
Malaspina Galleries c. 1920
Gabriola Timeline
A taste of life on the island
This overview is a taste of the past – an approximation of life on the island.
Gabriola’s stories motivate us today to be committed keepers of nature and heritage.
Gabriola has an intriguing and inspiring history. In recognition of this, the Museum honours the First Peoples who lived with and cared for the land from the beginning (from approximately 8000 BCE and who helped the new settlers who came here only 170 years ago.
We also honour the original settlers for their challenging work and hardship, from first habitation to now, for their part in giving us today’s life on our beautiful island.
See the Museum’s books, exhibits and archives for more information and interesting, often comical, personal anecdotes.
Gabriola Timeline
First Inhabitants (Approximately 8000 BCE)
8000 BCE or earlier
Early Explorers (1780s to 1792)
1780s
British and Americans started the maritime fur trade in the area, acquiring furs of sea otters, beavers, bears and other animals from Indigenous peoples.
1791
1792
Early Settlers (1850s to 1860s)
Mid 1850s
1852
1854
1862
1872
1880
1882
1883
The North School (now the Gabriola Arts and Heritage Hall) was opened. This school burned down in 1926 or 1927 and was rebuilt on the same site.
The Next Wave and Early Industry (Late 1880s to late 1950s)
1884
1887
The first federal voters’ list was compiled for Gabriola. It listed 47 men, 34 of them farmers. (Women couldn’t vote federally until 1917, and indigenous women only if they gave up their status and treaty rights.)
1890
1891
1900
1903
1904
1910
1911
1919
The Sunrise Lumber Company began operations in the Silva Bay area but fire destroyed it in 1925.
The East School was built behind the Little Log Church.
1925
1927
1931
1932
The Gabriola Agricultural Association Cooperative built the first Agi Hall on land donated by Richard Easthom.
1935
1936
1938
1940
Chinese Canadians lived on Gabriola and worked in the Brickyard.
1942
1945
1947
1948
1954
The South School became Saint Paul’s Anglican Church.
1955
The first annual Salmon Barbeque was held.
Land Development and Hippies (1960s to 1970s)
1960
1968
1969
1970
1971
Governance and Infrastructure Era (Mid 1970s to Now)
1974
1978
1979
1981
1984
1987
1988
1989
Gabriola Ratepayers Association started the Gabriola Island Recycling Organization on land donated by Merv and Annette Sweeney on Tin Can Alley. The centre opened in 1991.
1992
1995
1996
1996
Gabriola’s population was 3479.
People for a Healthy Community became a registered charity.
1997
2001
The Gabriola Arts Council was formed.
2002
2003
2004
Gabriola residents voted 87% against incorporation as a municipality.
The community created the Gabriola Lands and Trails Trust (GaLTT).
2005
The Gabriola Commons was established.
2006
Gabriola’s population was 4050.
2008
The land for the Coats Marsh Regional Park was acquired from the Coats family.
Elder Cedar Nature Reserve was established.
2009
Quamichan First Nation held a potlatch with Degnan descendants.
2010
The Gabriola Museum celebrated its 15th anniversary.
The 707 Community Park was established.
2011
Gabriola’s population was 4045.
2012
2013
GERTIE (Gabriola’s Environmentally Responsible Trans Island Express) started.
Reconciliation (2015 to now)
2015
Islands Trust Council officially adopted a declaration of Reconciliation.
2016
Gabriola’s population was 4033.
2019
On June 19, 2019 Islands Trust Council unanimously passed the Islands Trust Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-2022
2020
The Snuneymuxw, the main first peoples of Gabriola, renewed its relationship with the provincial government through a land transfer agreement of more than 7410 acres of Crown lands near the City of Nanaimo at Mount Benson and Mount McKay.
Japanese Canadians on Gabriola Timeline
1911
Eight Japanese lived on Gabriola as loggers and fishers (none continued to live on the island).
1918
Yoshimatsu Schinde built the Sunrise Sawmill on land leased from early John Silva (operated until 1925 when fire destroyed it).
1934
1942