Tahsis
title: "Tahsis" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ports-and-harbours-of-british-columbia", "villages-in-british-columbia", "northern-vancouver-island", "populated-places-in-the-strathcona-regional-district", "nootka-sound-region"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahsis" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Tahsis |
| official_name | Village of Tahsis |
| settlement_type | Village |
| image_skyline | Tahsis_Inlet_and_Village_2006.jpg |
| image_caption | Tahsis Inlet and Village |
| dot_x | |
| pushpin_map | Vancouver Island#Canada British Columbia |
| pushpin_label_position | |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location of Tahsis in British Columbia |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Canada |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | British Columbia |
| subdivision_type2 | Region |
| subdivision_name2 | Vancouver Island |
| subdivision_type3 | Regional district |
| subdivision_name3 | Strathcona |
| leader_title | Governing body |
| leader_name | Tahsis Village Council |
| leader_title1 | |
| established_title | |
| established_title2 | Incorporated |
| established_date2 | 1970 |
| established_title3 | |
| area_total_km2 | 5.73 |
| area_land_km2 | |
| population_as_of | 2019 |
| population_total | approximately 300 |
| timezone | PST |
| utc_offset | -8 |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| elevation_m | 30 |
| blank_name | Highways |
| blank_info | 19 |
| blank1_name | Waterways |
| blank1_info | Pacific Ocean |
| blank2_name | Climate |
| blank2_info | Cfb |
| website | Village of Tahsis |
| :: |
|name = Tahsis |official_name = Village of Tahsis |other_name = |native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = Village |motto = |image_skyline = Tahsis_Inlet_and_Village_2006.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Tahsis Inlet and Village |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |city_logo = |citylogo_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Vancouver Island#Canada British Columbia |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Tahsis in British Columbia|pushpin_mapsize = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Canada |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = British Columbia |subdivision_type2 = Region |subdivision_name2 = Vancouver Island |subdivision_type3 = Regional district |subdivision_name3 = Strathcona |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Governing body |leader_name = Tahsis Village Council |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = |established_date = |established_title2 = Incorporated |established_date2 = 1970 |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 5.73 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2019 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = approximately 300 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = PST |utc_offset = -8 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 30 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = Highways |blank_info = 19 |blank1_name = Waterways |blank1_info = Pacific Ocean |blank2_name = Climate |blank2_info = Cfb |website = Village of Tahsis |footnotes = Tahsis is a village municipality on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, about 300. km (by air) northwest of the provincial capital Victoria at . , the Canadian census listed 316 residents, a decline from the 2006 Census count of 366 residents. The Village of Tahsis economy used to be dependent on forestry, but after the closure of the local sawmill in 2001, the economy became heavily dependent on sport fishing for salmon and halibut, outdoor recreation and tourism.
The village is situated at the head of the steep-sided Tahsis Inlet (part of Nootka Sound). The inlet is protected from Pacific storms by its geography, making the docking facilities a valuable asset.
In Tahsis' heyday the population was roughly 2,500. With the closure and dismantling of the mill the population declined to 892, according to the 2001 census.
History
While First Nations peoples have inhabited the area for over 4,000 years, Europeans first visited Tahsis in 1774 (Spanish) and 1778 (English). John R. Jewitt, an English armourer, spent several winters here at the beginning of the nineteenth century as the slave of Maquinna. Jewitt's memoirs, A Narrative of the Adventures and Sufferings of John R. Jewitt, only survivor of the crew of the ship Boston, during a captivity of nearly three years among the first nations of Nootka Sound: with an account of the manners, mode of living, and religious opinions of the natives is a major source of information about the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast in general, and life in Tahsis in particular.
In the 1930s many companies tried unsuccessfully to open sawmill operations on the west coast of Vancouver Island. There were several advantages to building at Tahsis: there was a level plateau at the head of the inlet with easy deep-sea access for ocean-going vessels. The site faced southeast, getting maximum sunlight to protect the freshly cut lumber from mould due to the rains.
In 1937 Nootka Wood Products Limited started operations at what was initially called "Port Tasis", a name chosen by them in loose consultation with local First Nations. At the time, Nootka Wood Products was cutting approximately 150,000 board feet of lumber daily, all for export.
Subsequently, a Tahsis mill was built by the Gibson Brothers in 1945. It burned down in 1948, but in January 1949, Gibson Mills and the East Asiatic Company formed a partnership (Tahsis Company) and by April a new mill was back in production. Before the mill was demolished, it was owned by Canadian Pacific Forest Products.
