Welcome to the Penders
The Pender Islands are part of the Southern Gulf Islands on British Columbia’s Pacific coast, nestled between Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle, and known for their natural beauty and relaxed island pace.
Getting Here
Tucked into the heart of the Salish Sea, Pender Island is easy to reach, whether you’re arriving by ferry, boat, seaplane or water taxi. Regular BC Ferries sailings connect the Penders to Vancouver Island, the Mainland and neighbouring Gulf Islands, while marinas, docks and sheltered anchorages welcome those travelling by water. Bedwell Harbour offers seasonal Canada Border Services clearance for vessels arriving from abroad, and water taxis make getting between the islands simple.
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Weather
Pender Island has a mild, cool-Mediterranean climate, with soft, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. The islands see more sunshine and less rainfall than much of the coast, making it easy to spend time outside year-round.
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Tides
Tides are part of daily life on Pender Island, shaping everything from boating and paddling to beach access and shoreline exploring. A quick check of the tide tables before you head out can make all the difference.
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Population
According to the 2021 Canadian Census, the Pender Islands are home to about 2,775 permanent residents, with most living on North Pender. Come summer, that number grows as part-time residents and visitors return, bringing a steady hum of activity to island life.
Community Life
Life on the Penders is shaped by a close connection to nature, the ocean and each other. It’s a rural island community where wildlife, working farms, residents and visitors all share the same limited space.
Pender is a dog-friendly place, but that comes with an understanding: respect for neighbours, for wildlife, and for the land. The same is true of community life more broadly. Volunteering, lending a hand, and looking out for one another are part of how things work here.
It’s a slower pace, grounded in self-reliance, care and mutual respect, and it’s what shapes both visiting and living on the Penders.
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