Helliwell Provincial Park

Helliwell Provincial Park
The cliffs of Helliwell Provincial Park
Location in British Columbia
LocationHornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Nearest cityCourtenay
Coordinates49°31′00″N 124°36′20″W / 49.51667°N 124.60556°W / 49.51667; -124.60556[2]
Area2,872 hectares (7,100 acres)[3]
EstablishedSeptember 16, 1966 (1966-09-16)[2]
Governing bodyBC Parks
Websitebcparks.ca/helliwell-park/

Helliwell Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada located on a headland at the northeast end of Hornby Island.

The land, formerly a farm belonging to the Acton family, was donated by Mr. J. L. Helliwell.[4] The park was established by Order in Council 2681 on September 16, 1966 and expanded several times thereafter.[2] Its 2,872 hectares (7,100 acres) now include Flora Islet and part of Lambert Channel.[3]

There are facilities for hiking, canoeing, picnicking, sightseeing, and scuba diving. Restroom facilities consist of four pit toilets.[3]

The park has large old-growth Douglas-fir trees and rare Garry oak ecosystems. A trail loops around the bluffs that overlook the Strait of Georgia and links-up with Tribune Bay. The Garry oak meadow ecosystem is one of the many microclimates located within British Columbia and is considered an endangered habitat.[5]

The cliffs in the southern part of the park form a unique microclimate that local community groups are attempting to protect . These cliffs are also nesting areas for the pelagic cormorant.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Protected Planet | Helliwell Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  2. ^ a b c "Helliwell Park". BC Geographical Names.
  3. ^ a b c "Helliwell Provincial Park". Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "Fillongley, Tribune Bay, Helliwell, Sandy Island Parks Master Plan" (PDF). 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  5. ^ Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service Garry Oak Recovery Team Research document, 2005
  6. ^ "BC Wildlife Watch, Ministry of Environment". Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-10-31.