Kelsey Bay is a small coastal settlement located in the Sayward Valley on northern

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

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, ...

about 1 mi (1.6 km) from the community of Sayward. The wharf at Kelsey Bay was previously the southern terminus for the B.C. Ferries

Inside Passage The Inside Passage (french: Passage Intérieur) is a coastal route for ships and boats along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific Northwest coast of the North American Fjordland. The route extends from southeaste ...

route until 1978, when Highway 19 was extended north to

Port Hardy Port Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-east end of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 4,132 as of the last census (2016). It is the gateway to Cape Scott Provincial Park, the North ...

and the terminus relocated there. Kelsey Bay is part of the Village of Sayward. Charles William Kelsey and his family moved from Washington State in 1906. They originally were headed for Alaska. They stopped at Topaz Harbour, started hand-logging and never did get to Alaska. They moved from

Hardwicke Island Hardwicke Island is an island in British Columbia, Canada, measuring approximately . Geography Hardwicke Island lies directly off the coast of the village of Sayward and to the west of its neighbour West Thurlow Island. Hardwicke Island is loca ...

in a scow-house which was their unique floating home. This was beached at the beginning of the rock cut and continued to be their home for some years. In January 1925, they moved to the wharf, operated a store-telegraph office and founded the post office which was named in their honor, which became The Kelsey Bay Post Office. The town was named after them. This is documented by Frances Duncan, granddaughter of William Kelsey. Mrs. Duncan still lives in Sayward and is 83 years old. During the summer months a Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Station is located in Kelsey Bay The station is staffed by a coxswain and two crewmembers running a Rigid Hull Inflatable Fast Rescue Craft.

References

Northern Vancouver Island Populated places on the British Columbia Coast Populated places in the Strathcona Regional District {{BritishColumbiaCoast-geo-stub