Salt Spring Island is the largest and most populated of the Canadian Gulf Islands at seventeen miles long and nine miles wide. Salt Spring lies in the sheltered waters off the east coast of Vancouver island, midway between Victoria and Vancouver BC. Salt Spring Island is accessible by three ferry routes and three scheduled airlines from Vancouver. Ganges is the primary village on Salt Spring and the location of most shops, stores, galleries and services.
Demographics
Population is: 10,000
Roads: 650 km/410 miles
Annual sunshine: 2,000+ hours
Annual rainfall: 84 cms/ 34 inches
Mean Temperature: July 17C / 64 F
Frost free season: 8 months +
Highest point: Mount Bruce 709m/ 2326 feet
Schools: 1 high school, 1 middle school, 4 elementary
Hospital: 50 beds intermediate, care 51 beds, acute care 19 beds,
extended care 31 beds, 10 GPs, 5 specialists
Coast Guard: 2 boats, 11 staff
Ambulance: 1 station, 2 vehicles
Police RCMP: 1 station, 10 officers
Fire Halls: 3 stations, 8 trucks
Library: 1
Farms: 225
Public Docks: 7
Post Offices: 3
Movie Theatre: 1
Golf Courses: 2 Nine-hole courses
Ferry Terminals: 3
Fairgrounds: 1
Commercial Marinas: 4
Community Halls: 7
Churches: 16
Beaches: 22
Recreation
Parks: 8
Lakes: 8
Swimming Pool: 1
Swimming Beaches: 9
Tennis Courts 5
Athletic Track: 1
Hiking Trails: Many!
Bird Watching: 120 + species
More Detail:
Ganges is the largest community, located near the geographic center of the island. There are other communities with stores and or restaurants: Fulford in Fulford Harbour to the south, Vesuvius near Vesuvius Bay to the west and Fernwood on the east coast.
Other mountains: Hope Hill 648m (2,126ft.), Mount Tuam, Mount Sulivan 630m (2,067 ft.), Baynes Peak in Mount Maxwell Park 605m(1,985 ft.) Mount Erskine 440m (1,444 ft.).
Transportation
3 Taxis
5 Water Taxi Boats
3 Airlines-all with several float planes
There are no Bus facilities or public transit services
Shopping and Eating:
Two major shopping centers
Crafts
16+ restaurants
15 Cafes, 4 pubs
Two major groceries
Liquor
4 Service stations
Jewelers
Books
Clothing
Fresh Fish
Stationary
Hardware
Fishing
Pharmacy and Lab
Music
Real Estate
