Holberg, British Columbia

A Danish community existed at Cape Scott, British Columbia from 1897.{{sfn|Paterson|Basque|1999|p=70}} To encourage settlers to relocate south to the San Josef Valley, between San Josef Bay and the future Holberg, the government promised to build a wagon road along that route. By 1909, the harsh conditions had dwindled the population, leaving only two residents at the cape. New waves of Danish immigrants mainly settled along the valley.{{sfn|Paterson|Basque|1999|p=71}}

In 1909, a new Danish settlement was named Holberg,{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Prospects+Look+Bright%22&ymd=1909-04-01&t=11745 |page=9 |title=Victoria Daily Times, 1 Apr 1909 |quote=DANISH COLONY TO BE CALLED HOLBERG….E. H. Fletcher, post office inspector….returned….Referring to the change made by the Danish colony from Cape Scott to a location at the head of the West Arm he says the transfer was successfully carried out and the prospects of the colony at the new site look very bright. | website=www.newspapers.com}} after Baron Ludvig Holberg, a distinguished Danish-Norwegian historian and dramatist.{{Cite book | last1=Akrigg | first1=G.P.V. | last2=Akrigg | first2=Helen B. | title=British Columbia Place Names | place=Vancouver | publisher=UBC Press | year=1986 | edition=3rd, 1997 | isbn=0-7748-0636-2 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/britishcolumbiap0000akri_w1q9 }}{{rp|113}} An alternative claim suggests this settlement was established in 1907,{{Cite web |title=Holberg |url=http://www.ourbc.com/travel_bc/bc_cities/the_islands/vancouver_island/holberg.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401035554/http://www.ourbc.com/travel_bc/bc_cities/the_islands/vancouver_island/holberg.htm |archive-date=2023-04-01 |website=www.ourbc.com}} and was formerly called West Arm. However, a recollection from the summer of 1908 implies no settlement being at Holberg.{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Frank |date=1955-02-20 |title=Rolling "open country" at remote north tip of Vancouver Island still awaits settlements forseen by surveyors |url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist0255uvic_16/page/n39/mode/2up |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=The Daily Colonist |pages=6 |publication-place=Victoria}} Nels C. Nelson, who had run the general store at the cape,{{sfn|Paterson|Basque|1999|p=70}} became the inaugural postmaster in 1909.{{cite web |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/post-offices-postmasters/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=5340& |title=Postmasters |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}}

Work began on the promised wagon road and installing telegraph lines along the trails connecting Holberg to Cape Scott, San Josef Bay, Sea Otter Cove and Shushartie. Enlistments for World War I in 1914 ended progress on the road,{{sfn|Paterson|Basque|1999|p=71}} and the area population plummeted from an approximate 1,000 peak.{{Cite web | url=https://www.101nisquadron.org/wwii-rcaf-bases/rcaf-station-holberg |title=RCAF Station Holberg |website=www.101nisquadron.org}} After the war, work resumed on the road, but the mountainous section between the valleys remained uncompleted until the late 1930s. A store opened in the mid-1920s.{{Cite book |url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1926/Wrigley's_British_Columbia_Directory.html |title=Wrigley's British Columbia Directory |publisher=Wrigley Directories Limited |year=1926 |location=Vancouver |pages=146}} The community population was 27 in 1939,{{Cite book |url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1939/British_Columbia_and_Yukon_Directory.html |title=The British Columbia and Yukon Directory: Vol. XLIX |publisher=Sun Directories Limited |year=1939 |location=Vancouver |pages=112}} 24 in 1940,{{Cite book |url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1940/British_Columbia_and_Yukon_Directory.html |title=The British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1940 |publisher=Sun Directories Limited |year=1940 |location=Vancouver |pages=125}} and 53 in 1943.{{Cite book |url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1943/British_Columbia_and_Yukon_Directory.html |title=The British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1943 |publisher=Sun Directories Limited |year=1943 |location=Vancouver |pages=122}} The latter likely included loggers in the vicinity.

In the late 1920s, commercial logging commenced,{{Cite book |url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1928/Wrigley's_British_Columbia_Directory.html |title=Wrigley's British Columbia Directory 1928 |publisher=Wrigley Directories Limited |year=1928 |location=Vancouver}} but collapsed during the Great Depression. By the late 1930s, large scale operations were underway along Holberg Inlet. Logs were assembled into log rafts, and towed by tug to the Port Alice pulp mill. A decade later, the Holberg floating logging camp, which housed 250 people, was the largest in the area, dwarfing Holberg itself. Floating camps could be towed to logging sites along the shoreline, but were phased out in the 1950s for land-based camps, because the remaining stands were much farther inland from the shores.

