Nestled between Vancouver Island and the Broughton Archipelago on the unceded Kwakwakw’akw Territory of the ‘Namgis, Mamalilikala, and Kwakuitl Nations, lies sunny Malcolm Island. Founded in 1901 by a group of visionary socialist Finns, cooperation and community have been at the heart of Malcolm Island since the beginning.
Here, eagles soar, whales breach and wild salmon are king. Sointula, which means “Place of Harmony” in Finnish, is the island’s quaint village and ferry terminal, with boats running to Port McNeill. The Sointula Co-Operative Store is Western Canada’s oldest running co-op general store, while the Sointula Museum explores the island’s Finnish and maritime history.
At Bere Point Park, you can search for orcas from the whale watching platform, hike the Beautiful Bay Trail, and set up camp in a forested site with water views. At the southwest tip of the island, Pulteney Point Lighthouse was built in 1943 and is one of only 27 lighthouses still staffed in BC today.
To find out more about Malcolm Island: visitsointula.com.
