Coal Harbour is a harbour and community on northern

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, Canada located on the north side of Holberg Inlet in the

Quatsino Sound , image = Coal Harbour, Port Hardy, BC.jpg , image_size = 260px , alt = , caption = Coal Harbour, a village located in Holberg Inlet , image_bathymetry = , alt_bathymetry = , caption_b ...

region. It is named after a small and unsuccessful local coal mine that was founded in 1883. The village's most successful industry, however, was whaling. It was the last whaling station in

when it closed in 1967. The station utilized the original buildings of the RCAF.

RCAF Coal Harbour

The townsite and surrounding area was the site of a

Royal Canadian Airforce The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environme ...

base for seaplane patrols in the Northern Pacific during World War II. Many of the original buildings still remain, such as the general store (the old gymnasium), and the officers' barracks immediately overlooking the harbour. RCAF Stranraers and later Canso-As (the Canadian designation for Consolidated PBY Catalina

flying boats A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fusela ...

built by Canadian Vickers) were based here. Anti-aircraft ordnance, ammunition storage for depth charges and considerable concrete fortifications were built. A Stranraer was lost with all its crew during the war in mysterious circumstances. There is a small, free museum dedicated to the RCAF station built and maintained by a private individual in the sole remaining Canso hangar.

Whaling station

After the war the buildings were bought by B.C. Packers and whaling operations began. Whales were harpooned by a fleet of up to five small "

chasers ''Chasers'' is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Dennis Hopper. It is about a pair of United States Navy shore patrollers (SPs) (Tom Berenger and William McNamara) who must escort a beautiful prisoner (Erika Eleniak), and the troubles they ...

" with harpoon guns. Whales were brought up by steam windlass on the main slipway formerly used by planes and then flensed (stripped of their

blubber Blubber is a thick layer of vascularized adipose tissue under the skin of all cetaceans, pinnipeds, penguins, and sirenians. Description Lipid-rich, collagen fiber-laced blubber comprises the hypodermis and covers the whole body, except for pa ...

) on the concourse and processed indoors. By-products included protein feed for animals, and

fertilizer A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...

.http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/surveys/bc/bc6/bc6_report.pdf Day, J.H.; L. Farstad; D.G. Laird (1959). Soil Survey of Southeast Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, British Columbia, p.12 The plant was powered by two World War II US destroyer steam engines. Japanese whalers operated jointly with Canadian partners. The Taiyo group (now Maruha Nichiro) operated the Coal Harbour fisheries from 1962 to 1967. They caught mostly sei (2153), sperm (1108), and fin (837) whales. Some blue and humpback whales were also taken. Canada Packers took over the facility when Taiyo pulled out in 1967, but it lay idle until they sold it for scrap. It was dismantled between 1972 and 1975 by Argus Salvage of

Qualicum, British Columbia Qualicum Bay is a settlement in British Columbia and is served by the coast-spanning Island Highway and the Island Rail Corridor. Climate See also * List of communities in British Columbia *Qualicum Beach :''"Qualicum" re-directs he ...

Coal Harbour today

In the 1970s, a copper mine was established near the site and ran until 1996. Today few of the original World War II buildings remain, the general store and the commanding officer's barracks still standing and being used as of 2010. The community is linked with a good paved road to Port Hardy. The local school has been closed and students commute to nearby Port Hardy. Coal Harbour is now a bedroom community for Port Hardy, but local industry remains in the form of seaplane services and connections to major fishing lodges. There is a general store and a local government wharf. The village is also known for its gigantic jawbone of a blue whale. Nearby is the headquarters and main community of the Quatsino First Nation, the band government of the Gwat'sinux group of the Kwakwaka'wakw.

References

{{authority control Whaling stations in Canada Northern Vancouver Island World War II sites in Canada