Sechelt, British Columbia
Encyclopedia


The District Municipality
District municipality
A district municipality is a designation for a class of municipalities found in several locations, including Canada, Lithuania, and South Africa.-Usage in British Columbia:...

 of Sechelt (icon) is on the lower Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
The Sunshine Coast is a region of the southern mainland coast of British Columbia, on the eastern shore of the Strait of Georgia, and just northwest of Greater Vancouver...

 of 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...

. Approximately 50 km northwest of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

, Sechelt is accessible to the mainland of British Columbia via a 40 minute ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...

 trip between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale
Langdale, British Columbia
Langdale is a small community on the Sunshine Coast of southern British Columbia. It is set in a verdant environment characteristic of many small BC communities. Its main feature is the BC Ferries terminal that links the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver via Horseshoe Bay, with connecting foot-passenger...

, and a 25 minute drive from Langdale along Highway 101, now known as the Sunshine Coast Highway. The municipality takes its name from the Coast Salish
Coast Salish
Coast Salish languages are a subgroup of the Salishan language family. These languages are spoken by First Nations or Native American peoples inhabiting the territory that is now the southwest coast of British Columbia around the Strait of Georgia and Washington state around Puget Sound...

 Shishalh
Shishalh
The Shishalh people, at the time of the first European contact had a population near 26,000. Shishalh women were famous for their beautiful cedar woven baskets, using materials gathered from the roots of the cedar tree, cannery grass and birch bark for the design.The Sechelt First Nations...

 people, who first settled the area thousands of years ago, and means "land between two waters".

The original Village of Sechelt was incorporated on February 15, 1956. Sechelt later expanded its boundaries in 1986 with the inclusion of a number of adjacent unincorporated areas. The District of Sechelt, as it is known today, encompasses some 39.71 km² (15.33 sq mi) at the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...

 of the Sechelt Peninsula
Sechelt Peninsula
The Sechelt Peninsula is located on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, just northwest of Vancouver. It is bounded to the west by Malaspina Strait , to the north by Agamemnon Channel and Jervis Inlet, to the east by Sechelt Inlet , and to the south by the Strait of...

, between the southern tip of Sechelt Inlet
Sechelt Inlet
Sechelt Inlet is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast and the third of such inlets north from the 49th parallel north, the first of which is Burrard Inlet, Vancouver's harbour. The inlet is significant in that it almost makes an island of what is instead the Sechelt Peninsula,...

 (Porpoise Bay) and the Strait of Georgia
Strait of Georgia
The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is approximately long and varies in width from...

 that separates the provincial mainland from 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...

). Sechelt is a seaside community that extends primarily along the coastline of the Sunshine Coast. It is bounded to the west and east by the unincorporated communities
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...

 of Halfmoon Bay and Roberts Creek, respectively. As of the 2006 Canadian census its population was 8,455. Sechelt is the seat of the Sunshine Coast Regional District
Sunshine Coast Regional District, British Columbia
The Sunshine Coast Regional District of British Columbia is located on the southern mainland coast, across Georgia Strait from Vancouver Island. It borders on the Powell River Regional District to the north, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District to the east, and, across Howe Sound, the Metro...

 of British Columbia.

Although its population is relatively small for its area, there are several distinct neighbourhoods. From east to west, these are: Wilson Creek, Davis Bay, Selma Park, the original Village of Sechelt, and West Sechelt. There are also several neighbourhoods around Sechelt Inlet that were included in its incorporation as a District in 1986 and include the West Porpoise Bay, East Porpoise Bay, Sandy Hook, and Tuwanek communities. The municipality is adjacent to the municipal government of the Shishalh
Shishalh
The Shishalh people, at the time of the first European contact had a population near 26,000. Shishalh women were famous for their beautiful cedar woven baskets, using materials gathered from the roots of the cedar tree, cannery grass and birch bark for the design.The Sechelt First Nations...

 First Nation, which contains a substantial commercial district, immediately east of the downtown village.

History

The Shishalh settled the area many thousands of years ago taking advantage of its mild temperate climate and ideal location between Sechelt Inlet (providing access to Jervis Inlet
Jervis Inlet
Jervis Inlet is a principal inlet of the British Columbia Coast, about northwest of Vancouver.-Geography:It stretches from its head at the mouth of the short Skwakwa River to its opening into the Strait of Georgia near Texada Island...

) to the north and Georgia Strait to the south. Europeans moved into Sechelt in the 1860s. By the 1880s, Sechelt had become an active centre for the logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...

 and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

 industries, with the construction of sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....

s and wharves
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...

