Location
- Largest community on the central coast.
- Former site of Hudson's Bay Company (1830's).
- Fishing, foresty and toursim are the main industries.
The island village of Bella Bella is located on Campbell Island, north of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. It is home to the Heiltsuk Native Band and is the largest community on the Central Coast (population 1,400). Although it was the former site of the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort McLoughlin in the 1830s, nothing remains of the fort today. Like many small communities on the coast, such as nearby Ocean Falls, Bella Bella has had a precarious and isolated existence.
The closing of coastal cannery towns and decreased need for coastal shipping reduced the importance of Bella Bella's port. However, the resumption of ferry services by BC Ferries and the introduction of an air link from Vancouver via Port Hardy by Pacific Coastal Airlines have revived Bella Bella.
Fishing, forestry, tourism.
Information was provided by Health Match BC and from local community websites. Other information has come from a variety of sources including the BCMA and health professionals within the communities. Pictures have been provided by www.picturebc.ca or community members. Please contact us at info@rccbc.ca with any information updates for your community.
