Prevost Island

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Prevost Island

Prevost Island is a small island in the Gulf Islands, off the south coast of British Columbia, Canada. It covers about 6.75 square kilometers. It lies east of Ganges Harbour, roughly halfway between Salt Spring Island (to the west) and Galiano Island (to the east). The coordinates are about 48.8333°N, 123.3833°W.

History and naming

The island was named for James Charles Prevost, a British naval officer who helped with the San Juan Island boundary dispute in 1859–1870. Prevost Harbor on nearby Stuart Island, Washington, is named after him as well. The ship HMS Satellite, commanded by Prevost, inspired the name Satellite Island in Prevost Harbor.

Ownership and farming

Most of Prevost Island was bought in the 1920s as a sheep farm by Digby de Burgh, who came from County Limerick, Ireland. His descendants still own much of the island. Today it remains mostly a sheep and cattle farm, with a few small private homes on the northwest side.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve area

Part of Prevost Island is within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR). James Bay is part of the park. The area has about 10 marine-accessible backcountry campsites. Camping facilities are basic and fires are not permitted. Boaters can anchor at Selby Cove, and paddlers can land at James Bay beach. The Parks Canada brochures provide up-to-date camping information.

Portlock Point Lighthouse

The Portlock Point Lighthouse sits on the island’s eastern edge. It was built in 1895 to replace an earlier stake lighthouse. The light was automated in the late 1960s and rebuilt in 1987. Portlock Point is now part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.