Most people will shiver
at the mere mention of the term Canadian Winter. Images of igloos and parkas
accompanied by snowstorms and well below freezing temperatures usually prevail
when one envisions January north of the 49th parallel, but those who think of
Canadian winters as harsh and unforgiving probably haven't spent a winter on
B.C.'s Vancouver Island,
a destination known for its mild, even warm winter season.
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A Snowy Morning in Strathcona
Park
Photo Courtesy Spirit of the West
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Vancouver Island is a popular
summer destination, famous as a marine playground, whale-watching
hotspot and outdoor recreation haven. Few visitors know it as a place suitable
for year-round travel, but in reality, winter on the island, which runs roughly
from December to mid-March, offers many of the attractions of summer without
the massive crowds of people that accompany the high tourist season. The climate
on the island is so temperate that even in its northernmost city, Port
Hardy, the temperature rarely dips below freezing. Vancouver Island
is one of those rare places where people can start their day with a round of
golf,
go skiing
in the afternoon and enjoy their evening strolling on the beach.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VANCOUVER
ISLAND
Geography
Vancouver Island is separated from mainland B.C. by the Strait of Georgia, and
the capital of Victoria
is just over 100 km from Vancouver.
The island is commonly accessed by ferry
and plane.
The main ferry ports on the Island are at Victoria, Nanaimo
and Comox. B.C. Ferry
rides from Vancouver to either Victoria or Nanaimo take up to 95 minutes (to
learn more about transportation on Vancouver Island, Click
Here).
Vancouver Island is quite
a bit larger than most people tend to think. At 32,261 km² (19,356 mi²),
getting from place-to-place can take longer than one would expect. A total of
502 km (312 mi) lie between the southernmost city on the island (Victoria) and
the northernmost one (Port Hardy), and driving between the two can take up to
seven hours.
The island can be divided
into four distinct regions: the South Island, Central Island, Pacific Rim and
the North Island. The South Island consists of the communities of Victoria,
Sidney, Sooke,
Duncan and Cowichan,
while the Pacific Rim is home to Tofino,
Ucluelet and Bamfield.
The Central Island houses the regions of Nanaimo, Parksville,
Qualicum Beach
and the Comox Valley, and the Northern Island encompasses the communities of
Campbell River,
Tahsis,
Telegraph Cove,
Alert Bay,
Port McNeill
and Port Hardy.
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Precip |
|
Min |
Max |
| Nov
|
3°C
(37ºF) |
9°C
(48ºF) |
139
mm |
| Dec |
1°C
(34ºF) |
7°C
(45ºF) |
152
mm |
| Jan
|
0°C
(32ºF) |
7°C
(45ºF) |
141
mm |
| Feb |
1°C
(34ºF) |
8°C
(46ºF) |
99
mm |
| Mar
|
2°C
(36ºF) |
10°C
(50ºF) |
72
mm |
|
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Victoria
Seasonal Values
Climate data from the Weather Network |
|
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Precip |
|
Min |
Max |
| Nov
|
3°C
(37ºF) |
8°C
(46ºF) |
267
mm |
| Dec |
1°C
(34ºF) |
6°C
(43ºF) |
260
mm |
| Jan
|
1°C
(34ºF) |
6°C
(43ºF) |
245
mm |
| Feb |
1°C
(34ºF) |
7°C
(45ºF) |
172
mm |
| Mar
|
2°C
(36ºF) |
9°C
(48ºF) |
143
mm |
|
|
Port
Hardy Seasonal Values
Climate data from the Weather Network |
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Climate
The climate on the Island, as previously mentioned, is temperate, and the temperatures
are rarely extreme, leaning
towards cool rather than cold in the winter and warm rather than hot in the
summer. In fact, the coldest temperature recorded in Port Hardy was -2.8ºC
(26.9ºF) in 1967, a temperature that is considered balmy for winter by
many Canadians.
Average precipitation on
the island is sparse in the summer months, and moderate to heavy in the winter
months, depending on the location.
WINTER WILDERNESS ACTIVITIES
Because of the abundant
snow in Central Vancouver Island, the most popular winter activities on Vancouver
Island are skiing
and snowboarding. The island has two downhill ski hills, Mt.
Washington and Mt.
Cain. Mt. Washington is legendary for its copious amounts of natural
snow, world-class skiing facilities and all-inclusive alpine
village. The ski hill has 60 runs, nine lifts, two terrain parks and
a half pipe. Mt. Cain is a smaller, community-run facility that boasts no line-ups
for ski lifts, even at the height of the season. For the more adventurous, backcountry
skiing and boarding is available at Strathcona
Provincial Park.
For those who prefer skiing
Nordic style, Mt. Washington has over 55 km (34 mi) of cross country skiing
trails, and Mt. Cain has 15 km (9.3 mi) of similar terrain. With trails ranging
widely in distance and difficulty, Mt. Washington's Nordic facilities can accommodate
both fitness fanatics and tranquil trekkers. Strathcona Provincial Park also
has an extensive network of maintained Nordic trails in its Paradise Meadows
and Forbidden Plateau areas. Skiers in Strathcona Park are required to pay a
reasonable maintenance fee, available at Mount Washington's Raven's
Lodge.
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Snowshoeing
in Strathcona Park
Photo Courtesy Spirit of the West |
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With an abundance of natural
powdery snow, an easy and fun way to get around in the outdoors is with the
help of snowshoes.
