Town of Gibsons

Gibsons is a seaside town located just north of Vancouver near the Strait of Georgia. It has a population of about 4,000 people and a land area of about 1,000 acres. It’s part of the Sunshine Coast Regional District and the town is divided into two; Upper Gibsons and Lower Gibsons.

The Upper Gibsons is mainly the Sunshine Coast Highway covering the town centre that is mostly about commercial buildings, schools, parks and shopping centres. The Lower Gibsons is the seaside part of the town that best offers summer events, waterfront activities and services. 

History

The first recorded people inhabiting the area is the Squamish people. During the indigenous Squamish people’s settlement, they heavily rely on the fresh water and food supplies provided by nature.

Non-native settlers began arriving in the 1880s, bringing with them a new set of challenges. Fisheries and logging, as well as small-scale farming primarily for self-sufficiency, were the primary occupations of the early settlers.

The area is named after its first resident George William Gibson, a British Columbian immigrant who arrived in the 1850s and lived in the area in 1886. In 1905, a large number of settlers arrived resulting in the establishment of the community’s first post office and store and it was officially established as a village in 1929.

The waterfront area was then called by the locals as Gibson Landing though it is not officially by the local government.

Since the discovery of the area up until now, the Squamish Nation still lives in the area and traditions and customs that are closely tied to their ancestral homeland are still practiced by them.

Town Centre

The shops, galleries, restaurants, and services in Gibsons offer a one-of-a-kind experience. Customers can enjoy locally brewed coffee, locally made products and coastal-inspired merchandise.

Gibson Landing area has boutiques with trendy clothing and accessories – Landing Clothing Co., Swish, Zocalo, and Peggy Sue’s. For interior decorations, Ikhaya and Whimsy stores have it.

On the Upper Gibsons Area, Chemistry, Mark’s Wearhouse, Passionista offer trendy clothing and The Kube for art enthusiasts. Home decorations are also brought by B&K Garden Supplies, Dave Coyle Antique Reproductions and Kern’s Furniture Gallery.

If you love cold beer, wines and other liquor, visit Gibsons Gramma’s pub and liquor store, and Blackfish pub. For their locally brewed coffee, check out Beachcomber Coffee, Black Bean Café, and More Café.

The town also has Asian treats – Won (Japanese Restaurant), Sima Sushi (Japanese Restaurant), Friendly Thai (Thailand Restaurant), Baik Mi (Korean Restaurant), and Sushi Bar Nagomi (Japanese Restaurant).

For kids, the town has Enchanted Toys & Games and Nevermore Toys & Games.

There are also community facilities or centre that hosts events and offer sports lessons and fitness programs – Gibsons Area Community Centre, Gibsons & District Aquatic Centre and Gibsons Curling Club.