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What the Brochures Don’t Tell You
Okay, these are the absolute worst, most terrible and awful things about Pender Harbour. If it’s stuff that you can live with, then you’re going to be happy living here. If not... well, maybe you’re better off where you are.
Health Care
Doctors are available locally at the Pender Harbour Health Centre. The nearest hospital, and emergency room, is in Sechelt, and a trip to Vancouver may be required for specialist appointments and some surgical procedures. These facts should be considered by anyone experiencing or facing serious health problems.
Also see Health Care.
Wildlife
As wonderful as is our wildlife, it’s best to do your utmost to discourage bears, raccoons and rats from spending time in your back yard and, especially, inside your house.
You must keep your garbage indoors or in a strong, sealed container. You must keep your outdoor barbecue fastidiously clean, and you must stop putting out birdseed in spring. And, you must pick any ripe fruit because all these things attract bears, raccoons and rats.
Oh, isn’t that beautiful— a pretty little deer right in town! We agree, but if you’re a gardener, be prepared to invest in fencing and netting to protect your plants.
Power
BC Hydro and the Midway Power Line crews are great, but our winter windstorms can result in power outages that can last for days. Yes, days. We’ve learned to stock up on candles, batteries, food that doesn’t need to be cooked and good books. A generator is a smelly, noisy thing that allows you to stay warm, watch television and cook dinner.
Shopping and Business
Be aware of “Pender Harbour time,” that infuriating, frustrating, hair-pullingly maddening concept of local service. Add an hour, a week or even a year to any project, depending on its complexity. It’s not that locals are lazy and not conscientious —just the opposite, they’ll go above and beyond Vancouver-style business service. But, behind the scenes, they may be dealing with parts and equipment delivery by an often-unreliable bus and ferry system, spotty internet service, power outages, various permitting bureaucracies, staff problems and other little business problems that don’t exist in larger centres.
With no all-night convenience stores, living here takes a tad more day-to-day planning— you can’t just pop out to the 7-11 at midnight for a litre of milk. On holiday weekends, stock up your groceries in advance. The tourist population is unpredictable and can unexpectedly arrive to buy all the fresh produce and steaks in Pender Harbour by noon Saturday.
Yes, stuff is cheaper at Costco. Get over it, move on, because you’ll make lots of points with the locals by shopping locally. Your money spent here helps support the whole community by providing jobs, donations to local organizations and further local spending (for you bean-counters out there, it’s called the Multiplier Effect).
Also see Doing Business in Pender Harbour and browse our Lifestyle pages.
Bright Lights
We don’t roll up the sidewalks at 10 p.m. because we don’t have sidewalks, but you rarely have the choice of anything but sitting in a pub by that time of night. No movie theater, no bowling alley, no McDonald’s, no hookers trolling the downtown area.
Transportation
We have no busses, cabs, car rentals, SkyTrains, regular trains or subway systems. With no public transportation, your own vehicle is a must. However, no one is critical if your vehicle isn’t sparkling-clean— we have water restrictions every summer and the nearest car-wash is in Sechelt.
Finally, if you decide to go for a walk, five people will pull over to offer you a ride. Some newcomers are so rattled by this that they stop walking.
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Where to Live
Definitely make sure that you have new digs arranged here before you give up your current home— this is not a town where you can arrive to be presented with a variety of housing options. If you expect this, you may end up living in your car.
Rent
Rental accommodations are scarce in Pender Harbour, with even hotel rooms booked well in advance for busy weekends.
Buy
You won’t find cheap properties on the local real estate market, but be assured that real estate agents will do their best to find something to meet your needs and fit your budget.
If you’re planning a subdivision, further construction or a long-term property investment, be sure to educate yourself on the local Community Plan and Land-Use Bylaw (337). Local Government (SCRD) staff in Sechelt can answer your questions and direct you to valuable information. You can save yourself a lot of grief by knowing What to Ask.
Summer may be the worst time of the year to choose property, because you may have no idea where the sun shines, or not, in the wet winter months. Look around. If you’ve got a big hill between you and South, it may explain why the price is $50 thousand less than a similar property around the corner.
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Where to Work
There aren’t many good jobs available in the area, but then there aren’t a lot of people competing for them. This is great if you’re looking for low-paying work, but not so great if you’re thinking of starting a business that will need staff. Most available positions are in the service industry, tourism and retail and, for most, the pay is not enough to afford to live here. As well, these tend to be summer-only jobs.
Home-based business in the arts, communications and technology fields provide a decent income for those with skills and qualifications. One of the better employers on the coast is the Sunshine Coast Regional District government.
Also see Economy.
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What to Ask
These questions should all be answered to your satisfaction before you invest in property here. To protect your... assets. E-mail your questions to get a legally binding reply.
- Can I renovate the existing house/cabin? Can I increase its size? Will I need to pay for an engineering study or archeological assessment?
