Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Shawnigan Lake is a village on British Columbia
's Vancouver Island
. The name Shawnigan is an adaptation of the Hunquminum name for the Shawnigan Lake
, the lake the village is situated at, Shaanii'us
A popular recreation destination, its population typically doubles during the summer, as the lake and village are summer vacation spots for residents of Victoria
, who commute between the city and Shawnigan Lake while staying in their summer cabins.
Several new residential developments have been built, both in the Shawnigan Lake area as well as in surrounding areas. The village of Shawnigan Lake itself contains two small general stores, three restaurants, several beaches and various small businesses including a barber, clothing store, video store, and a coffee shop. There is also a museum, run by the Shawnigan Lake Historical Society. Residents of Shawnigan Lake also have access to nearby communities such as Mill Bay
and Langford
and Duncan
that offer more shopping, employment, and educational opportunities. With the exception of two private boarding schools, Shawnigan Lake School
and Dwight International School (formerly Lakeside Preparatory Academy,on the site of Maxwell International School), and two small grad schools (one of which has been closed down as of mid-2006), all students from Shawnigan above grade six must travel by bus to either Duncan or Mill Bay.
Shawnigan Lake is located approximately 48 km (30 mi) north of Victoria, and borders the communities of Cobble Hill
and Mill Bay. The main active railway on Vancouver Island, the E and N Railway
(ex-CP Rail
) serves the community with a twice daily (once northbound, and once southbound) passenger train service operated by Via Rail Canada. As of 2006 the Victoria – Courtenay train rarely stops in the village since service is of the flag stop
type.
The west end of Shawnigan Lake sits on an abandoned CN Rail
line that was torn up in the 1980s. This line includes the historic Kinsol Trestle
which stands as one of the world's largest wooden railway trestles, has been rehabilitated by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD)along with the help of local residents, which included many fund raising efforts. It was opened to the public this summer (2011). The trestle will be a spectacular destination along the Trans-Canada Trail system, the provincial park (West Shawnigan Lake) adds a place to stop and picnic, or go for a swim on the route to and from the Trestle by car.
Originally a logging area, Shawnigan Lake's forestry industry closed in the mid twentieth century due to both the loss of the mill, which was destroyed by fire (for the third time) and the economy. Portions of the mill can still be seen in Shawnigan's Old Mill Park, a popular beach for swimming.
The village of Shawnigan Lake is located on the eastern shore of the lake and is a small shopping and service centre. The north end of the lake consists of a residential development (Shawnigan Beach Estates) as well as the area's only remaining elementary school, Discovery Elementary School. Elsie Miles Elementary, located within the village proper, was closed in mid-2006 due to age and declining enrollment. The north-west end of the village also includes many summer cabins and a large lakeside park. The south end of the lake is largely undeveloped, discounting the lakeshore itself, with scattered farmland and numerous hiking trails.
Shawnigan Lake has no significant parkland outside of the park noted above, a Provincial Park on the west side, and one small regional park in the village itself. Several beaches and small day-use areas are scattered around the lake, and a large island in the south end of the lake, dubbed 'Memory Island' in honor of two lake residents that were lost in World War II
, is one such area.
Several water sports are popular during the summer on the lake. Wake boarding and wake skating have evolved into the most popular water sport with the majority of boats towing a wake board. There has been several complaints about the wakes from the wake boarding boats supposedly causing damage to the illegal man-made retaining walls along the shores. Wake boarding will continue to grow as a popular pastime for the water enthusiast.
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...
's 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...
. The name Shawnigan is an adaptation of the Hunquminum name for the Shawnigan Lake
Shawnigan Lake
Shawnigan Lake is a lake on southern Vancouver Island, located to the west of Saanich Inlet and to the south of the Cowichan Valley region. It is the location of the village of Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia...
, the lake the village is situated at, Shaanii'us
A popular recreation destination, its population typically doubles during the summer, as the lake and village are summer vacation spots for residents of 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...
, who commute between the city and Shawnigan Lake while staying in their summer cabins.
