Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, is a captivating destination nestled in the Strait of Georgia between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Known for its salt springs, it is the largest, most populous, and most frequently visited of the Southern Gulf Islands.
Salt Spring Island, or ĆUÁN (čuʔén), was initially inhabited by Salishan peoples of various tribes. The island was first settled by pioneers in 1859, making it the first of the Gulf Islands to be settled and the first agricultural settlement on the islands in the Colony of Vancouver Island.
The island was originally known as Admiral Island, but was renamed to its current name in 1910. The North side of the island was settled mostly by African Americans from California, while the South side was settled by Native Hawaiians known as 'Kanaka'. Other settlers included those from Portugal and the British Isles.
Salt Spring Island was the first in the Colony of Vancouver Island and British Columbia to allow settlers to acquire land through pre-emption. This method of land purchase ensured that the land was used for agricultural purposes and that the settlers were mostly families.
During World War II, 77 Japanese Canadian families living on Salt Spring Island were forcibly relocated due to the Internment of Japanese Canadians. In the 1960s, the island became a political refuge for United States citizens, particularly draft evaders during the Vietnam War.
The island was known as "Chuan" or "Chouan" Island in 1854, but it was also called "Salt Spring" as early as 1855, because of the island's salt springs. In 1859, it was officially named "Admiralty Island" in honour of Rear-Admiral Robert Lambert Baynes. However, it was referred to popularly as Salt Spring. According to records of the Geographic Board of Canada, the island was officially retitled Saltspring on March 1, 1910.
Located between Mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island is the most frequently visited of the Gulf Islands. The island is known for its artists and its own local currency, the Salt Spring dollar. The largest village on the island is Ganges. The island's highest point of elevation is Bruce Peak, which is just over 700 m (2,300 ft) above sea level.
Salt Spring Island has a temperate warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) and experiences warm, dry summers and cool winters.
Salt Spring Island offers many hiking trails, including rough and windy trails that lead to the summit regions of both Bruce Peak and Mount Tuam. These two mountain peaks are the tallest points of land on the Southern Gulf Islands. Cycling on Saltspring Island may involve large elevation changes and poor road conditions with limited curb space.
Local bus transit on the island is provided by BC Transit. BC Ferries operates three routes to Salt Spring. Additionally, Salt Spring Air, Seair Seaplanes, Harbour Air Seaplanes, and Kenmore Air operate floatplane services to and from the island.
Library facilities have existed on Salt Spring Island since the early 1930s. In December 2012, the new Salt Spring Island Public Library was opened. The library is staffed by three librarians, among other paid positions and close to 200 volunteers.
