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Lasqueti
Island
Lasqueti Island is located between Texada
Island and Vancouver Island across Stephens Pass in the Strait
of Georgia from Parksville
and Qualicum Beach.
Least
Developed Gulf Island
Lasqueti Island is an interesting place home to around 350 full-time
residents and increases to around 1,200 during the busy summer season.
The island is around 22 km (14 miles) long and 8 km (5 miles) wide
and probably one of the least developed in the Gulf Islands.
Ecologically
Minded
To make things different, Lasqueti Island is off the BC Hydro electrical
grid making the inhabitants more self-sufficient and ecologically
minded. Walking around, you will notice an array of innovative solar
panels, gardens and composting facilities.
Passenger-Only
Ferry Service
In order to get on Lasqueti Island you either have to use a private
boat, water taxi, seaplane or passenger-only ferry service. The
regular passenger-only ferry service runs on a varied schedule throughout
the week and is operated year round by Western Pacific Marine aboard
the ferry M.V. Centurion VII.
French
Creek
The ferry leaves from the small village of French Creek which is
on Hwy 19A between Parksville and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island.
From French Creek the ferry goes to False Bay on Lasqueti Island
about an hour's sailing time. Cycles, for a small fee, can also
be brought aboard the M.V. Centurion VII. There are quite
a few gravel roads on Lasqueti Island with some vehicles and motorcycles
around having been brought over on a barge.
False
Bay
The community of False Bay is located on the north-west side of
the island just south and adjacent to China Cloud Bay. The main
commercial and business centre extends from the ferry terminal for
about a kilometre (.6 mile), an easy walk, and is commonly called
'The Strip.'
The
'Strip'
Along the 'Strip' starting at the ferry terminal you can find the
main entertainment place - the Lasqueti Pub & Restaurant. Next
to this establishment there is a Whole Food Store, Old Bakery Bed
& Breakfast, Post Office, Lasqueti Island Art Centre, Crystal
and Chamomile Gift Shop, Tolling's Jin Shin Do, school and a kids'
playing field, fire hall, Free Store and the Teapot House.
China
Cloud Bay
For outdoor recreation there is a small beach in False Bay at China
Cloud Bay. You can find access to great kayaking, canoeing, swimming,
oyster picking and beachcombing. To get to China Cloud Bay, take
the gravel road from between the Art Gallery and playing field along
the 'Strip.'
Squitty Bay Marine Provincial Park
If you are operating a boat in the area try and make it to Squitty
Bay Marine Provincial Park. Squitty Bay is situated on the south-east
tip of Lasqueti Island located just north of Young Point. The bay
offers very protective shelter away from the prevailing heavy winds
and sea found in the Strait of Georgia.
Panoramic
View
Squitty Bay Marine Provincial Park can also be accessed by mountainbike
or taking long walks along the gravel road from False Bay. Mount
Trementon, the highest point on Lasqueti Island, has a panoramic
view of the Strait of Georgia, Texada Island and Jedediah Island
Marine Park.
Jedediah
Island Marine Park
Established since 1995, Jedediah Island Marine Park offers excellent
kayaking and beach wilderness camping adventures. The park, comprised
of 30 small rocky islands, was purchased from private landholders,
Al and Mary Palmer, through the help of private donations, and fundraising
committees, including the Friends of Jedediah and Nature Trust of
British Columbia.
Accommodation
Unfortunately, there are no campgrounds or camping on Lasqueti Island.
If you would like to stay the night there are a couple of Bed and
Breakfasts on the island with Old Bakery Bed & Breakfast and
the Driftwood Cove Beach House, both offering a relaxed setting
with some great kayaking available.
Summer
Time Changes
If you do visit Lasqueti Island, please check with Western Pacific
Marine for any possible changes. Remember the M.V. Centurion
VII can fill up fast with passengers during the summer so reservations
are sometimes required. For parking a vehicle in French Creek check
with the Harbour Master. Also, to help the locals ecologically,
please remember to pack out what you take in.
Sunshine
Coast
If you are visiting on the Sunshine Coast, you can get water taxi
service from Secret Cove to Lasqueti Island. Malaspina Water Taxi
also offers tours of Jedediah Island Marine Park and scuba diving
adventures around Lasqueti Island.
Information
on Lasqueti Island
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