Piers is a small private island that is part of the Gulf Islands lying near Sidney, BC. It is minutes from the BC Ferry Terminal at Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. There are 131 private properties on the island and a fire hall whose training room also serves as a community meeting space and reading library.
Owners of island properties also belong to the Piers Island Association which caters to some social activities for islanders, arranges work parties for stewardship of the centre of the island and invasive species irradication. Island wildlife includes an excellent migratory and resident bird population, black tailed deer, river otter, mink, newts and Pacific Tree frogs. All but 3 properties are waterfront, ranging from walk on beachfront, to high bank waterfront. Electric golf carts have proven an excellent source of transportation on the island, as well as old fashioned foot travel and bicycle.
While there are no stores, hospitals or schools on the island, the town of Sidney is only 5-10 minutes by boat and has all the amenities one might desire. There is a group run private ferry service (Eco Cruising BC) taking residents from Piers Island to Swartz Bay government dock or Canoe Cove Marina. Water taxi service is also available by private charter with Eco Cruising BC.
The Piers Island Improvement District (PIID) governs and attends to the day to day operation of the water distribution system, volunteer fire department and parking/launch property located on Dolphin Road, in North Saanich. Drinking water is supplied by the GVWD via North Saanich with some re-chlorination treatment on island by water operators for safety. Electrical power is supplied by BC Hydro, telephone by Telus and high speed ADSL internet also available, although speeds are somewhat slower than Vancouver Island. Piers also falls within the jurisdiction of Islands Trust and the Capital Regional District for taxation, building permits and other governance issues.
Owners of island properties also belong to the Piers Island Association which caters to some social activities for islanders, arranges work parties for stewardship of the centre of the island and invasive species irradication. Island wildlife includes an excellent migratory and resident bird population, black tailed deer, river otter, mink, newts and Pacific Tree frogs. All but 3 properties are waterfront, ranging from walk on beachfront, to high bank waterfront. Electric golf carts have proven an excellent source of transportation on the island, as well as old fashioned foot travel and bicycle.
While there are no stores, hospitals or schools on the island, the town of Sidney is only 5-10 minutes by boat and has all the amenities one might desire. There is a group run private ferry service (Eco Cruising BC) taking residents from Piers Island to Swartz Bay government dock or Canoe Cove Marina. Water taxi service is also available by private charter with Eco Cruising BC.
The Piers Island Improvement District (PIID) governs and attends to the day to day operation of the water distribution system, volunteer fire department and parking/launch property located on Dolphin Road, in North Saanich. Drinking water is supplied by the GVWD via North Saanich with some re-chlorination treatment on island by water operators for safety. Electrical power is supplied by BC Hydro, telephone by Telus and high speed ADSL internet also available, although speeds are somewhat slower than Vancouver Island. Piers also falls within the jurisdiction of Islands Trust and the Capital Regional District for taxation, building permits and other governance issues.
Other Governance websites
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Piers Island also falls within the jurisdiction of Islands Trust and the Capital Regional District for taxation dealing with a number of issues such as harbours, libraries, building permits and emergency services to name a few.
Here are helpful links for: Islands Trust - Community Plan & Bylaws Piers Island Land Use Bylaw CRD - Building permits, other bylaws such as pets/leashes etc. Ministry of Highways - Road Use Agreement SGI Harbours Commission - the Piers Island & Swartz Bay docks SGI Emergency Program SGI Libraries |