For a small population, ranging around 1,400 inhabitants, strong community initiatives dominate the scene on Denman Island, a short ferry trip from the Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island’s east coast.
One among them is the Denman Island Bus Service, also known as the Shuttle bus by locals.
About 14 stops are spread out across the island, and the bus runs every 75 minutes.
“If people need to stop or be picked up between stops, that’s also possible,” adds Sam Borthwick, coordinator of the bus service. The service is also free, rendering it accessible to anyone visiting or living on the island.
Denman’s bus service has been running for three years, from May to September. It started as a pilot project, running between the ferry terminal where people arrive from Vancouver Island and the one where they continue on to nearby Hornby Island. Borthwick says there are plans to expand to year-round services.
In the Denman Island Bus Service’s third year of service, 3,115 passengers used the bus, compared to 782 people in 2022. Photo courtesy by Sam Borthwick.
In its second year of service, 782 people used the bus, and with numbers growing to 3,115 passengers in 2023, the project became a source of independence for the community, especially for elderly folks and youth, Borthwick notes.
He recalls one elderly woman who, since the passing of her husband, had been isolated from the island, unable to get from one place to another and relying solely on friends and family. The bus service has returned her independence.
“There’s no other way to get around if people don’t have access to a car,” Borthwick says.
Beyond the transportation service, the bus can also be rented by the community, helping them get home safe after a night out, for example.
“ This service is still percolating into people’s consciousness;, once we are established, there is so much we can create.”
‘More gardening books than people’
Another space at the heart of Denman Island, is the Dora Drinkwater Library, at the community hall.
“It’s pretty small, but it serves the island very well,” says library president Sharon Mackin.
From Denman Island history to mysteries to craft books, there’s something for everyone. “There are more gardening books than there are people here,” Mackin says with a laugh.
The volunteer-run library dates from 1913, initiated by islander Dora Drinkwater. “She originally had books in her home, so people would come browse for books.”
The herring population faces overfishing and ecological threats. Esther Morand / West Coast Traveller photo
Though the library is not affiliated to the Vancouver Island libraries, they receive a small fund to purchase books, and during summer’s Readers and Writers Festival the library always buys the authors’ books.
A hub for environmental conservation
For more than 20 years, the Denman Island Stewards group has been at the forefront of coastal preservation and marine ecosystem restoration on Denman Island.
“We’re an island surrounded by water with a long shoreline. People come here because they love being on an island, and the marine life that goes with it,” explains Dorrance Woodward, chair of the association.
The Stewards focus on the island’s unique ecosystem, particularly the last herring spawn on the coast, and the subsequent arrival of marine life each spring. “The ecosystem is very important here for the rest of the coast,” Woodward notes.
The Stewards’ work involves collaborating with First Nations, governments and locals passionate about working to sustain the ecosystem. “People are really motivated to do something local to fight against climate change,” Woodward says.
The Stewards have been organizing annual shoreline cleanups for the last two decades, with the collected debris recycled at a local landfill in Comox, thanks to partnerships with organizations like Ocean Legacy.
The Denman Island Marine Stewards’ dedication over the past two decades has not only resulted in tangible environmental improvements but also fostered a strong community committed to preserving Denman Island’s unique marine ecosystem. Photo courtesy by Dorrance Woodward.
The scale of their cleanups has been considerable. “At its peak, we had as many as 200 people involved, running boats, sorting debris,” Woodward recalls. These efforts have been pivotal in applying pressure on governments for change. “We don’t want to be quiet,” she says.
The Denman Island Stewards have prevented certain types of aquaculture and continue to advocate for recyclable solutions to marine debris. “Each year we would average 10 metric tonnes of cleanup. The first Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative saw 40 metric tonnes,” she says.
Woodward also emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism, particularly in protecting the herring population, which faces overfishing and ecological threats. “We’re focused on giving social license to activists and speaking up for how the shellfish industry should operate,” she states.
The Denman Island Marine Stewards’ dedication over the past two decades has not only resulted in tangible environmental improvements but also fostered a strong community committed to preserving Denman Island’s unique marine ecosystem.
Denman Island distinguishes itself for its strong community initiatives that permit the island, its community and visitors to thrive.
Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!
Dine Around and Stay in Town returns to Greater Victoria Jan. 26 to Feb. 11