Gibsons

Gibsons is a coastal community of 4,605 in southwestern British Columbia, Canada on the Sunshine Coast, along the Strait of Georgia.

For the Canadian company once known as Gibsons, see Gibson Energy. For other uses, see Gibson's (disambiguation).
Gibsons
Town
Town of Gibsons[1]
Gibsons Harbour
Gibsons Harbour
Flag
Gibsons is located in British Columbia
Gibsons
Gibsons
Location of Gibsons in British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°24′4″N 123°30′27″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionSunshine Coast
Regional districtSunshine Coast
Founded1886
Incorporated1929
Government
 • Governing bodyGibsons Town Council
 • MayorSilas White
Area
 • Total4.32 km2 (1.67 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total4,758
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
Postal code
V0N 1V0 & V0N 3V0
Area code(s)604, 778
Gibsons Way / Highway 101101
WaterwaysHowe Sound
Websitewww.gibsons.ca

Although it is on the mainland, the Sunshine Coast is not accessible by road. Vehicle access is by BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, a 40-minute crossing; or by a ferry from Powell River to Earls Cove, north of Sechelt. The town is also accessible by water, by float plane to the harbour, and by small aircraft to Sechelt Airport, approx. 20 km to the northwest.[2]

Gibsons is best known in Canada as the setting of the popular and long running CBC Television series The Beachcombers, which aired from 1972 to 1990. The storefront "Molly's Reach" (now a cafe), the restored tug Persephone, and a display about the series at the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives are popular attractions. Other films that have used Gibsons as a location include Charlie St. Cloud (2010), starring Kim Basinger and Zac Efron (as a stand-in for Marblehead, Massachusetts); and Needful Things (1993), starring Max von Sydow and Ed Harris.[3]

History

The land currently known as Gibsons is part of the traditional and ancestral lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, which also includes parts of Greater Vancouver and the Squamish River watershed. Sḵwx̱wú7mesh oral history tells that the region around Gibsons was the birthplace of the Squamish people after what is called The Great Flood.

The European settlement town of Gibsons was established in 1886 by George Gibson and his sons. It was incorporated in 1929 as Gibson's Landing, and in 1947 was renamed Gibsons at the residents' request. The town two main sections are:

  • Lower Gibsons, the mostly residential seaside area that includes Gibsons Marina, Molly's Reach, and Winegarden Park, with an auditorium that hosts live performances in the summer. It also has shops and restaurants catering mostly to vacationers.
  • Upper Gibsons, along the Sunshine Coast Highway (BC Highway 101), with commercial areas including Sunnycrest Mall, the town's two major supermarkets, a variety of fast food restaurants, the largest elementary school, and the high school.

Gibsons is the first town in British Columbia to accept styrofoam at its recycling facility, the Gibsons Recycling Depot. Its staff has traveled widely to promote styrofoam recycling; founder Buddy Boyd was invited to address an international Zero Waste conference in Florianopolis, Brazil.[4]

Economy

The Sunshine Coast has seen a three-decade transition from a forestry- and fishing-based economy to a more diverse one with construction trades, business services, retail and tourism becoming prominent.[5]

Gibsons is a popular retirement destination. It has also attracted artists and musicians, professionals who commute by ferry into nearby Vancouver, and remote workers.

Between 2001 and 2006, its population grew 7.1% compared with BC's overall growth rate of 5.3%. In 2006, the median resident age was 50.2 years, compared with the provincial median of 40.8 years.[6]

Climate

Gibsons is in a temperate coastal climate, with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. The regions's landscape is in a temperate rainforest.

Climate data for Gibsons
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)		 16.7
(62.1)		 18.9
(66.0)		 25
(77)		 30.6
(87.1)		 32
(90)		 36
(97)		 32.8
(91.0)		 32
(90)		 24
(75)		 17.8
(64.0)		 14.5
(58.1)		 36
(97)
Average high °C (°F) 6.5
(43.7)		 7.9
(46.2)		 10.3
(50.5)		 13.4
(56.1)		 16.9
(62.4)		 19.7
(67.5)		 22.2
(72.0)		 22.6
(72.7)		 19.1
(66.4)		 13.5
(56.3)		 8.6
(47.5)		 6.1
(43.0)		 13.9
(57.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.4
(39.9)		 5.2
(41.4)		 7.2
(45.0)		 9.8
(49.6)		 13
(55)		 15.7
(60.3)		 18
(64)		 18.2
(64.8)		 15.1
(59.2)		 10.6
(51.1)		 6.4
(43.5)		 4
(39)		 10.6
(51.1)
Average low °C (°F) 2.2
(36.0)		 2.5
(36.5)		 4.1
(39.4)		 6.1
(43.0)		 9
(48)		 11.7
(53.1)		 13.6
(56.5)		 13.7
(56.7)		 11.1
(52.0)		 7.7
(45.9)		 4.1
(39.4)		 1.9
(35.4)		 7.3
(45.1)
Record low °C (°F) −15.6
(3.9)		 −12
(10)		 −8.3
(17.1)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 3.9
(39.0)		 5.5
(41.9)		 5.6
(42.1)		 0
(32)		 −3
(27)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −17.8
(0.0)		 −17.8
(0.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 183.4
(7.22)		 109.8
(4.32)		 125.4
(4.94)		 104.3
(4.11)		 91.3
(3.59)		 66.8
(2.63)		 41.1
(1.62)		 48.8
(1.92)		 60.5
(2.38)		 152.3
(6.00)		 212.9
(8.38)		 174.3
(6.86)		 1,370.8
(53.97)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 174.4
(6.87)		 103.6
(4.08)		 122.2
(4.81)		 104.2
(4.10)		 91.3
(3.59)		 66.8
(2.63)		 41.1
(1.62)		 48.8
(1.92)		 60.5
(2.38)		 152
(6.0)		 211
(8.3)		 166.6
(6.56)		 1,342.4
(52.85)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 9.1
(3.6)		 6.2
(2.4)		 3.2
(1.3)		 0.1
(0.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.3
(0.1)		 1.9
(0.7)		 7.7
(3.0)		 28.4
(11.2)
Source: [7]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gibsons had a population of 4,758 living in 2,282 of its 2,482 total private dwellings, a change of 3.3% from its 2016 population of 4,605. With a land area of 4.31 km2 (1.66 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,103.9/km2 (2,859.2/sq mi) in 2021.[8]

