Egmont

Egmont is a small waterfront village on Secret Bay in Sechelt Inlet o the Sunshine Coast. It is the northernmost settlement on the adjacent peninsula, and is accessible only by boat. The village is a kayaker’s dream, sitting at the crossroads of four major waterways, with surrounding mountains preventing any strong winds. The area has hundreds of islands, bays, and coves for visitors to explore. There are some truly majestic natural destination in the Skookum Rapids, Hothum Sound & Freil Falls, and Princess Louisa Inlet’s Chatterbox Falls.

The scenery can also be appreciated along one of the many hikes through forests, and around lakes, that will remind visitors of the unadulterated beauty of British Columbia. The region hosts many provincial parks that offer all sorts of outdoors activities. The area is ripe with fishing and diving opportunities. The Egmont Heritage Center provides an opportunity for visitors to learn all about the history of the community.

Location

Egmont is located 6 km (4 mi) east of the BC Ferry terminal at Earls Cove at the north end of the Sechelt Peninsula on the Sunshine Coast in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. From Vancouver, take the Horseshoe Bay Ferry in West Vancouver to Langdale and drive 85 km (53 mi) to Egmont via Highway 101.

A Step Back in Time

Egmont was founded in 1880 by a half-Scottish, half-Potugese seaman and trader named Joseph Silvia Simmonds. It was named after the HMS Egmont, which served under Rear-Admiral Sir John Jervis at the Battle of St. Vincent on 14th February 1797. In his youth, Simmonds had worked for the Hudsons Bay Company, prospected in the Cariboo, and built a saloon in Vancouver. When he arrived in the area, he married a native woman named Lucy Kwatleematt. After that Simmonds dropped his surname and went simply by “Silvey”. His decedents still live in the area today.

In the early 1950s and ’60s the main economy was built around the 20 logging companies that operated in the area.

By 1956, a dirt road to Egmont from Hwy 101 was built, but it was not paved until 1966. During this time Egmont was beginning to be recognised as a tourist attraction.