. The natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast soon began to attract tourists, who arrived at the wharves at Trail Bay via steamship. The construction of the original provincial highway in 1952, Highway 101, now known as Sunshine Coast Highway, and the concomitant commencement of ferry service to Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, British Columbia
Horseshoe Bay is a West Vancouver community of about 1,000 permanent residents. Situated right on the western tip of West Vancouver, at the entrance to Howe Sound, the village marks the western end of Highway 1 on the British Columbia mainland....

 (near Vancouver) and Powell River
Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, that part of the larger Georgia Strait between Texada Island and the Mainland...

 (hence to Vancouver Island), accelerated tourism and residential growth which continues today.

Demographics and Character

According to Statistics Canada, most residents of the municipality are over 45; and, indeed, Sechelt has become increasingly attractive to retirees from across Canada. Perhaps as a result, new upscale subdivision
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...

s have grown significantly in recent years.

The village itself, the original locus of Sechelt, includes Clayton's (a pioneer family) Heritage Mall and numerous small retail shops catering to local residents and tourists. A new public library was opened in 1997, and a combined provincial courthouse and Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...

 (RCMP) building, and a public recreation aquatic centre serving Sechelt and the surrounding area, have also been completed since that time. Immediately to the east of the downtown village is the Sechelt, or "Shishalh" First Nation Band Lands, containing a shopping centre, movie theatre, and an extensive gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...

 quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...

. The community is home to the Sunshine Coast's only hospital (St. Mary's) and a small campus of Capilano University. The local regional government offices of the Sunshine Coast Regional District and Sechelt airport, presently a small regional aerodrome, are a few miles east of the downtown village in the Wilson Creek neighbourhood. A public seawall and walk, wharf and recently acquired lands for a waterfront park, presently known as Mission Point Park, are located in the Davis Bay neighbourhood.

Recreation and Tourism

The Sechelt and Sunshine Coast general area is known for its natural beauty, being a popular destination for those interested in kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...

, diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...

, snowshoeing and skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....

, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...

 and backpacking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...

, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...

, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...

, and other outdoor activities. The municipality contains an 18 hole public golf course, parks, and a number of small marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....

s inside Sechelt Inlet and larger provincial parks nearby.

In recent years Sechelt has become known throughout BC for its Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and the annual show-and-shine held in conjunction with the August drag races at Sechelt Airport. Custom car builders and drag racers come from as far away as Alberta and Washington State to display and race their dragsters and hot rods.

Hidden Groves

The Hidden Groves area is next to the Sandy Hook community, 6km from downtown Sechelt and 2km from Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
Porpoise Bay Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada.-External links:**...

. The Groves offer trails for hikers and walkers, with easy walks of 15 minutes or so, and longer treks of 3 or 4 kilometers. The trails are marked and prepared.

The Groves includes ancient giant trees, maple wetland and rocky promontories; access and parking at the entrance to the trails; views of Vancouver Island and Sechelt Inlet; and a legal off-leash area for dogs.

The Sechelt Heritage Forest portion of the Groves is a protected interpretive forest, as designated by the Province. The Hidden Grove is currently part of the BC Forest and under a special tenure to the Sechelt Community Forest, which has declared the Grove a special high-priority recreational area and mandated it shall not be logged. Volunteers provide daily maintenance and development.

Porpoise Bay Provincial Park

The Porpoise Bay Provincial Park is 4km from downtown Sechelt, is separated from the Strait of Georgia by the isthmus at Sechelt. This park is characterized by second-growth forest, open grassy areas and sandy beaches.

See also

  • Sechelt Peninsula
    Sechelt Peninsula
    The Sechelt Peninsula is located on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, just northwest of Vancouver. It is bounded to the west by Malaspina Strait , to the north by Agamemnon Channel and Jervis Inlet, to the east by Sechelt Inlet , and to the south by the Strait of...

  • Sechelt Inlet
    Sechelt Inlet
    Sechelt Inlet is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast and the third of such inlets north from the 49th parallel north, the first of which is Burrard Inlet, Vancouver's harbour. The inlet is significant in that it almost makes an island of what is instead the Sechelt Peninsula,...

  • Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
    Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
    Porpoise Bay Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada.-External links:**...

  • Mount Richardson Provincial Park
    Mount Richardson Provincial Park
    Mount Richardson Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on the lower Sunshine Coast to the north of Sechelt.-References:*...


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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