During World War II, the Cape Scott radar to the northwest operated to detect enemy aircraft. In dealing with the subsequent Cold War threat from the USSR, the Pinetree Line of 44 radar stations across Canada was established, Holberg being at the western end. The tracking site was on the Mt. Brandes peak, and the base station was at the foot of Mt. Hansen, about {{convert|6|km|mi|0}} north of Holberg. Construction began in 1950, and the facility became operational as RCAF Station Holberg in 1954.

The base supported a population of 850 at its peak. Renamings were 53 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron in 1956, 53 Radar Squadron in 1958, and Canadian Forces Station Holberg in 1967. From 1958, reporting was to the Seattle NORAD Sector. Redundant by 1973, Holberg remained as a back-up facility.

Supporting infrastructure introduced was a Hudson's Bay store in 1962, radio station CFHG in 1963, a new CANEX Store in 1972, and cable TV in 1981, replacing the fuzzy CBC and CTV signals.

CFHG primarily broadcast the programs of Vancouver CBC Radio station CBU, but also included local programs produced by volunteers at the station. Initially airing up to 28 hours of local content per week, production gradually increased to as much as 68 hours by 1984. Sold to Western Forest Products when the base closed, the station became a community-owned full rebroadcaster of CBU. Like other CBC Radio One repeaters on Vancouver Island, CFHG now rebroadcasts CBCV-FM Victoria.{{Cite web | url=http://www.pinetreeline.org/other/other21/other21n.html |title=CFHG Radio - 1490 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724061515/http://www.pinetreeline.org/other/other21/other21n.html |archive-date=2008-07-24 }}{{Cite web | url=http://www.pinetreeline.org/other/other21/other21a.html |title=1950 - A History of Holberg - 30th Anniversary Yearbook |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705224813/http://www.pinetreeline.org/other/other21/other21a.html |archive-date=2008-07-05 }}

The base closed in August 1990. The tracking site at the peak was converted to a Minimally-attended NWS Long Range Radar station. The buildings and equipment were removed from the base site within months, where overgrown roads remain the only reminder.

In 1910, a monthly Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Service (CP) ferry service to the Holberg terminal began,{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist53254uvic/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater&q=holberg | page=14 | title=Daily Colonist, 30 Sep 1910 | website=www.archive.org| date=January 9, 2024 }} which became twice monthly the next year.{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist53392uvic/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater&q=holberg | page=14 | title=Daily Colonist, 14 Mar 1911 | website=www.archive.org| date=January 9, 2024 }} An alternative route was the CP ferry north to Port Hardy, the trail to Coal Harbour, and a launch to Holberg.{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist57117uvic/page/n5/mode/1up?view=theater&q=holberg | page=6 | title=Daily Colonist, 30 Apr 1912 | website=www.archive.org| date=January 9, 2024 }} In 1918, this trail became a wagon road.{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist59y353uvic/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater&q=holberg | page=10 | title=Daily Colonist, 25 Jan 1918 | website=www.archive.org| date=January 9, 2024 }} In 1917, the regular ferry terminal switched to Port Alice,{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Holberg%22&ymd=1917-08-13&t=2408 |page=13 |title=Vancouver Daily World, 13 Aug 1917 | website=www.newspapers.com}} with a monthly extension to Holberg{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist59y169uvic/page/n16/mode/1up?view=theater&q=holberg | page=17 | title=Daily Colonist, 24 Jun 1917 | website=www.archive.org| date=January 9, 2024 }} for a decade,{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungtext/items/1.0373413#p2z-6r0f:%22Holberg%22 |page=3 (5) |title=1928 CP BC Coast Steamship Services, Princess Lines, timetable |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} before becoming a stop by prior arrangement.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungtext/items/1.0373418#p3z-5r0f:%22Holberg%22 |page=4 (8) |title=1927 CP BC Coast Steamship Services, Princess Lines, timetable |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungtext/items/1.0362734#p1z-3r0f:%22Holberg%22 |page=2 (5) |title=1940s CP BC Coast Steamship Services, Princess Lines, timetable |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} By the mid-1930s, most arrivals disembarked at Quatsino and travelled up the inlet by launch.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1934/Sun_British_Columbia_Directory |title=1934 BC Directory |website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} The other option was via Port Hardy, stage to Coal Harbour, and launch to Holberg.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1938/British_Columbia_and_Yukon_Directory |title=1938 BC Directory |website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}

Around 1950, the CP ferry ceased serving the Quatsino Sound, leaving only the Port Hardy access.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1950-1951/Victoria_City_and_Vancouver_Island_Directory |title=1950–1951 BC Directory |website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} In 1965, the Holberg–Port Hardy forestry service road opened,{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22formerly+isolated+RCAF%22&ymd=1965-07-26&t=5893 |page=14 |title=Nanaimo Daily News, 26 Jul 1965 | website=www.newspapers.com}} which remains a long, winding, gravel route.

