Mayne Island
Size: 21 square kilometres Population: 900 (approx.) Ferry Landing: Village Bay
Mayne Island has an elementary school with a playground, a health care centre, ambulance service, fire hall, an open market, tennis courts, service station, post office, and a surprising variety of restaurants and accommodation for such a small island.
Mayne Island was named after Lieutenant Richard Mayne, who served aboard the HMS Plumper during the 1850s. Nearby Plumper Sound, between the Pender Islands and Mayne, carries its name.
Visitors first arriving at Village Bay will get a surprise. The size and activity at the docks are, always a shock. In fact, the double docks and large parking area are due to the fact that Mayne lsland is the transfer point for travellers heading to Saturna and to Gulf Islands to and from Vancouver. Ferries originally stopped at Miner's Bay in Active Pass, but later the dock was moved to Village Bay, a 'village' in name only. Miner's Bay is actually the village, and the island's centre, with many old houses, historical buildings and commercial outlets.
The surprising number of accommodations and restaurants dates back to the early 1900s when Mayne Island became an important Pacific Northwest resort island, and the stopover point for miners travelling north from Victoria to the Fraser River and the Cariboo gold rush. During these early years, the island bustled and rapidly developed tourist facilities to capitalize on its popularity and location.
There are beach accesses at Oyster Bay, warm sheltered swimming at Campbell, Bennett, Horton, Piggott and Dinner bays, as well as David Cove, with its small beach and boat launch. Enjoy the Active Pass view and busy marine traffic in Active Pass from Georgina Point Heritage Park, or take an easy stroll down Campbell Point Marine Heritage Park. Mount Parke Regional Park, with its wonderful views, and Dinner Bay Community Park, with its family facilities, offer recreational opportunities. Established in 1987, Dinner Bay is 11 hectares with picnic tables, beach access, a fenced playground, playing field, volleyball net and horseshoe pitch, and - a rare find on the parched Gulf Islands - flush toilets.
Several heritage buildings are also well worth a visit: St. Mary Magdalene Church, the Active Pass light station, the Plumper Pass lockup museum, Springwater Lodge and the Mayne Inn at Bennett Bay, Across from the museum is the Agricultural Hall, built about 1900 and the site of the oldest fall fair on the Gulf Islands.
There are over a dozen galleries, homes, shops and studios specializing in painting, pottery, fabric art, dried flowers, home preserves, jewellery and carvings, as well as traditional festivities celebrated in July and August.
For children, there are playgrounds at the Mayne Island School and Dinner Bay Regional Park.
