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Vancouver Island Regional Library
The Vancouver Island Regional Library(VIRL) is the fourth-largest library system in British Columbia. It serves more than 430,000 people on Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) and the Central Coast (Bella Coola) through 39 branch libraries and a books-by-mail service. Administrative offices are located in Nanaimo. Vancouver Island Regional Library opened its doors in 1936 as the Vancouver Island Union Library; it was the second regional library in North America. Services Vancouver Island Regional Library offers a books-by-mail service. VIRL has a searchable online catalogue. *Information and reference services *Access to full text databases *Community information *Internet access *Reader's advisory services *Programs for children, youth and adults *Delivery to homebound individuals *Interlibrary loan *Free downloadable audiobooks Branches With Central Services on Hammond Bay Road in north Nanaimo, VIRL has branches in Bella Coola, British Columbia, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Public Library
A public library is a library, most often a lending library, that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries: # they are generally supported by taxes (usually local, though any level of government can and may contribute); # they are governed by a board to serve the public interest; # they are open to all, and every community member can access the collection; # they are entirely voluntary, no one is ever forced to use the services provided; and # they provide library and information services without charge. Public libraries exist in many countries across the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Public libraries are distinct from research library, research libraries, school library, school libraries, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gold River, British Columbia
Gold River is a village municipality located close to the geographic centre of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. In terms of the Island's human geography it is considered to be part of the "North Island", even though it technically is on the Island's west coast. History Taking advantage of its deep water and abundant forests, Gold River developed in 1967 as a prototypical logging and pulp and paper industry community. Gold River quickly sprang into prosperity and established excellent community facilities. When shifting world markets brought the mill closure in 1998, many of Gold River's inhabitants were forced to relocate. Since then, the village has attempted to capitalize on its idyllic setting among picturesque mountains, lakes, rivers, ocean, and forests to develop tourism and sport fishing as its main economic supports. Currently, Gold River serves as a base for such famous activities as the Nootka Island trek, hiking the Elk Lake trail and mountain climbing G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sandspit, British Columbia
Sandspit () is the largest community on Moresby Island, in Haida Gwaii off the Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada. The only town on Moresby Island, Sandspit has accommodations, a campground, supermarket and 85-berth harbour serving visitors to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. The unincorporated community had a population of 310 as of the 2021 census, up from 296 at the 2016 census. The community is served by Sandspit Airport with daily flights to and from Vancouver, as well as multiple ferry voyages from Alliford Bay to Skidegate Landing on Graham Island. Near the airport is the "Spirit of Sandspit", a copper and cedar sculpture of a salmon, the "Spirit of Sandspit", by island artist Lon Sharp dominates the main road. Sandspit is also home to the Open Ocean totem pole by Jesse Jones, Jimmy Jones and Jason Goetzinger. The Circle Tour leaves and returns to Sandspit on active gravel logging road past Skidegate Lake, Copper River, Gray Bay b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Qualicum Beach () is a town located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the 2021 census, it had a population of 9,303. It is situated at the foot of Mount Arrowsmith, along the Strait of Georgia on Vancouver Island's northeastern coast. Qualicum Beach's natural environment and proximity to Victoria and Vancouver have made it a tourist destination, with cottages along the coast. The community is mostly of retirement age, with the oldest average population in Canada with a median age of 65.9 in 2016. Qualicum Beach is served by the coast-spanning Island Highway, the Island Rail Corridor, a local airport, and a nearby ferry to Lasqueti Island. History Etymology The name "Qualicum" comes from a Pentlatch term that means "Where the dog salmon (chum salmon) run." Qualicum First Nation Qualicum Beach is located within the traditional territory of the Qualicum First Nation. People from all over would come to the Qualicum area to gather camas flowers in the spri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quadra Island
Quadra Island is a large island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Discovery Islands, in the Strathcona Regional District. Etymology In 1903, the island was named after the Peruvian Spanish navigator Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, who explored and settled the Vancouver Island area in the late 18th century. History The island was claimed by the Peruvian Spanish navigator Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra for the Spanish Empire in the 1700s. A settlement was not successfully negotiated and ownership of the island remained in dispute between Britain and Spain in the early 1790s. The two countries nearly began a war over the issue; the confrontation became known as the Nootka Crisis. That was averted when both agreed to recognize the other's rights to the area in the first Nootka Convention in 1790, a first step to peace. Finally, the two countries signed the second Nootka Convention in 1793 and the third Convention i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port Renfrew, British Columbia
Port Renfrew is a small Unincorporated area, unincorporated community located on the south shore of Port San Juan, an inlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Port Renfrew has a population of 262 (as of the 2021 Canadian census) and has been touted as "the Tall Tree Capital of Canada". History Originally named ''Port San Juan'', the original colonists changed the name to honour Lord Renfrew who planned to settle Croft (land), crofters there. The name change was due to mail being sent to the San Juan Islands instead of Port San Juan and the inlet the town sits beside retains the name. Like many coastal Vancouver Island communities, Port Renfrew has a rich history of Logging, forestry and fishing. Between 1830 and 1925, 137 major shipping tragedies occurred in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This stretch of coastline around Port Renfrew became known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. First Nations The Pache ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port McNeill, British Columbia
