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Community InformationOnly 20 minutes by BC Ferries from the city of Nanaimo, Gabriola Island casts spells across layers of time. The island’s natural bounty invites modern adventurers to try fishing for salmon and halibut, go hiking in the verdant forests and enjoy biking the island from top to bottom.
The earliest inhabitants of Gabriola Island were the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a Coast Salish people who arrived to hunt and fish an estimated 5,000 years ago. More than 50 petroglyphs carved by this ancient people in cliffs and rocks are easily seen today.
Next came the Spanish, looking for gold. They left behind names from Descanso Bay to Malaspina Inlet. In fact, Gabriola derives from the word “gaviota” which means seagull in Spanish. Scots, Irish and English followed. Settlers and farmers stayed, farmed and cut timber for Nanaimo across the strait.
The most recent wave of settlement is Gabriola’s arts community, a contender for highest concentrated colony of its kind in Canada. Painters, sculptors, potters, glassmakers, photographers, musicians, actors and composers weave the fabric of contemporary culture.
INDUSTRY:
Tourism Population
Town Population: 4,033 (2016 Census)
Health Administrative Information
Health Authority: Island Health
Health Service Delivery Area: South Vancouver Island
Regional District: Gulf Islands
Rural Designation: RSA community
RRP Designation: C
RRP Points: 8.50
Practitioners + Clinic information
General Practitioners: 6 (www.cpsbc.ca)
Clinic
Gabriola Medical Clinic
Box 200, 377 Berry Point Road
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922 | F: 250 247-9162
Health Centre Info
Gabriola Community Health Centre
695 Church Street
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922 | F: 250 247-9162
Emergency Room
This community has a limited service Emergency Room with three beds
Maternity
Gabriola Midwifery
3 – 590 North Road
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X3
P: 250 734-2891 | F: 250 247-7838
Lab services
Gabriola Community Health Centre
695 Church Street
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922 | F: 250 247-9162
BC Ambulance
BC Ambulance Service provides coverage to this community. The health centre has a helipad.
Pharmacy
IDA Drug Store
575 North Road
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X3
P: 250 247-8310 | F: 250 247-8313
Nurse Practitioner
Gabriola Community Health Centre
695 Church Street
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922 | F: 250 247-9162
Diabetic Nurse Educator
Gabriola Community Health Centre
695 Church Street
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922 | F: 250 247-9162
Physiotherapy
Sandstone Sport and Spine Physical Therapy
Box 200, 793 Lochinvar Street
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922
Gabriola Medical Clinic
Box 200, 377 Berry Point Road
Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0
P: 250 247-9922 | F: 250 247-9162
Mental Health & Addictions Outreach
203 – 2000 Island Highway North
Nanaimo, BC, V9S 5W3
P: 250 739-5710 | F: 250 755-3310
