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HAIDA GWAII - Our CommunitiesMUNICIPALITIESHAIDA RESERVESSkidegate VillageUNINCORPORATED AREAS
The largest centre on Graham Island, Masset is the Gateway to Naikoon Provincial Park and is world renowned in the sportfishing community for its easy access to the productive Salmon and Halibut grounds located northwest of the community. Masset has all needed amenities for the traveler including a wide variety of accommodation, restaurants and a public recreation centre including swimming pool, sauna, gymnasium and a bowling alley! Some of the main features to investigate in Masset include: The Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary, a 228ha wetland set aside for many migrating and resident birds. There are observation towers and several trails through the refuge. Over 140 species have been recorded here, including Trumpeter Swans, Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles. The Delkatla Nature Centre is located on Trumpeter Drive. Call 626-5015 for information and hours. Canada’s most westerly golf course, The Dixon Entrance Golf Course, located 5 km east of Masset offers scenic vistas along Haida Gwaii’s north coast over looking Dixon Entrance and the southern Islands of the Alaskan panhandle. Non members are encouraged to play a few rounds literally, as the course circles around CFB Masset part of the early warning system for North America during the tense Cold War period. The Dixon Entrance Maritime Museum located at the western end of Collison Ave. was originally the community’s first hospital built in 1914. Through a federal grant and the countless hours of many committed and dedicated community members the building was extensively renovated and seismically upgraded and now houses some fascinating exhibits about the European settlement of Masset and the areas maritime history. Admission is well worth the $2 charged. Information: Contact: Village of Masset For more information visit Masset's community webpage at: _________________________________________________________________ Old Massett is the Islands northernmost community located at the entrance to Dixon Entrance on Masset Sound. It is one of the Islands two Haida communities and is 3km north of Masset. Masset and Old Massett are closely linked and the area is commonly referred to as Greater Massett. These two communities could be Canada’s most closely linked First Nations – non-First Nations communities sharing water and sewage treatment systems as well as the co-management of the former military recreation centre in Masset. Primarily Old Massett’s residents utilize the services in Masset for their daily needs but a recent entrepreneurial spirit has seen the development of several artist’s galleries and studios, eco-tourism ventures, a modern and lively café with internet access for visitors and a few B&B’s. Some of the main features to investigate in Old Massett include: The Islands largest collection of modern totem poles can be found throughout the Village including the oldest modern pole raised on the Islands. (found on Eagle Ave. in front of the Anglican Church.) Currently there are 11 poles that have been raised in the Village with 3 raisings planned for the summer of 2007. Visit the gift shops and artisan studios in Old Massett. Old Massett has many talented Haida Artists that often have small sheds or additions to their homes where they work and sell their art. Most of these places of business are well signed and artists are always happy when you stop by. Often the hours of these places fluctuate and in many cases it will be hit and miss. The Misty Islands Economic Development Society has produced an Islands Artists Guide that can be picked up at all Visitor Centers. Many of the artists in Old Massett are listed in this guide so if you want to increase your chances give them a call ahead of time. There is also a diverse local gift shop / gallery at the far end of Eagle Ave. (backroad) which has very regular and reliable hours. Information: Contact: Old Massett Village Council
Old Massett’s Business Directory can be found on the Village of Masset’s website at: ________________________________________________________________ The Islands newest emerging community, Tow Hill is an area spread out along Tow Hill Road ~10km east of Masset.The Tow Hill area is on or along the northwestern boundary of Naikoon Provincial Park and recent developments on private lands within the Parks boundaries has increased the number of people moving to the area. The main amenities along the roadway include several rustic cabins for rent in forested, river or beach settings, a restaurant, café and organic produce store. Surfing is becoming popular on the Beaches to the north of Tow Hill Road especially during the winter season. The eastern end of Tow Hill Road provides access to Agate Beach Provincial Campground and North Beach. Information: Services: Most of the businesses in the Tow Hill area are listed on the Village of Masset website: _________________________________________________________________ Port Clements is located at the base of Masset Inlet. One of the islands 3 municipalities Port Clements is the gateway for exploration of the Islands isolated and rugged west coast along a myriad of logging roads leading all the way to Queen Charlotte. Some things to see or do in Port Clements include:
