Pender Island, British Columbia

Pender Island

Pender is actually two islands, a North and a South island. Before 1911, the islands were joined by an isthmus. In 1911, a channel was dug, to allow boats to pass. Since 1955, the two islands have been joined by a man-made bridge. Over that time the two islands have come to be referred to as one island. Locally there is a bit of a rivalry between the North Island and South Island residents.

Pender Island was discovered by Francisco-Eliza, commandant at Nootka, circa 1791, and the island went by the name of Sayas or San Eusbio, depending on the map. Finally in November 1857, it was named after Captain Daniel Pender R.N. of the H.M. surveying vessel Plumper.

The two islands of Pender, together, are 24 sq km, and have a combined population of about 2000.

Pender Island is one of two hub islands for the Gulf Islands ferry routes. It enjoys good service not only to the Mainland (via the ferry that leaves Long Harbour, on Salt Spring, en route to Tsswassan, Vancouver's terminal, with stops at each of the other Southern Gulf Islands) and Vancouver Island (Swartz Bay, Victoria's terminal, to Otter Bay on Pender Island), but also to the other Gulf Islands.

Pender is one of the islands to enjoy cable TV service in selected areas, and there is also the option of satellite links.

There is shopping at the Driftwood Centre, which is close to Browning Harbour (pub/coffee shop, docks). On South Pender, there's Bedwell Harbour, which is one of the Customs entry points for U.S. boaters entering Canadian waters (Sidney, on Vancouver Island, is the other entry point).

Bedwell Harbour Resort was purchased and redeveloped, a few years ago, as "Poet's Cove". A full service luxury hotel now creates a destination for a visitor to Pender. Fly in via Harbour Air, or Seair, or Salt Spring Air (charter service), or, arrive by ferry/car, or, by your own boat. A lovely vacation get-away awaits!

Port Browning Marina was purchased several years ago, and has really been fixed up. The pub has really good food.

Hope Bay, a more historic spot on North Pender, along with Port Washington, has rebuilt after the old turn of the century store burned down a few years ago. There's an 18 hole golf course on North Pender, which is also used by golfers on Mayne (short ferry trip between these Islands, which are serviced by ferries out of Victoria's terminal (Swartz Bay) & Vancouver's terminal (Tsawwassen to Long Harbour route, on Salt Spring).

The Islands Trust governs all of the Gulf Islands and zoning/growth controls are in place for each Island. Two trustees are elected, per Island. On the Penders, as the Islands are seen politically as two "entities", there are therefore four trustees. Pender Island's Trust, unlike that on Salt Spring Island, does allow for fractional ownership choices, and Poet's Cove plus the former Otter Bay Marina (now known as Currents) are examples of this shared ownership choice.

For more details on the Pender lifestyle, and real estate opportunities on Pender Island, please call Li...ask for Li by name!

Pender Bridge	Pender Bridge	Pender Bridge

Contact Li Read at Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring), 4 - 105 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 2V5; Direct Tel: 1-250-537-7647