Mayne Island: the Little Island that Could

Mayne Island is situated in Georgia Strait, between the southern coast of BC and Vancouver Island. Roughly circular in shape, the island is 25 square miles in size, with a population of about 1,000. We can boast the oldest continuously operated hotel in BC (the Springwater Lodge) and likewise the oldest wooden church (that is still open for business) in the province.

We are a patchwork of retirees, aging boomers, young families, gardeners, small farmers, trades people, artists, artisans, writers, musicians, hermits, curmudgeons, Lions service club members, drunks, potheads, English Country dancers, Anglicans, pagans and yoga-buffs. All in all, we get along rather well.

Mayne Island is spectacularly beautiful. We are told we enjoy a Mediterranean climate – not as much rainfall as either Victoria or Vancouver. Mild winters, long summers. The forests are composed primarily of Cedar, Fir, Arbutus and Maple trees. Ocean spray and butterfly bush adorn the roadsides. The shrub, Scotch broom, arrived with the early settlers and has taken over the island. We have a tender spot in our hearts for the “invasive, alien” plant – the forest edges blaze with glorious golden flowers every May. But we also feel duty-bound to uproot the invader wherever we can, since it prevents indigenous flora from thriving. Several old farms spread across the valleys, creating lovely vistas of grassy meadows, with sheep and cattle grazing. A few zealots are cultivating vineyards. We have yet to see whether the Mayne Island climate is suitable for grape growing, but at least the vines are very picturesque!

On Mayne Island, the sea is ever-present. Some of our hardier residents swim year-round. We live our lives alongside seals, otters, bald eagles, sea lions, heron, kingfishers, and many other varieties of shore birds, as well as deer, raccoon and mink. There are a number of keen wooden boat builders in residence, and we have had several boat shows that feature their incredible craftsmanship. Locals and visitors to the island seem to spend a lot of time in kayaks and canoes, exploring the sandstone caves and cliffs and beaches of the islands. Gardeners harvest seaweed to make rich compost for their vegetables. Fish used to be plentiful, but sadly no longer. In fact, we have no-fish zones on either side of the island so that endangered species might have a chance to recover from over-fishing.

Mayne Island has one of the most effective recycling centres in the Province, as well as several organic farms, a book store, two gift and clothing stores, three restaurants, two grocery stores, a gas station, two garages, a hardware store, a health food store, a community centre, several hotels, numerous B & Bs, and a bakery. For fun and entertainment, there is a monthly Folk club, a summer Farmer’s market, an annual Fall Fair complete with parade, a badminton club, a quilters guild, a tennis club, a baseball team, dance and yoga classes, bridge and cribbage clubs, a fitness centre, a dance band, a Little Theatre company, a tap-dance troupe, a thrift store, a Japanese memorial garden (to honor the Japanese community of Mayne Island that was interned during the second world war), regular art exhibits by local artists, a Sustainable Community organization that puts on “100-kilometer feasts,” an annual May Day celebration with May Pole dancing and a grass labyrinth, Hallowe’en fireworks and a Christmas eve bonfire and carol-sing in the park that attracts the whole island.

Not bad for such a little place, eh?

photo by Peter Mann