Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia

Halfmoon Bay (xwilkway in she shashishalhem) is a small community in British Columbia, Canada, within the shíshálh swiya (the lands, birthplace, or "Territory" of the shíshálh Nation), and Electoral Area B of the Sunshine Coast Regional District.[1] The population consists of approximately 2,800 people, including a large number of seasonal residents. The community is named for the large scalloped bay on which it sits, which is sheltered by South Thormanby Island and Vancouver Island.

The community can be access via Redrooffs Road, so-named after a popular local resort which once featured a cluster of cabins, all with red roofs. Some homes are also located off Highway 101.

Halfmoon Bay Elementary School, the community's only elementary school, has 200–300 students ranging from kindergarten to grade seven. The school performs extremely well for one of its size, achieving BC Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) scores above those of many private schools. Halfmoon bay secondary students may choose to attend one of the three local high schools: Pender Harbour Secondary, Chatelech Secondary, and Elphinstone Secondary.

Halfmoon Bay was once named Priestland Bay after the Priestland family who settled in the area in 1899. Its present-day English name comes from the shape of the bay.[2]

Climate

Halfmoon Bay has a warm Mediterranean climate (Csb) near an Oceanic climate (Cfb)

Climate data for Halfmoon Bay (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1)
14.3
(57.7)
17.5
(63.5)
21.0
(69.8)
28.4
(83.1)
30.2
(86.4)
30.0
(86.0)
32.2
(90.0)
26.6
(79.9)
21.1
(70.0)
15.6
(60.1)
14.0
(57.2)
32.2
(90.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.1
(44.8)
7.7
(45.9)
9.6
(49.3)
12.4
(54.3)
16.1
(61.0)
19.0
(66.2)
21.4
(70.5)
21.3
(70.3)
18.1
(64.6)
12.9
(55.2)
9.0
(48.2)
6.8
(44.2)
13.5
(56.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.4
(41.7)
5.7
(42.3)
7.3
(45.1)
9.7
(49.5)
13.0
(55.4)
16.0
(60.8)
18.2
(64.8)
18.2
(64.8)
15.2
(59.4)
10.8
(51.4)
7.3
(45.1)
5.2
(41.4)
11.0
(51.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5)
3.6
(38.5)
4.9
(40.8)
6.9
(44.4)
10.0
(50.0)
12.9
(55.2)
14.9
(58.8)
15.1
(59.2)
12.3
(54.1)
8.7
(47.7)
5.5
(41.9)
3.5
(38.3)
8.5
(47.3)
Record low °C (°F) −7.2
(19.0)
−10.1
(13.8)
−3.6
(25.5)
−1.1
(30.0)
2.5
(36.5)
5.6
(42.1)
9.0
(48.2)
8.9
(48.0)
3.9
(39.0)
−0.4
(31.3)
−7.3
(18.9)
−11.7
(10.9)
−11.7
(10.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 135.5
(5.33)
92.2
(3.63)
90.1
(3.55)
69.9
(2.75)
62.5
(2.46)
53.9
(2.12)
34.7
(1.37)
35.7
(1.41)
48.7
(1.92)
106.1
(4.18)
165.0
(6.50)
134.5
(5.30)
1,028.8
(40.50)
Source: Environment Canada[3]

References

  1. ^ "SCRD". Scrd.ca. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  2. ^ Akrigg, G. P. V.; Helen B. Akrigg (1986). "British Columbia Place Names". Internet Archive (3rd, 1997 ed.). Vancouver: UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-0636-2.
  3. ^ Environment Canada, "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data", Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 October 2017

49°31′N 123°55′W / 49.517°N 123.917°W / 49.517; -123.917