# Ganges, British Columbia

Ganges, British Columbia is an unincorporated community on Salt Spring Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

## History

Throughout the 1800s, Ganges as well as much of the North side of Saltspring Island was predominantly African-American.
Ganges Harbour, from which Ganges takes its name, was originally called Admiralty Bay but was renamed by Captain Richards in 1859 after HMS Ganges, and indirectly after the Ganges river in South Asia. The ship was at the Pacific Station from 1857 to 1860 under the command of Captain John Fulford as flagship of Rear Admiral Robert L. Baynes. Ganges was the last sailing line-of-battle ship in foreign service. The first house on Salt Spring Island was built here in 1859 by the first group of 20 settlers that arrived on the island that summer. On 4 July 1860 the harbour was the scene of the killing of eight Bella Bella (Heiltsuk) people and the capture of three women and two boys for slaves by the Cowichans. A few days later, two Cowichans were beheaded, by a band from Fort Rupert.$^{:198}$

## Climate

Climate data for Saltspring Island (St. Mary's Lake) 1981–2010 normals :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) | 15.0 (59.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 29.5 (85.1) | 31.5 (88.7) | 33.5 (92.3) | 32.0 (89.6) | 31.5 (88.7) | 25.5 (77.9) | 16.0 (60.8) | 17.0 (62.6) | 33.5 (92.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) | 7.8 (46.0) | 10.4 (50.7) | 13.5 (56.3) | 17.1 (62.8) | 20.1 (68.2) | 22.7 (72.9) | 22.8 (73.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 13.8 (56.8) | 8.8 (47.8) | 6.1 (43.0) | 14.1 (57.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) | 5.0 (41.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 9.6 (49.3) | 12.9 (55.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.1 (64.6) | 18.4 (65.1) | 15.4 (59.7) | 10.8 (51.4) | 6.6 (43.9) | 4.1 (39.4) | 10.7 (51.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) | 2.2 (36.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | 5.6 (42.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 13.5 (56.3) | 13.9 (57.0) | 11.3 (52.3) | 7.7 (45.9) | 4.3 (39.7) | 2.1 (35.8) | 7.2 (45.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.0 (14.0) | −10.5 (13.1) | −6.0 (21.2) | −1.0 (30.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | 4.4 (39.9) | 5.0 (41.0) | 8.0 (46.4) | 5.0 (41.0) | −3.0 (26.6) | −10.0 (14.0) | −11.0 (12.2) | −11.0 (12.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 162.1 (6.38) | 98.5 (3.88) | 88.6 (3.49) | 56.8 (2.24) | 43.0 (1.69) | 37.4 (1.47) | 23.2 (0.91) | 28.0 (1.10) | 33.1 (1.30) | 94.0 (3.70) | 167.9 (6.61) | 154.3 (6.07) | 987.0 (38.86) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 152.0 (5.98) | 95.5 (3.76) | 86.2 (3.39) | 56.8 (2.24) | 43.0 (1.69) | 37.4 (1.47) | 23.2 (0.91) | 28.0 (1.10) | 33.1 (1.30) | 93.5 (3.68) | 163.5 (6.44) | 142.8 (5.62) | 955 (37.58) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 10.1 (4.0) | 3.1 (1.2) | 2.4 (0.9) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (0.2) | 4.4 (1.7) | 11.5 (4.5) | 32 (12.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 19.4 | 15.7 | 17.4 | 14.5 | 11.6 | 9.9 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 7.7 | 15.2 | 20.9 | 20.4 | 164.2 |
| Average rainy days | 18.3 | 15.2 | 17.1 | 14.5 | 11.6 | 9.9 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 7.7 | 15.1 | 20.2 | 19.2 | 160.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 6.1 |
| Source: Environment Canada ||||||||||||||

## Attractions and services

Ganges is the main service centre on the island, with several grocery stores, numerous restaurants and art galleries, banks and a variety of other services. The main fire hall for the island, the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, and the hospital are all located in Ganges. Ganges is the home of Salt Spring Coffee, which also sells its coffee on BC Ferries.
The harbour has several marinas, and is the home base for a Canadian Coast Guard cutter. It is also a busy seaplane aerodrome, with several scheduled flights a day to Vancouver. Because of Ganges' relatively central location in the Gulf Islands, it is a popular stop for recreational boaters.
One of the major tourist attractions in Ganges is the market that takes place on Saturdays during the summer months. At this market, many of the island's crafters and farmers offer goods and produce ranging from homemade honey to clothing and art.
Gulf Islands Secondary School is the senior secondary school serving Salt Spring Island, Pender Island, Galiano Island, Mayne Island and Saturna Island. Gulf Islands Water Taxi transports over 100 students to Ganges from the other islands to attend class.

## Ganges Market

The Ganges Market runs every Saturday from 8:30 to 4:00, from April to October. Over hundreds of vendors sell produce, baked goods, soaps, lotions, art, jewelry, pottery, and other crafts under the rule that you must: "Make it, bake it, or grow it". Attractions include local buskers, SPCA dog care, the nearby playground, and neighboring shops. It is located in Centennial Park, Ganges and the surrounding area.

## Access

* BC Ferries offers service to Swartz Bay, Crofton, Tsawwassen and the South Gulf Islands, via three ferry terminals within 20 minutes drive of Ganges.
* Seaplane service to Ganges Harbour is via Harbour Air, Salt Spring Air, and Seair Seaplanes.