The Nordic trails at the Vancouver Island ski resorts are ideal for snowshoeing,
and snowshoe enthusiasts can even test their skills at the
Yeti, an annual snowshoeing event that takes place at ski hills across
B.C. Sledding and tubing are also fun ways for the whole family to enjoy the
island. Mt. Washington has its own tubing park, complete with a tube lift that
keeps physical exertion to a minimum and excitement at a maximum.
Vancouver Island is full
of retired logging roads, making it an ideal destination to explore via snowmobile.
Snowmobile
tours can take visitors on unforgettable adventures through snowy mountains
and along wilderness coastlines. Snowmobiling is also permitted in the Mt. Washington
area, but not beyond the area boundary, which lies 10 km (6.2 mi) from the alpine
village.
Self-sufficient adventurers
will be pleased to know that there are many camping
opportunities in the off-season. Winter camping is permitted in many Provincial
Parks, including Strathcona, Cowichan
River, Rathtrevor
Beach, Miracle
Beach and Elk
Falls, and also at numerous privately owned campgrounds.
URBAN ADVENTURES
Urban dwellers can still
enjoy winter activities on the Island. Ice
skating is a fun way to fill an afternoon, and can be done at any of
the indoor and outdoor skating rinks on Vancouver Island. After a long day of
skating, a perfect way to unwind is to take a scenic horse-drawn carriage
tour around historic Victoria. Few things are more idyllic that riding
in a sleigh through a Victorian winter wonderland.
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Victoria's Parliament Buildings
by Night
Photo Courtesy Karen Massier
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Victoria is a city famous
for its winter displays and events. Legendary Butchart
Gardens is a popular place to visit in the wintertime, especially around
Christmas. The gardens celebrate yuletide by putting together an exhibit of
over 100,000 Christmas lights and garnishing the park displays with decorative
balls, plants and ribbons. The
Victoria Legislature Buildings are also adorned with nearly a thousand
red and green lights, installed by a single person. Just a bit north of Victoria
is Ladysmith, a town
also well known for its festival
of lights.
For those who think the
moderate climate is still too chilly, Vancouver Island offers many indoor attractions
as well. At Christmas time, the historic Empress
Hotel hosts a festival
of trees, which displays dozens of Christmas trees decorated by local
businesses. As for things to do after the holiday season, the Chemainus
Theatre entertains the island with year-round productions of both dramatic
classics and contemporary comedies, while The
Comox Air Force Museum offers an in-depth look into Canada's broad military
history. While in Victoria, visitors should be sure to check out the Pacific
Undersea Gardens for a glimpse at life under Victoria's inner harbour,
and the Craigdarroch
Castle, a Victorian-era mansion that reflects the lifestyle of the wealthy
in Canada's early days.
ONLY ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
The opportunity to golf
year-round makes Vancouver Island a popular destination among winter-plagued
Canadian tourists. This island is sprinkled with close to 50 golf courses, so
golf holiday options are endless. The major golf courses are packed into a 250
km (150 mi) stretch, so a new course is always just a short drive away.
Other activities that are
unusual for wintertime include kayaking,
horseback
riding, biking
and boating.
One activity that should not be missed is scuba
diving, since the waters surrounding the island have been recognized
as one of the best cold-water diving spots in the world. Numerous naval vessels
have met their demise in these waters, including the HMCS
Cape Breton, and the artificial reefs that have been subsequently created
are unforgettable. Visitors should not let the cool waters keep them from exploring
this diver's paradise — local dive operators can ensure that winter diving
is fun and comfortable.
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Dogs and Surfers in Tofino
Photo Courtesy John Forde - The
Whale Centre
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Surfing
at Tofino, Canada's surf capital, is always a possibility, and die-hard surfers
flock to the region in winter to experience the best waves of the year. However,
at the height of winter, the waters can be chilly so the sport is best left
to extreme surfers. Storm watching is another popular option when in Tofino.
The island, specifically on the pacific coast, is prone to some amazing rainstorms
during the winter months. Storm watching tours are available, though hotels
and B
& B's that line this coast are fantastic places to view a spectacular
storm while sipping hot chocolate from the comfort of a warm blanket, in some
cases in front of a fireplace. Combing the beach the next day promises a variety
of treasures to take home.
Salmon fishing
can be lucrative in the late fall and winter. Literally millions of salmon flock
to the Goldstream River near Victoria to spawn and die. Birdwatchers are also
in luck, since the dying of fish brings masses of carnivorous birds, particularly
bald eagles, to the area. This annual happening has been dubbed the "Eagle Extravaganza".
The raptors are concentrated at the Goldstream
Provincial Park, and visitors can learn more about the birds of prey
at the Nature
House interpretive centre.
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The tail of a Grey Whale
Photo Courtesy John Forde - The Whale Centre
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The activity that Vancouver
Island is most well known for is Whale
Watching. While orca (killer) whales are not commonly sighted in the
winter, minke, humpback and gray whales are often spotted, in addition to sea
lions, porpoises and eagles. There are over 60 companies on Vancouver Island
offering whale watching tours, and numerous others that provide hot
spring tours, bear-watching
expeditions, air
sightseeing, farm
tours, vineyard
tours and much more. Vancouver Island is a true core of activity in
any season, and winter visitors have no reason to go home without experiencing
an unforgettable adventure of some sort.
To learn more about Vancouver
Island, Click
here.
