Kelsey Bay, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Kelsey Bay is a small coastal settlement located in the Sayward Valley on northern Vancouver Island
in British Columbia
about 1 mi (1.6 km) from the community of Sayward
. The wharf at Kelsey Bay was previously the southern terminus for the B.C. Ferries Inside Passage
route until 1978, when Highway 19 was extended north to Port Hardy
and the terminus relocated there. Kelsey Bay is part of the Village Municipality of British Columbia
.
Charles William Kelsey and his family moved from Washington State in 1906. They originally were headed for Alaska. They stopped at Topaz Harbour, started hand-logging and never did get to Alaska. The moved from Hardwicke Island
in a scow-house which was their unique floating home. This was beached at the beginning of the rock cut and continued to be their home for some years. In January 1925, they moved to the wharf, operated a store-telegraph office and founded the post office which was named in their honor, which became The Kelsey Bay Post Office. The town was named after them. This is documented by Frances Duncan, grand-daughter of William Kelsey. Mrs. Duncan still lives in Sayward and is 83 years old.
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...
in 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...
about 1 mi (1.6 km) from the community of Sayward
Sayward, British Columbia
Sayward is a village located on in the Sayward Valley on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is located about 1 mi inland from Kelsey Bay on a spur from Highway 19. The village is named after William Parsons Sayward, a successful lumber merchant from Victoria...
. The wharf at Kelsey Bay was previously the southern terminus for the B.C. Ferries Inside Passage
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific coast of North America. The route extends from southeastern Alaska, in the United States, through western British Columbia, in Canada, to northwestern Washington...
route until 1978, when Highway 19 was extended north to Port Hardy
Port Hardy, British Columbia
Port Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 3822 at last census...
and the terminus relocated there. Kelsey Bay is part of the Village Municipality of British Columbia
Sayward, British Columbia
Sayward is a village located on in the Sayward Valley on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is located about 1 mi inland from Kelsey Bay on a spur from Highway 19. The village is named after William Parsons Sayward, a successful lumber merchant from Victoria...
.
Charles William Kelsey and his family moved from Washington State in 1906. They originally were headed for Alaska. They stopped at Topaz Harbour, started hand-logging and never did get to Alaska. The moved from Hardwicke Island
Hardwicke Island
Hardwicke Island is an island in British Columbia, Canada, measuring approximately 35 square kilometres. It is part of the Discovery Islands, an archipelago between Vancouver Island and the mainland, whose waters connect the Strait of Georgia with Johnstone Strait and Queen Charlotte...
in a scow-house which was their unique floating home. This was beached at the beginning of the rock cut and continued to be their home for some years. In January 1925, they moved to the wharf, operated a store-telegraph office and founded the post office which was named in their honor, which became The Kelsey Bay Post Office. The town was named after them. This is documented by Frances Duncan, grand-daughter of William Kelsey. Mrs. Duncan still lives in Sayward and is 83 years old.