Portraits of Vancouver Island

A colourful visitor's guide to Vancouver Island

Home to Canada’s most balmy climate and a popular destination for over 230 cruise ships per year, Vancouver Island offers a unique and fascinating West Coast landscape with much to see and experience. From the massive old-growth forests of Cathedral Grove and the Carmanah Valley to the annual migration of orcas through the waters of the Salish Sea to the island’s charming communities and distinctive First Nations heritage, this popular destination has it all. Vancouver Island is home to about 800,000 residents, including members of three distinct Indigenous peoples. At 460 kilometers long and up to 80 kilometres wide, it is the largest island on the Pacific coast of the Americas and is almost six times the size of the province of Prince Edward Island. In recent years it has repeatedly been ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as one of North America’s best islands to visit. Vancouver Island is also home to the celebrated photographer Chris Cheadle, and this collection of images celebrates the essence of a man who loves his work.