Sunshine Coast Lifestyles

Photo Sunshine Coast Photography

Families love the Sunshine Coast because while it is only 35 minutes from
the huge metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver (population 2.1 million) yet is
still largely rural in feel. Much of the Coast's waterfront is relatively undeveloped
compared to Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Bellingham and points south.

4 Cats Art Studio in Sechelt's Trail Bay Mall is a new addition to the Coast. Wiith classes, workshops and parties for artists aged 2 - 15, taking inspiration from the works of famous artists, this professional art studio is dedicated to cultivating the child's natural ability to see and think like an artist. Check here for the full schedule or activities.

The median age on the Sunshine Coast is 48 (2010). Many young people who grew up on the Coast are returning from the city or their work around the world to raise their own children in what is still a 'rural' BC community. Sports teams (hockey, soccer, baseball, volleyball etc) play both on Coast and off, and there are many kilometres of mountain biking trails, the Sprockids Bike Park in Gibsons, two malls, old-fashioned main street niche store & boutique shopping, and a very active arts community that includes performance, music, theatre, comedy, fine arts, dance and more. The halls and music venues offer a great range of dances and performances to choose from - from classical to world fusion. Roberts Creek Hall is the cultural centre of the Coast for younger adults, along with a growing number of spot venues for hip-hop, downtempo and remix - but also pulls out the stops for jazz, blues, funk, rock and even family events.

The Sunshine Coast has a complete school system, from pre-school straight
through to Capilano College's first and second year university transfer programs.
There are also sports leagues for T-ball, softball, hardball, hockey (of course!), golf, swimming, soccer, rugby... too many to mention. Currently there is one ice rink on the Sunshine Coast, located in Sechelt, and two public swimming pools, located in Gibsons and Pender Harbour.

There are literally miles of beaches to ramble along, and scores of parks
- from recreational parks with bike paths and family picnicking areas right up to
"bush" parks most locals don't even get into.

SENIORS

There is a high senior population on the Coast, with an active Seniors Centre in
Central Sechelt. The Centre offers monthly get-togethers, bridge nights, crafts and
woodworking in addition to access to the centre's recreation activities.
Sechelt Golf and Country Club also offers a lawn bowling green that is popular.

Sechelt has a higher population of seniors than any other area on the Coast,
mainly due to level walking throughout the village area, and easy access to the lower Coast's hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, located on Highway 101 right before entering Sechelt from Selma Park.

Housing for Seniors - Link

HEALTH & MEDICAL

St. Mary's Hospital, Sechelt, with 31 beds provides medial surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and emergency care services. The BC Cancer Agency's Screening Mammography Program operates out of St. Mary's Hospital and is available without a doctor's referral, women ages 40-79 call 1-800-663-9302 to book appointments. St. Mary's Hospital Foundation is currently fundraising to build the new hospital - please support it!

Christenson Village, Totem Lodge and Shorncliffe provided extended care services. To access these facilities please contact the VCH Home Care Services office at 604.741.0726. Two medical clinics, two dental clinics, pyshiotherapist, chiropractic, podiatrist and optometrist offices are also available in Sechelt. The community is well served by registered naturopathic physicians, massage therapists, and reflexologists and licenced praticitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.

The Sunshine Coast Hospice Society is active as well, with a mission to provide support and advocacy and respect the dignity of those in our Coast community who are coping with grief, bereavement and their end-of-life. Their web site can accept monthly, annual or one-time donations through CanadaHelps.org.

A minibus service and the Homemakers & Adult Day Care are provided by the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society.

There are Medical Clinics located in the three major population centres of Sechelt, Gibsons and Pender Harbour, as well as Vancouver Coastal Health Units Offices. Dentistry, physiotherapy and chiropractic are also widely available on the Coast. There are also three longterm care facilities on the Coast, Totem Lodge next to the hospital, and Shorncliffe in Sechelt and Christenson Village in Gibsons. All three facilities are Complex Care.

Photo Sunshine Coast Photography

Outdoors & Recreation

If you're looking for physical activity, then the Sunshine Coast is the place for you!

Our region is world reknowned for the spectacular outdoor recreation activities to be found throughout the Coast:

• Mountain biking (parks, road, and off-road forestry trails)
• Hiking - ranging from easy flat walking through to strenuous hikes
• Kayaking - ocean kayaking both in the protected waters of the
  Sechelt Inlet, and on the "outside" in the Georgia Strait
• Golf - there are three full 18 hole courses, and a par 3
• Horseback riding
• Skateboarding - park located near Chatelech High School, Sechelt
• Boating - Sailing, canoeing, powerboating, cruising
• Cross Country Skiing
• Fishing - saltwater for Springs and Coho, freshwater and bottomfishing
• Scuba Diving - the Skookumchuck and Tzoonie Narrows are world class, and the
  Coast has an artificial reef, the Chaudiere, located in the Sechelt Inlet
• Windsurfing (and recreational "kayaksurfing" at Davis Bay)
• Swimming - saltwater and lake swimming (there are 6 large lakes on the Coast,
  as well as many small ones).

Cultural Life

Check out the culture section of this site to see the rich variety of
cultural activity available on the Sunshine Coast.

Everyone is welcome!

The Sunshine Coast is populated with people of diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, and lifestyle.

There are pockets of common interest around the Coast, such as Roberts Creek, which has an eclectic mix of back-to-the-landers, original homesteaders, family vacation cottages and even, dare we say, hippies! (Check out the wonderful diversity evident at almost every meal in the Gumboot Cafe).

But mostly our region is just plain tolerant and welcoming to newcomers, no matter what their stripes. We like to think the Coast is a place where boys can
grow up to be dancers or firefighters, and girls can be the next neurosurgeon
or stay at home and raise great kids. So come on, come to the Coast!

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