From Hudson's Bay outpost to gold rush fever and coal and lumber barons to political scandals Island-style to the mighty Douglas fir and Pacific salmon and profiles of Emily Carr, Cougar Annie and the Dunsmuir clan, no book is more comprehensive than the Vancouver Island Book of Everything. No book is more fun! Well-known Islanders weigh in on their favourite things about Vancouver Island. Robert Bateman shares his five most inspiring island locales; Michael Halleran tells us the five graves you simply must visit at Ross Bay Cemetery; Ian Vantreight tells us his five Island weather complaints; history teacher and Vancouver Island digital archive editor Patrick Dunae gives us his five essential Vancouver Island reads; professor Barbara Helem Whittington gives us her five favorite memories of growing up on the island. From politics to the country's best weather to the origins behind place names, Island slang, serial killers and the First People...it's all here! Whether you are a lifelong resident or visiting for the first time, there's no more complete book about Vancouver Island. If you love Vancouver Island, you'll love the Vancouver Island Book of Everything!

The rugged west coast of Vancouver Island offers some of the most spectacular and storied hiking in the Pacific Northwest. Home to the world-famous West Coast Trail, once a lifeline for marooned sailors and still among the most breath-taking yet demanding hikes on the continent, the island's western shores also feature lesser-known coastal trails for all abilities. From the tidal pools and pocket beaches of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail to the craggy surf-swept shores of Shushartie Bay and the North Coast Trail, the ten areas covered in this volume will give you a taste of the region's best hiking terrain. This third, fully updated and expanded edition, delivers the detailed trail descriptions, insider tips and clear two-colour maps that hikers have come to rely on plus two entirely new sections on the wild and challenging North Coast Trail extension from Cape Scott and the remote and rarely visited Tatchu coastal hike on the Rugged Peninsula. Less-experienced hikers may enjoy the Juan de Fuca Trail, a southern extension of the West Coast Trail from Port Renfrew to Jordan River, or the trails through the stunning old-growth forest of Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park. For day trippers, there's the Wild Pacific Trail, a northern extension of the West Coast Trail that begins in Ucluelet and heads north over headlands and white sand beaches toward Long Beach and Tofino. And for those who prefer more remote hiking, the northern part of the island offers the rugged Nootka Trail, described by Backpacker magazine as a wild, historic and beautiful trail, or the boardwalk at Cape Scott, where black bears share the windswept beaches with kayakers and the ghosts of shipwrecked crews. From planning the trip, to getting to and from the trailheads, to choosing the most scenic campsites, this is an indispensable guide for the thousands of hikers who use the West Coast Trail each year and for those who will want to use its alternatives.

A compelling investigation into supernatural events and local lore on Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island is known worldwide for its arresting natural beauty, but those who live here know that it is also imbued with a palpable supernatural energy. Researcher Shanon Sinn found his curiosity piqued by stories of mysterious sightings on the island—ghosts, sasquatches, sea serpents—but he was disappointed in the sensational and sometimes disrespectful way they were being retold or revised. Acting on his desire to transform these stories from unsubstantiated gossip to thoroughly researched accounts, Sinn uncovered fascinating details, identified historical inconsistencies, and now retells these encounters as accurately as possible. Investigating 25 spellbinding tales that wind their way from the south end of the island to the north, Sinn explored hauntings in cities, in the forest, and on isolated logging roads. In addition to visiting castles, inns, and cemeteries, he followed the trail of spirits glimpsed on mountaintops, beaches, and water, and visited Heriot Bay Inn on Quadra Island and the Schooner Restaurant in Tofino to personally scrutinize reports of hauntings. Featuring First Nations stories from each of the three Indigenous groups who call Vancouver Island home—the Coast Salish, the Nuu-chah-nulth, and the Kwakwaka’wakw—the book includes an interview with Hereditary Chief James Swan of Ahousaht.

A well-illustrated guide to BC's South Coast and the east coast of Vancouver Island, including history and geography. 10 distinct areas are identified with attractions, ecology, amenities, place names, landing and camp sites.