Gabriola Island
From Free net encyclopedia
Gabriola Island (Template:Coor dm) is an island 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 an estimated population of 4,500. 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 it's '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 is part of the Regional District of Nanaimo, and 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.