Sechelt
Sechelt | |
|---|---|
| District of Sechelt[1] | |
 Downtown Sechelt in 2011 | |
| Motto(s): Blessed by Sun and Seas | |
  Sechelt Location of Sechelt in British Columbia | |
| Coordinates:49°28′27″N123°45′15″W/ 49.47417°N 123.75417°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Sunshine Coast |
| Regional District | Sunshine Coast RD |
| Founded | 1862 (Roman Catholic mission) |
| Incorporated (Village) | Feb. 15, 1956 |
| District Municipality | June 30, 1986 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | John Henderson |
| • Governing body | Sechelt Municipal Council |
| •MLAs | Nicholas Simons,NDP |
| Area | |
| • Total | 39.71 km2(15.33 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 10,847 |
| • Density | 212.9/km2(551/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-8(PST) |
| Postal code span | V7Zand V0N 3A0 |
| Area code | +1-604 |
| Website | www |
Sechelt(/ˈsiːʃɛlt/,shíshálh Language:ch'atlich[3]) is adistrict municipalitylocated on the lowerSunshine CoastofBritish Columbia.Approximately 50 km (30 miles) northwest ofVancouver,it is accessible from mainland British Columbia by a 40-minuteferrytrip betweenHorseshoe BayandLangdale,and a 25-minute drive from Langdale alongHighway 101,also known as the Sunshine Coast Highway. The nameSecheltis derived from theshe shashishalhemwordshíshálh,the name of the First Nations people who first settled the area thousands of years ago.
The original Village of Sechelt was incorporated on February 15, 1956. Sechelt later expanded its boundaries in 1986 with the inclusion of a number of adjacent unincorporated areas. The District of Sechelt, as it is known today, encompasses some 39.71 km² (15.33 sq mi) at theisthmusof theSechelt Peninsula,between the southern tip ofSechelt Inlet(Porpoise Bay) and theStrait of Georgiathat separates the provincial mainland fromVancouver Island.
Sechelt is a seaside community with approx. 35 kilometers (20 miles) of Pacific Ocean shoreline that extends primarily along the coastline of the Sunshine Coast, and is bounded to the west and east by theunincorporated communitiesofHalfmoon BayandRoberts Creek,respectively. The 2016 Canadian census placed its population at 10,200. The regional offices of theSunshine Coast Regional Districtof British Columbia are located in Sechelt.
Although its population is relatively small for its geographical area, Sechelt has several distinct neighbourhoods. From east to west, they are ts'uḵw'um (Wilson Creek), Davis Bay, Selma Park, the original Village of Sechelt, and West Sechelt. Several neighbourhoods around Sechelt Inlet were also included in Sechelt's 1986 incorporation as a district; these include West Porpoise Bay, East Porpoise Bay, Sandy Hook, Tillicum Bay and Tuwanek. Theshíshálh Nation Government District,which contains a substantial commercial district, is immediately east of Sechelt's "downtown" village.
History
[edit]The original inhabitants of Sechelt are theshíshálh Nation,a British ColumbianFirst Nation.[4]The town of Sechelt is known as "ch'atlich" inshe shashishalhem(theshíshálh language).[5]For thousands of years, the shíshálh People practiced a hunting and gatheringsubsistence strategy,making extensive use of the natural food resources located around ch'atlich, and its strategic location for access into the Sechelt Inlet.[6]
Europeans began settling in the ch'atlich area in the 1860s and by the 1880s, developing an active centre of theloggingandfishingindustries with the construction ofsawmillsandwharves.With sustained contact with European settlers, the shíshálh People's semi-nomadic way of life began to be substituted for a more sedentary life in Sechelt, a change heavily influenced by the establishment of a Roman Catholic church by theOblates of Mary Immaculate.[4]Our Lady of the Rosary was completed in 1890 and cost the Sechelt people a sum of $8,000 to construct.[7]In 1906, this church was destroyed in a fire, and a year later another church was erected in its place called Our Lady of Lourdes but this too was also destroyed by fire in October, 1970.[8]
The natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast soon attracted tourists, who arrived at the wharves at Trail Bay via steamship. The construction of the original provincial highway in 1952, Highway 101, now also known as Sunshine Coast Highway, and the accompanying commencement of ferry service toHorseshoe Bay(near Vancouver) andPowell River(hence to Vancouver Island) accelerated tourism and residential growth, which continues today.