Port McNeill is a town in the North Island region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada on Vancouver Island's northeast shore, on Queen Charlotte Strait. Originally a base camp for loggers, it became a settlement in 1936. It was named after Captain William Henry McNeill of the Hudson's Bay Company. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, Port McNeill's population was 2,356, living in 1,019 of its 1,111 total private dwellings, higher than its 2016 population of 2,337. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. Religion According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Port McNeill included: *Irreligion (1,545 persons or 65.9%) *Christianity (730 persons or 31.1%) *Buddhism (10 persons or 0.4%) Tourism and location Along with housing the headquarters of the Regional District of Mount Waddington, Port McNeill is the gateway to the Broughton straight. It offers the only access to the villages of Alert Bay (Corm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port Hardy, British Columbia
Port Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-east tip of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 3,902 as of the 2021 census. It is the gateway to Cape Scott Provincial Park, the North Coast Trail and the BC Marine Trail, located on the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island. The community has access to various outdoor activities, such as kayaking, caving, scuba diving, nature viewing, surfing, saltwater rapids, fishing and camping. Port Hardy's twin city is Numata, Japan. Name Port Hardy was named after Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, who served as the captain of ''HMS Victory''. He served at the Battle of Trafalgar when Horatio Nelson died in his arms. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Port Hardy had a population of 3,902 living in 1,791 of its 1,984 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 4,132. With a land area of , it had a population densit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port Clements, British Columbia
Port Clements is an incorporated village situated at the east end of Masset Inlet in Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) off the coast of the Province of British Columbia in Canada. Known as Gamadiis in HlG̱aagilda X̱aayda kil, it is one of seven village sites that flourished in the rich waters at the mouth of Yakoun River, where an estuary shelters nine Pacific salmonid species and many kinds of birds. Founded by Eli Tingley in 1907, it was once known under the name Queenstown, but renamed to Port Clements in 1914 after Herb S. Clements, the local MP at the time (for Comox—Atlin, then 1917-1921 for Comox—Alberni), when the name "Queenstown" duplicated and therefore became unusable for the post office. The highway leading to Port Clements from Tlell and from Port Clements to Masset was paved in 1969 and soon after completion the village became incorporated in 1975. The road to Tlell is called the straight stretch, as it is straight. The other main road ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port Alice, British Columbia
Port Alice is a village of approximately 739 (2021 census) located on Neroutsos Inlet, southwest of Port McNeill, on Vancouver Island, originally built by Whalen Pulp and Paper Mills of Vancouver. The community is known for its natural environment, pulp mill, and salt water fishing. History Historically, before 1750, the area was home to the Hoyalas, followed by the Koskimo people in the late 1800s. It was named after Alice Whalen, the founders' mother. The brothers Whalen began their construction of the mill at its present site in 1917, with first pulp produced in 1918. The mill at Swanson Bay, on the Inside Passage farther north, was also a Whalen operation. Due to heavy rainfall and the surrounding steep slopes, Port Alice experienced mud and rock slides in 1927 and 1935, which contributed to the decision to relocate the town site away from the mill in 1965. Landslides continued to occur in the area and at the new townsite in 1973, 1975, 1987, and 2010. In 1965, Port Al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port Alberni
Port Alberni () is a city located on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The city lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island's longest inlet. Port Alberni currently has a total population of 18,259. It is the location of the head offices of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Port Alberni is served by the coast-spanning Island Highway system, and a local airport. The principal industry is forestry products. History Port Alberni and the West Coast of Vancouver Island have been populated by the people of Tseshaht First Nation, Hupacasath First Nation, and the Nuu-chah-nulth people for thousands of years. Many place names in Port Alberni have a Nuu-chah-nulth origin, such as Somass (washing), Kitsuksis (log across mouth of creek), Pacheena (foamy), and Nootka (go around). Ancient petroglyph carvings can be found at Sproat Lake. The City of Port Alberni is named for Captain Don Pedro de Alberní, a Spanish ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parksville, British Columbia
Parksville is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. As of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 Census, Parksville's population was 13,642, representing a 9.5% increase over the 2016 Census. Parksville is well known for its large, sandy beaches at Parksville Bay and Craig Bay. The city's best-known annual event since 1982 is a sandcastle-building competition held from mid-July to mid-August, dubbed "Parksville Beachfest". Beachfest is the only World Championship Sand Sculpting official qualification event in Canada. Parksville is served by the coast-spanning Island Highway, the Island Rail Corridor, and Qualicum Beach Airport, a nearby airport. History Human habitation has occurred in the area for thousands of years. Prior to Euro-Canadian settlement, the area was inhabited by several Coast Salish indigenous groups: Qualicum First Nation, Qualicum, Nanoose First Nation, Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose), and Snuneymuxw First Nation, Snuneymuxw peoples. The Spanish were the first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
