Gabriola Island

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Gabriola Island

Beach at Taylor Bay

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[[Image:|180px|Gabriola Island]]

Location of Gabriola Island within the in British Columbia, Canada

Area

km² (Expression error: Unexpected div operator sq mi)

Population

Location

Elevation

49°9′N, 123°47′W metres

Incorporation

Province

British Columbia

Regional District

Mayor

Time zone

Pacific (UTC-8)

Postal code

Area Code

British Columbia Portal

Arbutus tree and sandstone beach

Malaspina Galleries

Gabriola Island is an island in the Nanaimo Regional District on the West coast of British Columbia, Canada between mainland BC and Vancouver Island. It is about 14 km long by 4.2 km wide with a land area of 57.6 km² (22.24 sq mi) and a population of 3,522 as of the Canada 2001 Census. A vehicle and passenger ferry operates regularly from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The ferry crossing time is 20 minutes and is considered a commuter ferry as most Gabriolans work in Nanaimo and the high school students must travel to Nanaimo to get to school. The island has a large contingent of artists and artisans and is becoming known for its annual "Studio and Gallery Tour" that is the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, Gabriola boasts a remarkable number of talented musicians, singers and actors and hosts the Dancing Man Music Festival in late April.

Gabriola is also known for its petroglyphs - carvings in the sandstone that date back as far as 2000 years according to anthropologists. Gabriola is also home to the Malaspina galleries, named after the Spanish explorer Alejandro Malaspina. The galleries are a large sandstone formation that resemble a breaking wave.

Gabriola Island has a strong connection to the city of Nanaimo, as do Lantzville, Cedar, South Wellington, and Extension. Residents of Gabriola Island often refer to it as "Gabe", and Vancouver Island as "The Island".

Gabriola Island is the home of Habonim Dror Camp Miriam, a Jewish summer camp that operates from the end of June through the end of August every year.

Wildlife

Gabriola island is home to several species of birds,which are arguably their most common and beautiful species of animals. In the winter months, the coast of Gabriola is frequented by many species of waterfowl such as Scoters, Bufflehead, Barrows Goldeneyes, Harlequin ducks, and more. Several species of shorebirds come to Gabriola as well during the winter such as Black turnstones and Ruddy Turnstones. Finally, many garden birds come to this Island during the winter, these being ruby crowned kinglets, golden crowned kinglets, varied thrushes, and others species of warbler come, and Pileated Woodpeckers and Flickers are common, although they can be seen year round. The Bald Eagle, European starling and the Turkey vulture are all common year round.