Pender Island
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Image:Pender Island.jpg Template:Commons Pender Island is a small island located in the Strait of Georgia, roughly between the cities of Vancouver and Victoria, in British Columbia. Pender Island is approximately 34 square kilometers in area and is home to about 2,200 permanent residents, as well as a large seasonal population.
As part of the southern Gulf Islands, Pender Island enjoys a balmy sub-Mediterranean climate and features open farmland, rolling forested hills, several lakes and small mountains, and many coves and beaches.
Pender Island actually consists of two islands, North Pender Island and South Pender Island, which are separated by a narrow canal originally dredged in 1903 and later connected by a one lane bridge in 1955. Most of the population and services reside on North Pender Island; South Pender Island is generally more rural, but features the popular Poet's Cove marina development (formerly known as Bedwell Harbour).
The island is a popular destination for fishing, kayaking, diving and other outdoor pursuits. The island also boasts a 9-hole golf course. Pender is served by a provincial campsite, numerous bed and breakfasts and the Poet's Cove hotel and spa, a luxury resort that opened in 2005. Since 2003 many provincial and municipal park areas in the islands were subsumed into the new Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
Pender Island can be accessed by regular ferry service provided by BC Ferries from Swartz Bay (near Victoria), Tsawwassen (near Vancouver), and other southern Gulf Islands, as well as by scheduled seaplane and water taxi service. Pender Island also has one grass landing strip and a helicopter pad located near the main shopping mall.