Facts about Gibsons

GEOGRAPHY:
Gibsons is divided into three regions: the Town of Gibsons; Elphinstone (Sunshine Coast Regional District Area E), which includes Gower Point; and West Howe Sound (Sunshine Coast Regional District Area F), which includes Port Mellon, Williamsons Landing, Langdale, Hopkins Landing and Granthams Landing.

HABITAT & WILDLIFE:
There are three major habitat areas: Woodland, Streamside and Coastal Waterfront, each of which supports a variety of unique animal and plant species. Natural vegetation includes coniferous forest (Western red cedar, Western hemlock, Douglas fir) with some deciduous trees (broadleaf maple, red alder and Western flowering dogwood) and mixed ground cover (salal, vine maple, Oregon grape and salmon berry). Along the rocky shoreline and in exposed bedrock areas, pine and arbutus thrive. Common mammals in the area are coastal blacktail deer, Douglas squirrels, bush rabbits and raccoons. Woodland birds are black-capped chickadee, pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, rufous-sided towhee, winter wren and varied thrush. Marine mammals include harbour seals, Stellar sea lions and sixteen species of whales and dolphins, chiefly killer whales (orcas). Common fish are chum and coho salmon, cutthroat trout and shellfish such as mussels, oysters and clams. Marine birds in the area include bald eagles, great blue herons, Canada geese, osprey, cormorants, loons, sandpipers and coots.

POPULATION OF GIBSONS AREAS (latest available information)

Town of Gibsons
(15% of the total Sunshine Coast)

2011 Town of Gibsons
4300

2006 census
4182 people

The population of the Gibsons area is largely families with young children. There is a higher percentage of single parent homes in this region of the Sunshine Coast and fewer people of retirement age. Approximately 80% of the housing is single detached homes, 15% mobile homes and 5% multiple-unit dwellings (apartments and duplexes).

CLIMATE COMPARISON

	Sunshine Coast	Vancouver	Calgary	Toronto
Average Temperature Celsius	low: 7 high: 13.4	low: 7 high: 12.8	low: 3 high: 9.7	low: 2 high: 12.4
Precipitation	total - 1060mm snow - 36cm	total - 1203mm snow - 36cm	total - 424mm snow - 153cm	total - 762mm snow - 131cm
Frost-Free Days	334	329	112	149

As indicated by the above chart, winters are more wet than cold, often with no snow at lower elevations. At higher levels, snow is frequent. Mild winters and abundant precipitation make this area green and blooming year round.

INDUSTRY:
Agriculture: Approximately 400 hectares (15%) of the Elphinstone area and 580 hectares (41%) of West Howe Sound area are part of the Agricultural Land Reserve. Only a small portion of the Elphinstone area and none of the West Howe Sound area are currently being used for agriculture, although the soil is good in both areas. The Town of Gibsons is almost exclusively residential or commercial/industrial.

Forestry: The predominant tree species in the Gibsons area is alder (55%) with broadleaf maple, Western red cedar, Douglas fir and Western hemlock. Logging is still an important industry, with most activities of a primary nature, including timber harvesting and log storage. A secondary industry is the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill facilities at Port Mellon.

Mining: Aggregate extraction in isolated pockets is the only mining activity in the area.

Fishing: The Gibsons area is part of a major inner marine water system. Salmonid spawning habitats contribute to valuable commercial and recreational fishing.

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