Coastline of Pym Island
Coastline of Pym Island

Pym Island (48˚42'00" N 123˚23'00" W), is a private island near Swartz Bay BC Ferry terminal. It is the smallest island of Gulf Islands, with 5 acres in size. The island is only assessable by boat.

Named about 1858 by coastal surveyor Captain George Richards after Sub-Lt Frederick Whiteford Pym, who had been one of his junior officers on the Arctic exploration vessel Assistance, 1852–54. Richards was part of a squadron, under the overall command of Sir Edward Belcher, sent to search for the missing Sir John Franklin.[1]

The buildings on the island (one main building and 5 separate cottages) were built in 1980’s by a American pianist.

There are intriguing stories about the previous owner of the island, "A Tale of Murder, Revenge and a Canadian Immigrant Dream Gone Wrong"[2] [3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Saanich, Gazetteer (May 29, 2020). "Saanich Place Names" (PDF).
  2. ^ Bilefsky, Dan (2019-06-01). "A Tale of Murder, Revenge and a Canadian Immigrant Dream Gone Wrong". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  3. ^ Hutchison, Brian (June 12, 2015). "'I assume you want to kill me?': The mysterious life and death of millionaire murder victim Gang Yuan".