Pender Island
Pender Island is located in the Gulf of Georgia, just north of the American San Juan Islands, and in between Vancouver on the mainland and Sidney and Victoria on Vancouver Island.The largest Southern Gulf Islands are comprised of Galiano Island, Gabriola Island, Mayne Island, Saturna Island, Salt Spring Island and the Pender Islands. These islands are accessible by ferries from both Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Sidney (Swartz Bay). Airlines also service these islands.
The Pender Islands are made up of North and South Pender Island and are separated by a dredged narrow canal, linked by a one lane bridge. The canal was dredged in the early 1900’s to enable the ferry to travel from Hope Bay on the Pender Islands to Victoria, thus avoiding the treacherous waters off the south point and trimming hours from the trip.
South Pender Island is more rural and less populated. Bedwell Harbour, the site of the customs dock and a flourishing marina and resort, is located on South Pender, as are two popular hiking trails, one leading up to Mt. Norman and splendid views and the other following the canal over to Beaumont Marine Park with its white shell beaches and arbutus headland.
North Pender Island, with several subdivisions (Magic Lake and Trincomali), has by far the larger population. Here you’ll find a health clinic, an elementary school, a community hall, Driftwood Mall shopping centre, churches, the best second hand shop in the west, a library, and historic Port Washington and Hope Bay, with their government docks and heritage store.
Maps
Pender Island & Surrounding Area
Pender Island Parks