The cruising landscape in the Broughton Archipelago’s is changing. Change isn’t bad, it’s just change. For those that have not yet sailed to the Broughton’s you’ll have a new and different experience than those of us that have sailed there before. The Broughton’s pub crawl has changed.
Shawl Bay Marina
The first change was a few years back, when the Shawl Bay Marina was sold in 2015. Shawl Bay Marina was a must stop, offering amenities, a gift shop and baked goods up in the wild, and most notably scheduled social dinners. Marina’s in the Broughton’s aren’t like marina’s in the Gulf Islands, they are unique mini boating communities up in the middle of BC’s beautiful wilderness.
The Shawl Bay marina was run by two women who truly loved their marina. They had a common open space for covered dinning, providing a place for all the boaters moored for the evening to socialize, and share their boating stories.
The Broughton Archipelago’s has lost the Shawl Bay Marina has a destination. The new owner of Shawl Bay Marina seems to have no intention of carrying on the tradition or the of spirit of Shawl Bay Marina. Since it was purchased, the property still remains closed with no date in sight for when it could re-open, or what it will be when it re-opens.
The new owner has dabbled in fishing lodges in the past, so whether or not it turns into a fishing lodge or remains a marina is yet to be seen. When reaching out to the new owner to inquire on when or if it will be re-opening, the owner made no comment and showed no interest in the inquiry. What is known, is the once loved boating stop in the Broughton Archipelago’s is gone forever.
Pierre’s at Echo Bay
If you haven’t heard already, Pierre has retired and the sold Pierre’s at Echo Bay Lodge and Marina to the Kwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Haxwa’mis First Nation (KHFN). Pierre’s at Echo Bay was a must stop when up in the Broughton Archipelago’s. Similar to the Shawl Bay Marina, it offered special food nights, again providing that unique boating community up in the middle of no where. You would plan your boating itinerary around the food events at all the marina’s, partially to treat yourself for a night off from boat cooking, but also for the great socializing with all the other boaters!
While it is sad to see the Pierre leave Echo Bay, the new owners, the Kwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Haxwa’mis First Nation appear to want to continue and expand the services at Echo Bay. Pierre’s at Echo Bay Lodge and Marina is in the heart of their traditional territory. I look forward to our next trip to the Broughton’s to again check out Echo Bay!
Change isn’t good or bad, it’s change. I look forward to the next era of cruising in the Broughton’s!