TEXADA Island. VAN ANDA.

Texada Island named in 1791 by Spanish explorers, Texada is known for its wealth of minerals, although whaling also was important during its early days. In 1876, a whaler called Harry Trim discovered iron ore, and mining began in earnest. Copper was discovered a few years later, and gold was mined at Marble Bay in 1898. This is when Van Anda became a boom town, boasting the opera house north of San Francisco, three hotels with saloons, a hospital,illegal distillery and many stores and businesses. Like so many of the buildings in the province during this period, fire devastated the community not once but three times, destroying many of the buildings. While still a thriving community today, Van Anda is much sleepier and less populated than during those "Glory days".
Beautiful natural scenery and untouched land abounds on Texada, and wonderful recreational opportunities. Many visitors find the kind of unique wonderment only around Texada.World-class scuba diving and kayaking spots around the island are perfect! Full of life, small inlets, and plenty of shoreline points enter from all visitors to understand just how BEAUTIFUL Texada is up close.Wide varieties of urchin, starfish, crab, seals, whales, and porpoises make this ocean paradise area home.