Gibsons Harbour, Sunshine Coast

Ethnicity
Panethnic groups in the Town of Gibsons (2001−2021)
Panethnic
group		 2021[9] 2016[10] 2011[11] 2006[12] 2001[13]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[lower-alpha 1] 3,800 83.06% 3,825 86.83% 3,730 88.28% 3,705 91.26% 3,545 92.56%
Indigenous 265 5.79% 205 4.65% 200 4.73% 220 5.42% 120 3.13%
East Asian[lower-alpha 2] 175 3.83% 115 2.61% 80 1.89% 40 0.99% 125 3.26%
Southeast Asian[lower-alpha 3] 130 2.84% 125 2.84% 120 2.84% 10 0.25% 20 0.52%
South Asian 105 2.3% 30 0.68% 15 0.36% 0 0% 0 0%
African 50 1.09% 70 1.59% 45 1.07% 20 0.49% 15 0.39%
Latin American 20 0.44% 10 0.23% 0 0% 10 0.25% 10 0.26%
Middle Eastern[lower-alpha 4] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.25% 0 0%
Other/Multiracial[lower-alpha 5] 25 0.55% 15 0.34% 0 0% 30 0.74% 0 0%
Total responses 4,575 96.15% 4,405 95.66% 4,225 95.22% 4,060 97.08% 3,830 98.05%
Total population 4,758 100% 4,605 100% 4,437 100% 4,182 100% 3,906 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Gibsons included:[9]

Notable people

Awards

Gibsons has won a number of awards: In February 2005, Gibsons won the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting contest, coming first in the world.[15]

In October 2009, the town was declared the "Most Liveable Community in the World" (under 20,000 population) at the international Livcom Awards.[16] Endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme, the LivCom competition focuses on best practices for local environmental management.[17]

In 2009 Gibsons won an Energy & Climate Action Award for Community Planning and Development from the Community Energy Association. A major factor in the award was a new housing development, which will be heated by Canada's first publicly owned geoexchange system.[18][19]

  • World's Most Livable Community of under 20,000 (2009), United Nations-endorsed International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom).[20] Gibsons also received First Place among all world cities in LivCom's "Planning for the Future" category.[21]
  • Energy & Climate Action Award in Community Planning and Development (2009), awarded by the Community Energy Association for development of the Upper Gibsons Neighbourhood Plan.[22]
  • Communities in Bloom awards – 2008 Provincial Champions; 2007 Provincial Champions award for Environmental Awareness; 2006 Provincial Champions for best floral displays.[23]
  • Best in the World Municipal Water (2005) award, Berkeley Springs Winter Festival of the Waters.[24]
  • OCP award, SmartGrowth BC, 2007
  • National Research Council award for environmentally-sensitive development (2006)[25]

Notes
  1. Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References
  1. "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. "About – Salt & Soul of the Sunshine Coast". www.bigpacific.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. "IMDb: Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada"". IMDb. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  4. "About – Salt & Soul of the Sunshine Coast". www.bigpacific.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  5. "People and Employment", from Best Coast Initiatives Sunshine Coast Economic Development website "Invest: People & Employment: Leading Employers - Best Coast Initiatives: Sunshine Coast Community Economic Development, BC Canada". Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  6. "Statistics Canada: 2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020.
  7. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  8. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  9. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  10. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  11. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  12. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  13. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  14. Gooch, Bryan N.S. "Lyn Vernon". Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  15. "Gibsons Water is Preciously Pure - Town of Gibsons, the Official Website for the Town of Gibsons, British Columbia". Archived from the original on 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  16. "World's best town: Gibsons, B.C. - British Columbia - CBC News". Archived from the original on 2010-07-08. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  17. "Livcom Awards : The International Awards for Liveable Communities". www.livcomawards.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  18. "ICET sends grants to Gibsons | Local News | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  19. "Gibsons' geoexchange holds promise, risk | Local News | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  20. "Livcom Awards - the Results 2009". Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  21. "Gibsons wins 2 global awards". 28 October 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  22. http://www.communityenergy.bc.ca/energy-climate-action-awards-overview/2009-energy-climate-action-awards-winners
  23. "Communities in Bloom - Town of Gibsons, the Official Website for the Town of Gibsons, British Columbia". Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  24. "Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Awards Given". Archived from the original on 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
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49°24′10″N 123°30′13″W

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