DENMAN ISLAND COMMUNITY PROFILE Revised: February, 2011 Denman Island Community Profile 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................................................2 1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT...............................................................................................................................3 LOCATION...................................................................................................................................................................3 TOPOGRAPHY..............................................................................................................................................................3 BEDROCK GEOLOGY.....................................................................................................................................................4 COALBED METHANE AND NATURAL GAS POTENTIAL.......................................................................................................4 BUILDING STONE POTENTIAL ........................................................................................................................................5 SURFICIAL DEPOSITS ....................................................................................................................................................5 SAND AND GRAVEL POTENTIAL .....................................................................................................................................5 SOILS..........................................................................................................................................................................5 ECOSYSTEM PROFILE....................................................................................................................................................7 CROWN LANDS..........................................................................................................................................................14 AQUACULTURE ..........................................................................................................................................................18 CLIMATE ...................................................................................................................................................................20 2. HUMAN HISTORY AND POPULATION..........................................................................................................21 FIRST NATIONS AND ARCHAEOLOGY............................................................................................................................21 EUROPEAN SETTLERS.................................................................................................................................................21 POPULATION .............................................................................................................................................................22 HOUSING ..................................................................................................................................................................23 HOUSEHOLD SIZE ......................................................................................................................................................24 HOUSING ASSESSMENT & TENURE ..............................................................................................................................25 3. INCOME AND LABOUR ...................................................................................................................................28 4. INFRASTRUCTURE ..........................................................................................................................................31 FERRIES ....................................................................................................................................................................31 ROADS......................................................................................................................................................................32 HYDRO .....................................................................................................................................................................32 WATER .....................................................................................................................................................................33 WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING .......................................................................................................................34 5. COMMUNITY SERVICES..................................................................................................................................36 EDUCATION...............................................................................................................................................................36 HEALTH SERVICES......................................................................................................................................................37 EMERGENCY SERVICES ...............................................................................................................................................38 6. PARKS AND RECREATION..............................................................................................................................39 BIBLIOGRPAHY .........................................................................................................................................................43 1 Denman Island Community Profile 2011 INTRODUCTION The jurisdiction of the Denman Island Local Trust Committee includes Denman, Sandy and Chrome Islands, Seal Islets and all other unnamed islets, and the surface of the water to the middle of Lambert Channel to the east, to the high water mark of Vancouver Island at Comox to the north, and to Deep Bay to the south1. The bylaws of the Denman Island Local Trust Committee apply to the land and the surface of the water on and within 1000 meters of Denman and Sandy Islands at zero tide.2 As part of the Islands Trust Area, Denman Island has endorsed the mandate of the Trust, which is to: “...preserve and protect the trust area its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the trust area of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons and organization and the government of British Columbia.” The Denman Island Local Trust Committee comprises two locally elected trustees and one appointed member of the Executive Committee of the Islands Trust, who serve three‐year terms. The Local Trust Committee has land use planning powers and authority similar to those of a Regional District. Like the other local trust committees, the Denman Local Trust Committee submits bylaws to the Islands Trust Executive Committee for approval. The Local Trust Committee regulates land use and development. Additionally, the Local Trust Committee makes recommendations to government agencies concerning initiatives affecting the local trust area, with the intent of encouraging activities that are consistent with objectives and goals of the community, as outlined in the Official Community Plan (OCP). This Community Profile was commissioned by the Denman Island Local Trust Committee to serve as a tool for planning. It is intended to complement local knowledge and provide background information that might not readily be available on Denman Island. The Profile examines a variety of statistical information, both current and historical, in order to identify trends within the community. Information contained in this document will aid in the OCP review process by providing insight into the community’s unique and evolving nature. The majority of statistics in this document have been obtained from outside agencies, thereby dating the information. This document should be updated periodically as new information becomes available. 1 Refer to Schedule A of the Islands Trust Act for the exact jurisdictional boundaries. 2 Islands Trust, (2008) Denman Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 185. Victoria: Islands Trust. 2 Denman Island Community Profile 2011 1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Location Denman Island is located off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island between Buckley Bay and Hornby Island (Figure 1). Denman is bounded by Baynes Sound to the west and Lambert Channel to the east. Denman Island is a long narrow island 19 km in length and 6 km at the widest point. The Island encompasses 51 km2 or 4,974 hectares, and the general configuration follows the coastline of Vancouver and Hornby Islands. Denman Island has a relatively smooth coastline, roughly 69 km in length, providing few protected bays. Figure 1: Location of Denman Island Topography Topographically the Island is relatively flat, having a maximum elevation of 124 metres above sea level; however, there is a dominant ridge that runs the length of the Island. There is also a coastal bluff in the north eastern portion of the Island. In general, the terrain is relatively flat with gently rolling hills, and only 8% of the Island has slopes greater than 20%.3 Denman Island has two lakes, Graham Lake and Chicadee Lake.4 Graham Lake is located in the south eastern portion of Denman and has a surface area of approximately 15.4 hectares during maximum supply. Chicadee Lake is