Monday 12 March 2012

Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre

Submitted by Shawna McLeod




Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre
The Queen Charlotte Visitor Center is located on the waterfront in the Village of Queen Charlotte with gorgeous ocean views. Run by a non profit organization, the Friends of the QC Visitor Centre, the QCVC is also a part of the Tourism BC Info Network.

Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre

Open year round, inside the longhouse inspired building you will find resourceful and engaging Tourism BC trained Visitor Information Counselors who will help you plan your trip while visiting the Islands. They can provide you with plenty of free resources including maps, hiking information and the 2012 Guide to Haida Gwaii.

 Photo Credit: Shawna McLeod

The visitor centre has extensive information on local accommodations, tour companies, vehicle rentals, festivals, events, and other local information. Planning to visit another BC town or city? No problem! They also have free resources including maps, guide books, and vacation planners for the rest of beautiful BC too!


Photo Credit: Jason Shafto
In the summer months you will find local Artists on site painting, carving or crafting, and you may even catch a performance from a local band or Haida Dancers as part of their “Artist of the Week” program. This exciting program features a different local Artist on site each week through July and August where you can watch them work and interact.


Photo Credit: Brian Eccles


Additionally, once a week throughout the summer Season you will also find the Gwaii Haanas Interpretive team offering their free Speaker Series program. Each week they cover a different topic such as; Old Growth Forests, Puffins, Cedar, and many more.


Photo Credit: Brian Eccles

Another exciting feature that was added last season at the QCVC is their salt water touch tank aquarium, with locally gathered creatures. Inside the tank you’ll find plenty of Crab and Seastar species, Nudibranchs, Snails, Sculpins, and many more species. How many can you find?


Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre




Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre



For a bit of peace and quiet, you can relax on the benches on their waterfront deck, have lunch in their interpretive garden with picnic tables and ocean views, or chill out inside on their comfy chairs and choose from a wide variety of local DVD’s to watch.

Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre



Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre




If you’re looking to bring back a little bit of Haida Gwaii with you, they also have an extensive retail selection that includes plenty of Art by local artists including carved Cedar, Argillite, Gold, Silver, and Copper Jewellery, pottery, paintings, and prints. Additionally you will find other souvenirs including books, clothing, cards, and much more!

 Photo Credit: Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre


For information and help planning your trip to Haida Gwaii, they also have a reservation and booking service to help you plan your perfect itinerary before you arrive as well.



How to get here:


From the Skidegate ferry terminal 10-minute drive (5 km) along the waters edge, turn left as you enter the village. Check out their website, www.qcinfo.ca for current hours and more information, or call (250) 559-8316 to speak with a Visitor Information Counselor.

Photo Credit: Jenn Dolen


Located at 3220 Wharf Street, in Queen Charlotte, the QCVC has a large parking area for RVs and 3 indoor public restrooms.


Stay tuned for upcoming blogs featuring the Sandspit and Masset Visitor Centres!



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