Newcastle Island-Must-do while in B.C.

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Before the Second World War, Newcastle Island was one of the great tourist destinations of Vancouver Island. The Snuneymuxw First Nation believes it can be again.

Newcastle Island became a provincial marine park in 1961, when the nearby city of Nanaimo granted it to the province after having acquired the island from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1955. The Snuneymuxw have been managing Newcastle Island for four years, and claim it as traditional territory in treaty negotiations.

Situated in Nanaimo harbor within sight of both Vancouver Island and the towering Coastal Mountains of the Lower Mainland, Newcastle Island possesses a rich natural and cultural history that makes it one of the most intriguing provincial parks in British Columbia.

The island's shoreline is dominated by steep, sandstone cliffs and ledges. Caves and caverns abound, providing an appealing contrast to the inland that is studded with Douglas Fir, arbutus, Garry Oak and dogwood trees.

Newcastle Island has become so popular with boaters over the years that it is second only to Desolation Sound as a marine destination.

"They come because we're so close to town and all the downtown amenities and they come because the entire island is a park and undeveloped," said operations manager Tom Simpson.

Newcastle Island is a favourite with families. Simpson said that in the summer it is not unusual to have mom and dad sleeping on the boat and the kids camping in a tent at one of the many campsites.

The island is open year-round although the ferry runs only from May through September.

Summer is the busy season on Newcastle, but much work goes on during the off-season to ready for the coming tourist season, Simpson said.

"We go into maintenance mode as of October. Over the winter we clean the beaches and trails and brush back the growth from the trails."

This winter, in addition to building new docks, Simpson and his crew installed new drains at the campsites, replaced stoves in the cooking shelter and repaired picnic tables. By the time the first summer visitors arrive, the grounds are spotless.

There will be a host of special events on Newcastle Island this year as there are every season. The Latina Festival is always a sellout and the big band festival is popular. There is also a strong possibility that Tribal Journeys will come to Newcastle again this year.

The Native celebration attracts many visitors, Simpson said. And because the B.C. government no longer subsidizes parks, the Snuneymuxw and BC Parks have to get creative to make sure that Newcastle pays for itself.

"In the longer term, BC Parks has indicated that they would be willing to explore with us the creation of a cultural type of product where we are showcasing the culture and history of the Snuneymuxw."

The Snuneymuxw have recently put in a bid to the city of Nanaimo to build a new conference centre on the waterfront. Plans are for a ferry to dock right at the centre to carry passengers to Newcastle where they could experience the local culture.

"At this point there really has been no cultural and historical interpretation for our nation," Simpson said. "And we certainly see that as a large component of who we want to be here. The province is very much in tune with the trends in tourism. They have identified our travelers and for the most part they tend to be people who are interested in the cultural and historical kind of attraction we could offer along with some amenities.

"What we would see developing, we would position ourselves as a must-see or a must-do," Simpson said.

"This is something you must do when you are in the area. We would like to think that this is what Nanaimo could become famous for. It is visionary, but it is also politically complicated and sensitive. We believe we can achieve a shared vision with BC Parks, with our own community, and with the community at large."