In 1962, it was reported that the Tahsis Lumber Company had "prohibited the import of all cars except one very small [un-named] German make" but that motorists "have one advantage over most: since their cars run only on private property they don't need a license".
Tahsis remained a company town until it was incorporated as a municipality in 1970. Tahsis was connected to Gold River by the Head Bay Road in 1972. Until that time the village was accessible only by boat or aircraft.
Climate
|location = Tahsis (1981–2010) |metric first = Y |single line = Y |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 642.5 |Feb precipitation mm = 344.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 365.3 |Apr precipitation mm = 270.9 |May precipitation mm = 185.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 146.2 |Jul precipitation mm = 97.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 168.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 181.1 |Oct precipitation mm = 513.0 |Nov precipitation mm = 753.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 636.8 |year precipitation mm = 4305.5 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 636.0 |Feb rain mm = 330.6 |Mar rain mm = 358.3 |Apr rain mm = 270.6 |May rain mm = 185.5 |Jun rain mm = 146.2 |Jul rain mm = 97.7 |Aug rain mm = 168.1 |Sep rain mm = 181.1 |Oct rain mm = 513.0 |Nov rain mm = 748.5 |Dec rain mm = 625.0 |year rain mm = 4260.6 |Jan snow cm = 6.5 |Feb snow cm = 14.2 |Mar snow cm = 7.0 |Apr snow cm = 0.3 |May snow cm = 0.0 |Jun snow cm = 0.0 |Jul snow cm = 0.0 |Aug snow cm = 0.0 |Sep snow cm = 0.0 |Oct snow cm = 0.0 |Nov snow cm = 5.1 |Dec snow cm = 11.8 |year snow cm = 44.9 |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |Jan precipitation days = 18.8 |Feb precipitation days = 13.2 |Mar precipitation days = 17.5 |Apr precipitation days = 14.7 |May precipitation days = 12.9 |Jun precipitation days = 13.1 |Jul precipitation days = 8.0 |Aug precipitation days = 8.9 |Sep precipitation days = 9.8 |Oct precipitation days = 16.5 |Nov precipitation days = 18.5 |Dec precipitation days = 17.5 |year precipitation days = 169.4 |unit rain days = 0.2 mm |Jan rain days = 18.4 |Feb rain days = 12.9 |Mar rain days = 17.4 |Apr rain days = 14.7 |May rain days = 12.9 |Jun rain days = 13.1 |Jul rain days = 8.0 |Aug rain days = 8.9 |Sep rain days = 9.8 |Oct rain days = 16.5 |Nov rain days = 18.2 |Dec rain days = 16.7 |year rain days = 167.6 |unit snow days = 0.2 cm |Jan snow days = 1.7 |Feb snow days = 1.6 |Mar snow days = 1.7 |Apr snow days = 0.18 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.0 |Nov snow days = 0.89 |Dec snow days = 1.8 |year snow days = 7.8 |source 1 = Environment Canada{{cite web | publisher = Environment Canada | url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=tahsis&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=276&dispBack=1 | title = Tahsis Village North | work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 | access-date = 17 August 2016}}
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tahsis had a population of 393 living in 231 of its 398 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 248. With a land area of 5.26 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.
::data[format=table title="Religious groups in Tahsis (1991−2021)"]
| Religious group | 2021 | 1991 | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Total responses | 365 | 1,090 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian | 90 | 805 | |||||||
| Sikh | 0 | 90 | |||||||
| Buddhist | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Jewish | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Hindu | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Muslim | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Indigenous spirituality | 0 | N/A | N/A | ||||||
| Other religion | 25 | 0 | |||||||
| Irreligious | 255 | 190 | |||||||
| :: |
First Nations
The members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Nuchatlaht and Ehattesaht First Nations are the Nuu-chah-nulth-speaking tribes whose traditional territories included all of the area known today as Nootka Sound. The Nootka Sound First Nations' territories are bounded on the north by those of the Kyuquot/Cheklesahht, and on the south by those of the Hesquiaht. Archaeological evidence confirms the occupation of the region for over 4,200 years.
Events
- The Great Walk (June)
- Tahsis Days (July)
References
References
- "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address". British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development.
- [https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.29581 Early Canadiana Online – Page Image]
- "Port Tasis Newest West Coast Centre". ''Vancouver Province''. 1 November 1937. p. 21
- "Cars are small at Tahsis but need no license", Donald Stainsby, ''The Province'', 17 March 1962, p. 29
- (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". [[Statistics Canada]].
- Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population".
- Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2019-03-29). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions - Part B".
- [http://www.greatwalk.com/ The Great Walk]
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