The Sunshine Coast: From Gibsons to Powell River

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

This beautiful coffee-table book was clearly a labor of love for its
creators, B.C. historian and humorist Howard White and a group of
talented photographers headed by Keith Thirkell. All are residents of
the Sunshine Coast. Some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada is
found along this rugged and forested coastline, whose mountains, fjords,
and islands extend northwest of Vancouver for 100 miles.

The geographic features of the region gave rise to small, relatively
isolated communities, each with their own character and historical
development. The book organizes them into four major areas: Gibsons (of
Beachcombers fame); Sechelt; Pender Harbour; and Powell River, including
Jervis Inlet. The portrait of each area includes a colorful history of
fact and legend, reminiscences, and travelogue-style descriptions.

The book’s color photography is superb, capturing the spirit of the
area, its residents, and its commerce. A bibliography of more than 40
monographs about the Sunshine Coast and a general index of personal and
place names complete this enticing introduction to the region and its
history.