Premier Listings for Sointula

The small, picturesque fishing village of Sointula, a Finnish word meaning harmony, began as a Utopian colony in the early 1900s, when a playwright named Matti Kurikka led disgruntled Finnish coal miners from Nanaimo out of their pits and into the northern wilderness.

Fishermen, farmers and loggers, their dream was to lead independent, self-sufficient lives in harmony with nature. The struggle was long and hard, the pitfalls and setbacks were many, and the colony faced increasing financial difficulties.

In January 1903 a tragic fire at the community hall claimed the lives of eleven people, and their plight worsened when the community became divided over Kurikka’s philosophy and leadership. Financial problems finally forced the colony into liquidation in 1904, with the land being returned to the government in return for a loan to repay the colony’s creditors.

Utopia may have floundered, despite the dedication and hard work, but the Finns remain. The Finnish language is still spoken today, saunas are common, and the phone book is full of Finnish names. A second wave of independence-seekers arrived in the 1960s, dedicated to preserving Sointula’s peaceful atmosphere.

Fishing is the mainstay of the economy of Sointula, but tourism is rapidly gaining importance, as travellers seek out the clean air, clear waters, and the outdoor fishing, whale watching and scuba diving opportunities offered on Malcolm Island.

The ferry trip to Sointula in the cold, clear waters of Queen Charlotte Sound, is a voyage into the past. Stroll around the community to see the sights – capture the unique essence, before taking the return ferry to Port McNeill.

Population: 594

Location: Sointula is on Malcolm Island, located off the northeast shore of Vancouver Island, and linked by a 25-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill.

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First stop off the ferry is the old 1909 Sointula Co-op Store, the heart of island life that is still run by the island community, the longest continuously running co-op in Canada. Check the store’s community notice board for announcements and their calendar of local events.

Visit the Sointula Museum, and the displays of pioneer artifacts, including the town’s original switchboard, old photographs, and the antique coffee grinder responsible for the strong aroma of freshly ground coffee that wafted through the co-op store in the 1930s.

A ‘must see’ in Sointula is Bere Point Beach, a known killer whale rubbing beach. Orcas frequent select beaches in the area to rub themselves on the gravel and pebble shoreline.

Bere Point Regional Park is a favourite getaway for islanders, and the only public campground on Malcolm Island. Located 5 km from Sointula on the island’s north shore, the park has a beautiful beach and 8 beach-access campsites at Bere Point Campsite, with outhouses, firewood, a boat launch, and a day-use picnic area. A short trail from Bere Point leads to the Beautiful Bay Trail, which winds along a ridge for 2.5 miles (4 kms) through a stunning rainforest with occasional glimpses of the sea below.

To the northeast of Sointula across the Labouchere Passage is the Broughton Archipelago Marine Provincial Park, a wilderness area consisting of a maze of several small islands, numerous islets and adjacent foreshore at the southern extremity of Queen Charlotte Strait, off the west coast of Gilford Island. The islands in the marine park are undeveloped and are largely undiscovered. Facilities are limited to a day-use recreation. The numerous remote, solitary islands incorporated in the park provide unlimited and unique fishing and swimming opportunities, and are fabulous for exploring by kayak.

Fishing: Blackfish Sound east of Cormorant Island is productive for salmon fishing, offering feeder chinooks throughout the year. The first migratory chinooks appear in late May through to August, followed by the sockeye (June to August), pinks (July to August), coho in mid July, northern coho in September and chum salmon from late August through to October. Winter chinook end off the year by passing through toward the end of December. HalibSointulaut fishing commences in April to June, and continues through the summer to September – open water depths of 200 to 400 feet are most productive. Concentrate on Richards Channel, Ripple Passage and Bolivar Passage. Halibut around the 100 lb mark are brought in regularly, with monsters of over 200 lbs caught occasionally.

Arts & Crafts: Look for unique island crafts, including exquisitely soft sea-green rugs, made from fishnet! The Hole in the Wall Art Gallery is also worth browsing through.

Outdoor Adventures: Whale watching, sportfishing, cycling, kayaking and sightseeing tours are recommened activities – equipment rentals and guides are available.

Cycling: Cyclists will enjoy the quiet ride along Kaleva Road, which hugs the island’s southern shoreline as it winds through rural pastures and weathered cottages. Stop for a stroll along the beach, explore Mitchell Bay, an idyllic enclave at the southern end of Malcolm Island, or break out the kayak and explore the shoreline waters.

Hiking: Hikers won’t want to miss the annual 25-kilometre Harmony Hike, held in June.

Birdwatching: Twitchers can birdwatch at Rough Bay, where the tidal flats are a popular stopping point for shorebirds.

Accommodation: If you succumb to the Island’s charm and decide to stay longer, there are a number of bed and breakfasts, cottages, and guesthouses scattered throughout Sointula and Mitchell Bay. For those with tents or RV’s, there are private campgrounds as well as the small public site at Bere Point.

