Profile of Madeira Park

Madeira Park, where early settlers would row for picnics and softball games, was named by Joe Gonsalves' daughter, in honour of her father's beloved childhood home near the Madeira Islands.

Francis Peninsula or (depending on the tide) Beaver Island, in Madeira Park, is the largest residential area in Pender Harbour.

The downtown core of this small community boasts extensive landscaping, rockwork, and public areas including Seafarer's Park and Iris Griffith Wetlands. Murals by Walters and wood carvings by Jack Crabb grace the downtown area while the old, double-ender, commercial fishing boat Harbour Spirit welcomes visitors from its high and dry, mini Stonehenge-meets-Buchart Gardens setting on Hwy. 101.

Madeira Park is the business centre of Pender Harbour, with a post office, elementary school, community school, community hall, community policing station, fire station, health centre, the largest of three local wharves, wharfinger's office (604-883-2234), Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans office, Legion and a shopping centre.

Commercial locations include grocery stores, marinas, resorts, coffee shops, galleries, hairdressers, a building supply store, credit union, liquor store, pharmacy, veterinary clinic, wine u-brew, pub, dance studio, pet food store, clothing boutique, bookstore, used clothing store, computer service and video rentals.

Madeira Park is also home to the area’s largest logging company, several equipment contractors, a fish-processing plant and two publishers.

(Please send me an e-mail if I’ve missed anything.)