ferry
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
terminal at Quathiaski Cove
Quathiaski Cove, British Columbia
Quathiaski Cove is a settlement on Quadra Island in British Columbia.Quathiaski cove is the commercial hub of Quadra Island and point of arrival for the regular BC Ferries service between Campbell River on Vancouver Island and Quadra Island....
, and one near the Cortes Island
Cortes Island, British Columbia
Cortes Island is one of the archipelago known as the Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada which lie beyond the northern end of the Gulf of Georgia, between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia Mainland. Cortes lies on the far side of Quadra Island from the city of Campbell River,...
ferry terminal at Heriot Bay
Heriot Bay, British Columbia
Heriot Bay is the principal settlement on Quadra Island in British Columbia, Canada.Heriot Bay hosts a ferry terminal which is used by BC Ferries to sail between Heriot Bay and Whaletown on Cortes Island....
. The island has many beaches, trails, lakes, and parks. Main Lake Provincial Park
Main Lake Provincial Park
Main Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on Quadra Island....
is located on the northern part of the island, and Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park
Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park
Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on the east side of Quadra Island, near the city of Campbell River.-References:...
is on the eastern shore, near Heriot Bay
Heriot Bay, British Columbia
Heriot Bay is the principal settlement on Quadra Island in British Columbia, Canada.Heriot Bay hosts a ferry terminal which is used by BC Ferries to sail between Heriot Bay and Whaletown on Cortes Island....
.
The island is home to a thriving art community, as well as a growing number of white-collar professionals who commute to Campbell River
Campbell River, British Columbia
Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route...
, on Vancouver Island.
There is an elementary school on the island. Schoolchildren in grades 7 through 12 travel by ferry to Campbell River to attend École Phoenix Middle School or Carihi Secondary School.
The Cape Mudge Reserve on the south tip of the island is home to the We-wai-kai, one of the main bands comprising the Southern Kwakiutl (the other being the We-wai-kum based in Campbell River
Campbell River, British Columbia
Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route...
on Vancouver Island. Together they are known as the Laich-kwil-tach
Laich-kwil-tach
Laich-kwil-tach is the proper spelling in the Kwak'wala language of the name used for themselves by the "Southern Kwakiutl" people of Quadra Island and Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada...
(historically known as the Euclataws or Yucultas, names which are more familiar to speakers of British Columbia English
Canadian English
Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language...
). The Nuyumabales Cultural Centre is located within the Cape Mudge village and holds an important collection of art and regalia from earlier times, items that were repatriated after many years from museums elsewhere.
The Southern Kwakiutl (part of the larger Kwakwaka'wakw
Kwakwaka'wakw
The Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous group of First Nations peoples, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands.Kwakwaka'wakw translates as "Those who speak Kwak'wala", describing the collective nations within the area that...
ethnic grouping) migrated into the northern Georgia Strait from Queen Charlotte Strait
Queen Charlotte Strait
Queen Charlotte Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It connects Queen Charlotte Sound with Johnstone Strait, Discovery Passage and then to the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound...
over two centuries ago, enslaving, displacing and absorbing the Comox and Pentlatch peoples who formerly lived there.
External links
- Quadra Island - Heart and hub of the Discovery Islands
- Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada
- Quadra Island History, British Columbia, Canada