Island Hopping: Travelling between the Southern Gulf Islands and Northern Gulf Islands can be accomplished in small hops. Each of these islands is a world unto itself, each with its own history, culture and colourful characters – each island deserves at least a day or two for exploring.

Premier Business Directory in Sointula, Vancouver Island – Small Business BC

Photo of BC Oceanfront Real Estate Team: Shelley McKay Personal Real Estate Corporation, Ed Handja Personal Real Estate Corporation and Greg du Cloux Licensed Sales Associate
BC Oceanfront Real Estate Team: Shelley McKay Personal Real Estate Corporation, Ed Handja Personal Real Estate Corporation and Greg du Cloux Licensed Sales Associate
ROYAL LEPAGE Advance Realty Campbell River 972 Shoppers Row Campbell River BC V9W 2C5 Home Phone: 250-286-3293Work Fax: 250-286-1932Work Phone: 1-888-286-1932Cell Phone: 1-250-287-0011 Ed CellCell Phone: 1-250-830-4435 Shelley CellCell Phone: 1-250-895-1346 Greg CellVisit Website

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It’s a Coastal Lifestyle … Live It!

Specializing in marketing and selling local residential, recreational, unique oceanfront and commercial real estate throughout Campbell River, northern Vancouver Island, Discovery Islands, the Outer Islands and the BC Mainland Coast. Our real estate listings include homes to small oceanfront and lakefront recreational lots, private islands, remote island acreages, fishing lodges, wilderness / adventure resorts and vacation homes, oceanfront / lakefront cabins, marinas, remote & timbered acreages, and development investment properties on the west coast of BC and Vancouver Island – BCO has the Coast covered!

The BC Oceanfront Real Estate Team loves to bring people to the coast and introduce people to the coastal lifestyle. All members of the team live an active coastal lifestyle, and they bring that passion for the coast to all that they do. All three agents have their own boats and are very familiar with the many different regions surrounding central and northern Vancouver Island. With a team behind you, you can be sure that someone is always at hand to answer questions and lend assistance.

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Waterfront West Real Estate
1080 5th Street Courtenay BC V9N 1L4 Home Phone: 250-897-8781Home Fax: 250-703-2902Work Phone: 1-866-799-9378Visit Website

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Waterfront West is the first and only marketplace dedicated exclusively to buyers and sellers of waterfront and water view real estate in British Columbia. Advertising Realtors’ listings, private sales and developments, we are pioneering the market for this prime real estate. Featuring private and brokered sales, waterfront developments and a complimentary Buyers’ Club.

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Photo of Broughton Archipelago Paddlers Inn
Broughton Archipelago Paddlers Inn
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 410 Sointula BC V0N 3E0 Adventure Location: Simoom Sound Broughton Archipelago BC Home Phone: 250-230-0088Visit Website

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Sea Kayak in comfort based from our ocean-side, or float-house accommodations in the wilderness of the Broughton Archipelago, a kayak paradise. The phrase ‘Walking Softly in the Wilderness’ has always been a guiding principle for our homesteading lifestyle and approach to developing our inn. Paddlers Inn has earned a Gold rating from Green Tourism Canada for our efforts to continually reduce our impact on the environment, while supporting others to do the same. We also offer Acupressure massage on-site. Surround yourself with ocean, beaches, trails, an inland lake, and quiet beauty.

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Bluewater Adventures
# 3 – 252 East First Street Vancouver BC V7L 1B3 Home Phone: 604-980-3800Work Fax: 604-980-1800Work Phone: 1-888-877-1770Visit Website

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Explore BC and Southeast Alaska with Bluewater Adventures aboard our 70′ yachts sailing the BC Inside Passage, the Queen Charlotte Islands, Gwaii Haanas National Park, the Great Bear Rainforest, and Vancouver Island. You’ll see whales, Grizzly, Black and Kermode bears, and experience ancient native villages and Haida culture, primeval forests, wilderness, and amazing coastal wildlife.

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Photo of Ocean Light Adventures with the vessel Afterglow
Ocean Light Adventures with the vessel Afterglow
Box 64594 Como Lake PO Coquitlam BC V3J 7V7 Home Phone: 604-328-5339Home Fax: 604-731-7066Visit Website

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Ocean Light Adventures introduces their new vessel for summer 2021. The powerboat Afterglow is a 60ft Monk designed Gulf Commander with 5 staterooms and 3 heads, offering amazing wildlife viewing from all windows and from the spacious top deck. Her crew has 34 years of experience offering natural history and photography tours on the BC Coast, including Haida Gwaii, and specializing in grizzly viewing tours in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, and spirit bear and grizzly tours in the Great Bear Rainforest. We also offer whale watching and eco tours, from totems to intertidal treasures, rocky shores to sandy beaches, and spawning salmon to towering trees. We offer five spectacular adventure trips between May and October, each to a different region and each highlighting the awe-inspiring beauty of the beautiful BC coast.

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