James Island Wharf

James Island Wharf is a public recreational dock in Central Saanich that serves as a popular fishing and paddling launch point while acting as the primary gateway to the historically significant, privately owned James Island.

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Location

Central Saanich
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About

Located in Central Saanich on the Saanich Peninsula, James Island Wharf serves as a vital marine gateway to the Cordova Channel and Saanichton Bay. The area features a public wharf and dock located at the end of James Island Road near Turgoose Point.
Recreation and access
The wharf is a favorite local destination for residents and visitors alike, offering:
- Fishing & crabbing: A popular spot for catching salmon and crab (valid fishing permits required).
- Paddling: An ideal launch site for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. It provides easy water access to Saanichton Bay Park and the surrounding islands.
- Marine transit: The wharf remains the primary access point for the James Island water taxi, which transports residents and guests to the island.
History of James Island
James Island is a 315-hectare island situated beside Sidney Island. While today it is a private retreat, its history spans Indigenous heritage, industrial might, and luxury development.
- Indigenous heritage
- The island is part of the unceded and ancestral territory of the Tsawout First Nation.
- Hereditary Chief Louie Pelkey was born on the island in 1860.
- Settlement and the "TNT era"
  - Early years: First settled by farming families in the 1870s, it was officially named after Sir James Douglas by Captain Richards of the HMS Plumper in 1858. By the early 1900s, it served as a private hunting ground for Victoria’s elite, including Premier Richard McBride.
  - Industrial boom: In 1913, Canadian Explosives Ltd (later CIL) established a dynamite plant on the island.
  - World War efforts: During WWI and WWII, the island became a massive industrial hub. At its peak, the plant employed 800 workers living in an on-island village and produced 900 tonnes of TNT per month.
  - Decommissioning: Industrial operations continued until the late 1970s. In 1979, the plant and the worker village were disassembled and removed.
Modern ownership and environment
Purchased by American billionaire Craig McCaw in 1994, the island has been transformed into a world-class private estate.

Feature	Detail
Leisure	Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and six guest cottages.
Transport	792-metre runway, seaplane ramp, and a yacht-grade dock.
Sustainability	Underground power lines, a mandate for electric vehicles/golf carts only, and a ban on insecticides.

Once the highest-assessed property in the Capital Regional District, James Island stands today as a unique blend of sensitive environmental management and exclusive residential luxury.

Lands