In 2019, the Seawatch subdivision was evacuated due to a risk of sinkholes. The subdivision was built in 2006 andcovenantswere placed on the land to release Sechelt from claims relating to the land, including sinkholes. Since the evacuation, multiple lawsuits have been filed between the 14 homeowners, Sechelt, the province of British Columbia, and the property developer over issues including an unnecessarily long state of emergency (awards granted to 2 residents),[9]Sechelt's claim that residents have an obligation to repair infrastructure and pay legal fees (ongoing),[10]Sechelt's withholding of documents (set of documents released to resident),[11]covenants on the properties (deemed valid),[12]and Sechelt's approval of the subdivision (negligence not found).[13][14]
Geography
[edit]Sechelt is a municipality on the Sunshine Coast, west northwest of Vancouver BC. Sechelt is located on an isthmus, a narrow strip of land that bridges between the Sechelt Peninsula and the BC mainland. This isthmus is bounded on the north by the Sechelt Inlet, and on the south by the Strait of Georgia.
The municipality consists of 4 non-contiguous areas, all separated by theshíshálh Nation Government District.
Climate
[edit]Sechelt's climate is Cfb (Temperate Oceanic) according to theKöppen climate classification,and is designated as USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (8b inland) by Environment Canada.[15]It has the warmest nights in Canada.
| Climate data for Merry Island Lightstation (1981-2010 normals, extremes 1960-present)[a] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record highhumidex | 15.3 | 13.3 | 14.9 | 19.4 | 33.3 | 46.0 | 38.0 | 37.0 | 35.0 | 22.1 | 16.3 | 12.2 | 46.0 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
17.5 (63.5) |
21.0 (69.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
40.8 (105.4) |
35.3 (95.5) |
35.4 (95.7) |
33.0 (91.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
14.0 (57.2) |
40.8 (105.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.1 (44.8) |
7.7 (45.9) |
9.6 (49.3) |
12.4 (54.3) |
16.1 (61.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
21.3 (70.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
12.9 (55.2) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
13.5 (56.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.4 (41.7) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.3 (45.1) |
9.7 (49.5) |
13.0 (55.4) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.2 (64.8) |
15.2 (59.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
7.3 (45.1) |
5.2 (41.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) |
3.6 (38.5) |
4.9 (40.8) |
6.9 (44.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.9 (58.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
12.3 (54.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
5.5 (41.9) |
3.5 (38.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.2 (19.0) |
−10.1 (13.8) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.5 (36.5) |
5.6 (42.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
8.9 (48.0) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
| Record lowwind chill | −15 | −13 | −7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −14 | −21 | −21 |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 135.5 (5.33) |
92.2 (3.63) |
90.1 (3.55) |
69.9 (2.75) |
62.5 (2.46) |
53.9 (2.12) |
34.7 (1.37) |
35.7 (1.41) |
48.7 (1.92) |
106.1 (4.18) |
165.0 (6.50) |
134.5 (5.30) |
1,028.8 (40.50) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 130.1 (5.12) |
88.5 (3.48) |
87.8 (3.46) |
69.9 (2.75) |
62.4 (2.46) |
53.9 (2.12) |
34.7 (1.37) |
35.7 (1.41) |
48.7 (1.92) |
106.0 (4.17) |
161.3 (6.35) |
127.0 (5.00) |
1,006 (39.61) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 5.3 (2.1) |
3.8 (1.5) |
2.4 (0.9) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
3.6 (1.4) |
7.5 (3.0) |
22.8 (9.0) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 20.0 | 15.6 | 18.0 | 15.0 | 13.2 | 11.0 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 16.2 | 20.7 | 19.8 | 171.3 |
| Average rainy days | 19.0 | 14.9 | 17.7 | 14.9 | 13.2 | 11.0 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 16.1 | 20.2 | 19.0 | 167.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 5.9 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 54.1 | 87.0 | 130.3 | 180.6 | 228.3 | 220.7 | 282.0 | 270.8 | 214.6 | 117.4 | 57.4 | 50.4 | 1,893.6 |
| Percentpossible sunshine | 20.1 | 30.5 | 35.4 | 43.9 | 48.0 | 45.4 | 57.5 | 60.6 | 56.6 | 35.0 | 20.9 | 19.7 | 39.5 |
| Source:[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
[edit]In the2021 Census of Populationconducted byStatistics Canada,Sechelt had a population of 10,847 living in 5,128 of its 5,738 total private dwellings, a change of6.2% from its 2016 population of 10,216. With a land area of 39.02 km2(15.07 sq mi), it had a population density of278.0/km2(720.0/sq mi) in 2021.[27]