Information: Population: 440 Contact: For more information visit Port Clements community webpage at: ________________________________________________________________ Tlell is a small, spread out community on the east coast of Graham Island, located 43 kilometers north of the ferry terminal at Skidegate. Tlell marks the southeast corner of Naikoon Provincial Park and is the location of the Misty Meadows Provincial Campground. A trail leads from the Tlell Day-use area, just north of the Tlell River Bridge to the remains of the Pesuta, a barge which ran aground in 1928. There are artisans & galleries, a cafe, a fine choice of quaint accommodation several Bed & Breakfasts, a general store and cattle ranch all in the area. They are all well marked. Look for he signs as you drive along the highway. Tlell is home to the Edge of the World Music Festival. 2007’s “Edge Fest” will be in early August. The festival runs a whole weekend and features great entertainment from all over the country and around the world as well as showcasing many of the Islands musical talents. Information: Elevation: Sea level
________________________________________________________________ The Village of Queen Charlotte is the Islands newest municipality incorporating in November 2005. Queen Charlotte has many governmental departments including the Ministry of Forests and Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The community is beautifully situated between the narrow Skidegate Inlet and the peaks of the Queen Charlotte Mountain range to the northwest. The community is the one most often used by visitors embarking for tours into the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Protected Area.
Information: Population: 948 Elevation: Sea level Contact: For more information visit Queen Charlotte’s community webpage at: ________________________________________________________________ Skidegate is one of two modern Haida Villages on the Islands and has made great steps in developing a cultural tourist base for the community. Some things to see in Skidegate include: The Haida Gwaii Museum, located at the Haida Heritage Centre on the edge of the community. The museum has galleries displaying Haida history and restored totem poles, and a natural history gallery of QCI birds, mammals and fossils. There is a small admission. The Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay is an extension of the Haida Gwaii Museum and offers visitors an unparalleled experience discovering Haida culture and art. 6 modern poles stand outside this world-class complex. The offices of Parks Canada are also located here. Along the waterfront in the Village of Skidegate, a huge cedar longhouse faces the beach and is fronted by the dogfish totem pole carved by Bill Reid. The longhouse houses the SHIP (Skidgegate Haida Immersion Program) which teaches and preserves the Haida language. BC Ferries docks on the edge of the community providing contact with Moresby Island and across Hecate Straight to Prince Rupert on the British Columbia mainland. Skidegate Days are held every summer in the community and offers activities and events for all. Don’t miss the opportunity to paddle the “Loo Taas” (Wave eater) the huge cedar canoe carved by Bill Reid. Information: Population: 781 Contact: Skidegate Village Council For more information visit Skidegate’s community webpage at: ________________________________________________________________ Located on the northern shores of Moresby Island Sandspit is the only community on Moresby Island and is connected to Graham Island by a small vehicle ferry connecting to Skidegate. The arrival point for Air Canada flights to the Islands, Sandspit has a large (by local standards) airport and a Visitor Centre. Sandspit is a hotbed for fishing especially during the late Coho runs in September and October, but also offers wonderful camping opportunities. Birding and kayaking are also popular activities in the area. Sandspit also has one of the Islands two golf courses, the Willows Golf Course. This scenic course also has a clubhouse which offers great meals during the summer months. There are popular campgrounds along the logging roads, which form a circle route with the community to the campsites of Gray Bay and Mosquito Lake (a popular swimming and fishing spot). Pallant Creek flows out of the lake and joins the ocean about 5km downstream with an estuary at Moresby Camp. There is a chum salmon hatchery on Pallant Creek and visitors are welcome throughout the year. Moresby Camp is used extensively by operators providing tours and trips into the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Protected Area. Sandspits hosts Loggers Days in July each year reminding the community of its strong roots to the logging industry. The day is full of activities including a Loggers skills competition. Information: Contact: Sandspit Community Office
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