Several new residential developments have been built, both in the Shawnigan Lake area as well as in surrounding areas. The village of Shawnigan Lake itself contains two small general stores, three restaurants, several beaches and various small businesses including a barber, clothing store, video store, and a coffee shop. There is also a museum, run by the Shawnigan Lake Historical Society. Residents of Shawnigan Lake also have access to nearby communities such as Mill Bay
Mill Bay, British Columbia
Mill Bay is a commuter town of about 3,200 people located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada about north of Victoria, the capital.Mill Bay was founded in the 1860s with lumber and milling as its primary industries, done at the mill on the bay...
and Langford
Langford, British Columbia
Langford is a city of 22,459 residents on southern Vancouver Island, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is considered one of Greater Victoria's Western Communities...
and Duncan
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
that offer more shopping, employment, and educational opportunities. With the exception of two private boarding schools, Shawnigan Lake School
Shawnigan Lake School
Shawnigan Lake School is a private boarding school, located in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded by Englishman, Christopher Windley 'C. W.' Lonsdale in 1916, and partly modelled on one of England's leading private schools, Westminster School.- Location :Shawnigan Lake School...
and Dwight International School (formerly Lakeside Preparatory Academy,on the site of Maxwell International School), and two small grad schools (one of which has been closed down as of mid-2006), all students from Shawnigan above grade six must travel by bus to either Duncan or Mill Bay.
Shawnigan Lake is located approximately 48 km (30 mi) north of Victoria, and borders the communities of Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill, British Columbia
Cobble Hill is a small community on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is located approximately north of Victoria in the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and is known for its agricultural surroundings, and for Cobble Hill itself, which gave the village its name...
and Mill Bay. The main active railway on Vancouver Island, the E and N Railway
E and N Railway
The Southern Railway of Vancouver Island is in length, and is one of two remaining railways on Vancouver Island, the other being the Englewood Railway. The railroad runs from Victoria to Courtenay, with a branch line from Parksville to Port Alberni...
(ex-CP Rail
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
) serves the community with a twice daily (once northbound, and once southbound) passenger train service operated by Via Rail Canada. As of 2006 the Victoria – Courtenay train rarely stops in the village since service is of the flag stop
Request stop
In public transport, a request stop or flag stop describes a stopping point at which trains or buses stop only on an as-need or request basis; that is, only if there are passengers to be picked up or dropped off. In this way, infrequently used stopping points can be served efficiently.Trains save...
type.
The west end of Shawnigan Lake sits on an abandoned CN Rail
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
line that was torn up in the 1980s. This line includes the historic Kinsol Trestle
Kinsol Trestle
The Kinsol Trestle, also known as the Koksilah River Trestle, is a wooden railway trestle located on Vancouver Island north of Shawnigan Lake in the Canadian Province of British Columbia...
which stands as one of the world's largest wooden railway trestles, has been rehabilitated by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD)along with the help of local residents, which included many fund raising efforts. It was opened to the public this summer (2011). The trestle will be a spectacular destination along the Trans-Canada Trail system, the provincial park (West Shawnigan Lake) adds a place to stop and picnic, or go for a swim on the route to and from the Trestle by car.
Originally a logging area, Shawnigan Lake's forestry industry closed in the mid twentieth century due to both the loss of the mill, which was destroyed by fire (for the third time) and the economy. Portions of the mill can still be seen in Shawnigan's Old Mill Park, a popular beach for swimming.
The village of Shawnigan Lake is located on the eastern shore of the lake and is a small shopping and service centre. The north end of the lake consists of a residential development (Shawnigan Beach Estates) as well as the area's only remaining elementary school, Discovery Elementary School. Elsie Miles Elementary, located within the village proper, was closed in mid-2006 due to age and declining enrollment. The north-west end of the village also includes many summer cabins and a large lakeside park. The south end of the lake is largely undeveloped, discounting the lakeshore itself, with scattered farmland and numerous hiking trails.
Shawnigan Lake has no significant parkland outside of the park noted above, a Provincial Park on the west side, and one small regional park in the village itself. Several beaches and small day-use areas are scattered around the lake, and a large island in the south end of the lake, dubbed 'Memory Island' in honor of two lake residents that were lost in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, is one such area.
Several water sports are popular during the summer on the lake. Wake boarding and wake skating have evolved into the most popular water sport with the majority of boats towing a wake board. There has been several complaints about the wakes from the wake boarding boats supposedly causing damage to the illegal man-made retaining walls along the shores. Wake boarding will continue to grow as a popular pastime for the water enthusiast.