Ethnicity
[edit]| Panethnic group |
2021[28] | 2016[29] | 2011[30] | 2006[31] | 2001[32] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |||||
| European[a] | 8,805 | 82.99% | 8,500 | 84.92% | 8,345 | 91.65% | 7,665 | 92.02% | 7,290 | 94.68% | ||||
| Indigenous | 525 | 4.95% | 605 | 6.04% | 330 | 3.62% | 280 | 3.36% | 240 | 3.12% | ||||
| Southeast Asian[b] | 455 | 4.29% | 315 | 3.15% | 245 | 2.69% | 95 | 1.14% | 35 | 0.45% | ||||
| East Asian[c] | 355 | 3.35% | 325 | 3.25% | 130 | 1.43% | 115 | 1.38% | 80 | 1.04% | ||||
| South Asian | 250 | 2.36% | 110 | 1.1% | 25 | 0.27% | 10 | 0.12% | 15 | 0.19% | ||||
| Middle Eastern[d] | 80 | 0.75% | 25 | 0.25% | 0 | 0% | 40 | 0.48% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| African | 70 | 0.66% | 30 | 0.3% | 0 | 0% | 55 | 0.66% | 35 | 0.45% | ||||
| Latin American | 45 | 0.42% | 25 | 0.25% | 0 | 0% | 60 | 0.72% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| Other/Multiracial[e] | 95 | 0.9% | 85 | 0.85% | 0 | 0% | 30 | 0.36% | 10 | 0.13% | ||||
| Total responses | 10,610 | 97.82% | 10,010 | 97.98% | 9,105 | 98% | 8,330 | 98.53% | 7,700 | 99.04% | ||||
| Total population | 10,847 | 100% | 10,216 | 100% | 9,291 | 100% | 8,454 | 100% | 7,775 | 100% | ||||
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||||||
Religion
[edit]According to the2021 census,religious groups in Sechelt included:[28]
- Irreligion(5,955 persons or 56.1%)
- Christianity(4,010 persons or 37.8%)
- Buddhism(170 persons or 1.6%)
- Sikhism(150 persons or 1.4%)
- Islam(75 persons or 0.7%)
- Judaism(95 persons or 0.9%)
- Hinduism(40 persons or 0.4%)
- Other (125 persons or 1.2%)
Attractions
[edit]The village itself, the original locus of Sechelt, includes Clayton's Heritage Market (a grocery store named after its pioneering family owners) in Trail Bay Mall. A new public library with municipal hall opened in 1997, and a combined provincial courthouse andRoyal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP) building, and a public recreation aquatic centre serving Sechelt and the surrounding area, have also been completed since that time.
Immediately to the east of the downtown village is theshíshálh Nation Government Districtmunicipality, home of thetems swiya Museumand gift shop, a shopping centre, movie theatre.
Other Sechelt area landmarks include:
- Sechelt (shíshálh) Hospital (originally St. Mary's, the Sunshine Coast's first hospital, renamed in 2015)
- A satellite campus ofCapilano University
- The local regional government offices of theSunshine Coast Regional District
- Sechelt airport,presently a small regional aerodrome, a few kilometres (miles) east of the downtown village in the ts'uḵw'um (Wilson Creek) neighbourhood
- Davis Bay, with a public seawall walk, wharf, and lands for a public waterfront park, presently known as Mission Point Park
- Sechelt Quarry, operated by Heidelberg Materials, one of the largest open-pit gravelquarriesin North America.
Recreation and tourism
[edit]Like other parts of the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt is known for its natural beauty, and is a popular destination for outdoor activities that includekayaking,diving,snowshoeingandskiing,hikingandbackpacking,campingandmountain biking.There is an 18-hole public golf course, and a number of smallmarinasare available around Sechelt Inlet. Sechelt has several municipal parks, and larger provincial parks are nearby.
Auto enthusiasts come from around the Pacific Northwest for Sechelt's annual Sleepy Hollow Rod Run, and the "Show and Shine" held in conjunction with the August drag races at Sechelt Airport.
Notable parks and conservation areas
[edit]Hidden Groves
[edit]The Hidden Groves area[33]of old growth forest adjoins the Sandy Hook neighbourhood, 6 km (4 miles) from downtown Sechelt and 2 km (1¼ miles) fromPorpoise Bay Provincial Park.It has trails for walkers and hikers of various abilities, from easy walks of around 15 minutes to more strenuous treks of 3 or 4 kilometres (about 2 miles). A wheelchair-accessible trail of 480 metres (525 yards) into the Ancient Grove area is also suitable for people with walkers, strollers, and those not so fit. A second 400-metre (yard) accessibility trail loops from the entrance kiosk through pristine forest and back.
The entrance kiosk features a large map of the trails. All trails are well-marked and maintained. There are signs at all intersections with directions, maps and guides.
The Groves includes giant ancient trees, maple wetland, and rocky promontories with views of Vancouver Island and Sechelt Inlet. There is parking at the entrance to the trails. It is a legal off-leash area for dogs.
