Nelson Island (British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
Nelson Island is an island
in the Sunshine Coast region of the South Coast
region of British Columbia
. It is surrounded by Hotham Sound
, Agamemnon Channel
, and Malaspina Strait
. The closest communities are Pender Harbour, British Columbia
and Egmont, both on the Sechelt Peninsula.
The island is mostly forested, although there are some clear cut areas inland. Lakes and large mountainous hills define the geography. Hardy Island sits alongside Nelson Island with Blind Bay in between the two. Logging operations and granite quarries were early features of the island, and many buildings in BC were built out of Nelson Granite including the Parliament Buildings
in Victoria
.
There were once a few homesteads and small logging operations, most of which are now summer cabins. As a consequence, the permanent population is quite small. One of the most well known residents was Harry Roberts, who retired to the island in 1929. The house he built, Sunray, was a cottage with south-facing walls of glass the stretched out like the rays of a sun. It still stands in a cove at Cape Cockburn.
The island is named for the British naval hero, Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Sunshine Coast region of the South Coast
British Columbia Coast
The British Columbia Coast or BC Coast is Canada's western continental coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The usage is synonymous with the term West Coast of Canada....
region 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...
. It is surrounded by Hotham Sound
Hotham Sound
Hotham Sound is a sidewater of Jervis Inlet on the South Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located near the mouth of that inlet on the north flank of its lower reaches, roughly opposite the mouth of Sechelt Inlet. Harmony Islands Marine Provincial Park is located on the east side of Hotham Sound...
, Agamemnon Channel
Agamemnon Channel
Agamemnon Channel is a channel or strait in British Columbia, Canada, located at the mouth of Jervis Inlet on the South Coast, separating Nelson Island from the mainland of the Sunshine Coast , The ferry terminal and recreational community of Earls Cove is on the mainland side of the...
, and Malaspina Strait
Malaspina Strait
Malaspina Strait is a strait in the northern Gulf of Georgia-Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. It separates Texada Island from the upper Sunshine Coast-Malaspina Peninsula area on the adjacent mainland....
. The closest communities are Pender Harbour, British Columbia
Pender Harbour, British Columbia
“”Pender Harbour is a large, multi-inleted bay on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, on the east side of Malaspina Strait. Once a steamer stop, a fishing village and an important logging and medical waypoint, it is now an unincorporated community within the Sunshine Coast Regional District .Pender...
and Egmont, both on the Sechelt Peninsula.
The island is mostly forested, although there are some clear cut areas inland. Lakes and large mountainous hills define the geography. Hardy Island sits alongside Nelson Island with Blind Bay in between the two. Logging operations and granite quarries were early features of the island, and many buildings in BC were built out of Nelson Granite including the Parliament Buildings
British Columbia Parliament Buildings
The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and are home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia....
in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
There were once a few homesteads and small logging operations, most of which are now summer cabins. As a consequence, the permanent population is quite small. One of the most well known residents was Harry Roberts, who retired to the island in 1929. The house he built, Sunray, was a cottage with south-facing walls of glass the stretched out like the rays of a sun. It still stands in a cove at Cape Cockburn.
The island is named for the British naval hero, Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
.