Hornby Island | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Hornby Island

Hornby Island lies in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, southeast of the island community of Courtenay . It is a wooded island with a shoreline of sandbanks and rock shelves.
Hornby Island
High cliffs are typical of the coastal landforms around Hornby Island, BC (photo by James Marsh).

Hornby Island lies in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, southeast of the island community of Courtenay. It is a wooded island with a shoreline of sandbanks and rock shelves. Whaling was carried out in the 19th century from a shore station on the east coast; today it is a busy recreation area. Sandstone ledges along the shore show good examples of Indian petroglyphs. The name refers to Rear-Admiral G.T. Phipps Hornby, commander of the Pacific Station from 1847-51.