- Can I build a second dwelling on this property? An auxiliary building such as a shed or garage? What are the setbacks? Yes, you can apply for a variance, but there’s no guarantee that it will be allowed.
- What can be built on the property next door? Even if you’re buying next to Crown Land, certain uses are allowed and, down the road, it may be sold by the government for development.
- Can I build a dock on the water? Note that new foreshore licenses/leases are not being issued and have not been issued for years now (part of the Sechelt Indian Band land claim negotiation strategy).
- Can I cut down those trees to improve my view? Trees on your neighbour’s property can grow quickly to block your view, and they may refuse to top or remove them.
- Is the septic field/treatment plant okay or will it have to be upgraded (at my expense)? Is there enough space to upgrade or replace it?
- Will I be able to get legal driveway access?
- Is community water available? What does it cost?
- Is there arsenic in my (well) water? When was it last tested? Does it run dry at some times during the year?
- Is cable TV available here? High-speed internet access?
- If you’re looking to rent, ask if the property is up for sale, privately or otherwise, and obtain a clear, written contract of your rights relating to viewing by real estate agents, their clients and the property owner, and terms of your notice to move when the property is sold.
- When viewing waterfront property, the first question to ask is, “Are there rats here?” Of course there are rats, but the answer will tell you something about the honesty of your real estate agent.
How to Fit In
Pender Harbour is one of the friendliest little communities on the West Coast but the locals may take it personally if you criticize their community and its lifestyle. It’s best to spend time getting to know your new home and new neighbours rather than telling them how they’ve been doing it wrong all these years.
Remember that you cannot control everything that you see here in Pender Harbour. This especially includes your neighbour’s trees that block your view, his messy yard, permitted construction and other legal activities.
Don’t be startled if a complete stranger smiles and says hello or maybe even initiates a conversation in the IGA lineup. That’s just the way we are here. Joining a local organization and participating in local events is the best way to meet your new neighbours. But, be warned— there’s a great demand for hardworking volunteers and you may find your days busier than you wanted.
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Pets
Okay, here you are out in Rural Wonderland, so you’ll need a couple of dogs, a few cats and maybe some chickens and goats! Well... maybe not.
Those acres of weed-infested property down the street belong to someone, and that someone probably lives there, in a house hidden by trees. Please keep this in mind when bringing home anything that barks, crows, craps and attracts predators and vermin.
Chickens & Goats
Chickens, and their feed, attract all kinds of opportunistic creatures like rats, raccoons and coyotes. As well, your new neighbours may not appreciate a crowing rooster. Speaking of birds, if you own a cockatoo, by all means keep it indoors where only you can appreciate its shrieking.
Goats are difficult to contain —just ask the folks on Garden Bay Road.
Dogs & Cats
Small dogs and cats are prey to coyotes, eagles and the occasional cougar. Fights with weasels, raccoons and mink rarely end well for the domestic pet.
Ticks are a problem from spring to fall. Examine your pet’s coat regularly and treat it with an effective preventative medication. Ask your vet to recommend something, and while you’re at it, have your pet’s inoculations brought up to date.
Do not let your dog roam, free-range, to become a nuisance, which it will do if released to amuse itself in our wide-open spaces. Dogs can legally be shot if they threaten someone’s livestock on their property, and if they chase deer (which they will). And, even though you’re no longer in the city, please scoop your dog’s poop off public and private property.
Finally, have your pet spayed or neutered. Just like the rest of the world, Pender Harbour has far too many unwanted animals.
We don’t have —and don’t want— an animal-control bylaw. As long as people are responsible pet-owners, we won’t be forced to have one (and the tax increase that goes along with it).
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What Are the People Like?
A Fable...
Once upon a time, a couple from Vancouver considered moving to Pender Harbour.
They sought out our wisest elder, Pender Dan, and asked him, "Venerable elder, we are thinking of moving here. We don't like where we live now, and we are looking for a better place. What are the people here like?"
The old man asked them, "What are the people like in your neighbourhood?"
The couple replied, "Well! They are the reason we want to move! They’re horrid people; mean, unfriendly and downright nasty."
Pender Dan sighed and said, "I’m sorry to tell you this, but the people here are the same way.” The couple, disappointed, decided to forget about moving to Pender Harbour.
Later, a different couple (also from Vancouver) came by to ask the same question of Pender Dan, and he asked the second couple the same question that he asked the first, "What are the people like in your neighbourhood?"
The second couple said, "Oh, they are the most wonderful, helpful, friendly and fun people in the world. We’ll really miss them but it’s time to move on."
Pender Dan smiled and said, "You’ll be happy to hear that the people in Pender Harbour are the same as in the neighbourhood you’re leaving. You’ll really like it here."
The second couple moved to Pender Harbour, where they lived happily ever after.
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