The Sechelt Heritage Forest portion of the Groves is a protected interpretive forest as designated by the Province. Hidden Grove is currently part of the BC Forest and under a special tenure to the Sechelt Community Forest, which has declared the Grove a special high-priority recreational area and mandated it shall not be logged. Volunteers provide daily maintenance.
Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
[edit]Porpoise Bay Provincial Parkis some 4 km (2½ miles) north of downtown Sechelt, on the east side ofSechelt Inlet.It is characterized by second-growth forest, open grassy areas and sandy beaches.
Education
[edit]TheSchool District 46 Sunshine Coastoperates public schools in the region.
TheConseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britanniqueoperates two Francophone schools in that city: theécole du Pacifiqueprimary school andécole secondaire Chatelech.[34]
Gallery
[edit]-
Cowrie Street, the main village thoroughfare -
Trail Bay, and the seawall which runs alongside it, at the southern end of the village. -
Porpoise Bay, at the southern end of Sechelt Inlet, located on the north end of the village.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
- ^Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
- ^Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
- ^Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
- ^Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority,n.i.e."and" Multiple visible minorities "under visible minority section on census.
References
[edit]- ^"British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address"(XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development.RetrievedNovember 2,2014.
- ^Mayor & Council
- ^"She shashishalhem, the Sechelt Language | shíshálh Nation, Sechelt, BC".
- ^abBeaumont, Ron C. (2011).Sechelt Dictionary.Harbour Publishing. pp. viii.
- ^Beaumont, Ron C. (2011).Sechelt Dictionary.Harbour Publishing. p. 380.
- ^"lil xemit tems swiya nelh mes stutula: A Strategic Land Use Plan for the shíshálh Nation"(PDF).
- ^Hill-Tout, Charles (1978).The Salish People Volume IV.Talon Books. p. 93.
- ^Veilllete, John (1977).Early Indian Village Churches.University of British Columbia Press. p. 36.
- ^Mangione, Kendra (2022-01-12)."Judge sides with homeowners in B.C. sinkhole case against the province".CTV News.Retrieved2023-10-22.
- ^Little, Simon; McArthur, Aaron."District of Sechelt sues residents forced from subdivision by sinkholes".Global News.Retrieved2023-10-22.
- ^Jordison, Connie (2021-11-11)."Sechelt's petition to withhold Seawatch documents dismissed".Coast Reporter.Retrieved2023-10-22.
- ^Jordison, Connie (2021-10-01)."Seawatch covenant protects Sechelt from claims, B.C. appeals court rules".Coast Reporter.Retrieved2023-10-22.
- ^Jordison, Connie (2021-10-07)."Seawatch owners lose appeal in bid to claim approving officer negligence".Coast Reporter.Retrieved2023-10-22.
- ^Slepian, Katya (2019-11-07)."Developer, government deny negligence in Sechelt sinkhole lawsuit".Victoria News.Retrieved2023-10-22.
- ^"Plant Hardiness Zones in Canada - Index".sis.agr.gc.ca.Retrieved2019-12-31.
- ^"Daily Data Report for August 2007".Environment and Climate Change Canada.Retrieved24 June2022.
- ^"Daily Data Report for February 1960".Environment and Climate Change Canada.Retrieved22 June2022.
- ^"Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data".Environment Canada. 25 September 2013.RetrievedDecember 30,2019.
- ^"Daily Data Report for July 2009".
- ^"Hourly Data Report for July 28, 2009".
- ^"Daily Data Report for September 2017".
- ^"Hourly Data Report for September 4, 2017".
- ^"Daily Data Report for June 2021".
- ^"Hourly Data Report for June 28, 2021".
- ^"Daily Data Report for August 2021".
- ^"Hourly Data Report for August 12, 2021".
- ^"Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia".Statistics Canada.February 9, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 20,2022.
- ^abGovernment of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26)."Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population".www12.statcan.gc.ca.Retrieved2022-11-09.
- ^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27)."Census Profile, 2016 Census".www12.statcan.gc.ca.Retrieved2023-03-08.
- ^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27)."NHS Profile".www12.statcan.gc.ca.Retrieved2023-03-08.
- ^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20)."2006 Community Profiles".www12.statcan.gc.ca.Retrieved2023-03-08.
- ^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02)."2001 Community Profiles".www12.statcan.gc.ca.Retrieved2023-03-08.
- ^Hidden Groves
- ^"Carte des écoles."Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.Retrieved on 22 January 2015.
- Community Profile: Sechelt District Municipality, Sunshine Coast Regional District, British Columbia; Statistics Canada
- A brief history of Sechelt
- The District of Sechelt
- The Hidden Groves
External links
[edit]
- Official website
Sechelttravel guide from Wikivoyage
| International | |
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| National | |