In the early 1970s, Art and Judy Jones opened the Scarlet Ibis Pub & Restaurant, as a traditional English pub. About 1980, Pat Gwynne joined the staff. When the owners wanted to sell in 1983, Pat bought the business.

Probably Vancouver Island's most remote restaurant pub, the establishment remained popular with both locals and visitors. After selling the venture in 2019, Pat left the area. However, when the buyer failed to meet legal obligations, Pat returned to run the pub.{{Cite web |last=Whitney |first=Tyson |date=2019-10-23 |title=Final flight for the old Scarlet Ibis |url=https://www.northislandgazette.com/business/final-flight-for-the-old-scarlet-ibis |website=North Island Gazette}}{{Cite web |last=Ducklow |first=Zoe |date=2020-07-08 |title=Scarlet Ibis sale falls through |url=https://www.northislandgazette.com/community/scarlet-ibis-sale-falls-through |website=North Island Gazette}}

The pub was again sold in 2020 to 12 friends from across Vancouver Island and Canada.{{Cite web |last=Azpiri |first=Jon |date=2022-12-31 |title=12 friends dreamed of owning a bar. So they bought one, in the middle of nowhere, on Vancouver Island |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-bar-friends-island-1.6697539 |website=CBC News}}

In 2011, the census recorded 51 permanent residents in Holberg, dropping to 35 by 2016 and further to 15 by 2021.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-29 |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=DPL&Code1=590340&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&SearchText=Holberg&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=590340&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=Statistics Canada}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Holberg&DGUIDlist=2021A0006590340&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=Statistics Canada}}

Other infrastructure comprises a general store/gas bar, post office, medical clinic and motel.

Holberg is noted for its high level of precipitation.{{Cite web | url=https://islandnature.ca/2010/02/rainfall-on-the-wet-coast/ | title=Rainfall on the "Wet Coast" | website=www. islandnature.ca}}

{{Weather box

|location = Holberg

|collapsed =

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 15.5

|Feb record high C = 15.6

|Mar record high C = 20.6

|Apr record high C = 27.0

|May record high C = 32.5

|Jun record high C = 30.6

|Jul record high C = 31.1

|Aug record high C = 32.5

|Sep record high C = 31.1

|Oct record high C = 22.8

|Nov record high C = 16.1

|Dec record high C = 15.5

|year record high C = 32.5

|Jan high C = 6.1

|Feb high C = 7.3

|Mar high C = 9.2

|Apr high C = 11.7

|May high C = 14.1

|Jun high C = 16.0

|Jul high C = 18.9

|Aug high C = 19.6

|Sep high C = 18.1

|Oct high C = 13.3

|Nov high C = 7.9

|Dec high C = 6.1

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 3.5

|Feb mean C = 4.3

|Mar mean C = 5.4

|Apr mean C = 7.3

|May mean C = 9.8

|Jun mean C = 12.0

|Jul mean C = 14.5

|Aug mean C = 15.1

|Sep mean C = 13.4

|Oct mean C = 9.7

|Nov mean C = 5.4

|Dec mean C = 3.6

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 0.8

|Feb low C = 1.3

|Mar low C = 1.7

|Apr low C = 2.9

|May low C = 5.5

|Jun low C = 8.0

|Jul low C = 10.1

|Aug low C = 10.6

|Sep low C = 8.6

|Oct low C = 6.2

|Nov low C = 2.8

|Dec low C = 1.1

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = -17.2

|Feb record low C = -11.5

|Mar record low C = -6.5

|Apr record low C = -6.0

|May record low C = -1.1

|Jun record low C = 1.5

|Jul record low C = 3.0

|Aug record low C = 4.0

|Sep record low C = 0.0

|Oct record low C = -2.8

|Nov record low C = -15.0

|Dec record low C = -14.4

|year record low C = -17.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 504.1

|Feb precipitation mm = 399.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 371.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 285.3

|May precipitation mm = 197.2

|Jun precipitation mm = 173.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 104.2

|Aug precipitation mm = 114.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 253.0

|Oct precipitation mm = 448.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 552.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 509.0

|year precipitation mm = 3911.4

|source 1 = Environment CanadaEnvironment Canada—[http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=BC%20%20&StationName=&SearchType=&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=251& Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000]. Retrieved 24 March 2010.

|date=August 2010

}}

• Cape Scott Provincial Park
• Raft Cove Provincial Park
• Ronning Gardens
• Winter Harbour

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last1=Paterson |first1=T.W. | last2=Basque |first2=G. |title=Ghost Towns & Mining Camps of Vancouver Island |publisher=Sunfire Publications |year=1999|isbn=1-895811-80-5}}

{{VancouverIslandCommunities}}

Category:Designated places in British Columbia

Category:Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia

Category:Quatsino Sound region

Category:Danish Canadian settlements

Category:Utopian communities in Canada

Category:Populated places in the Regional District of Mount Waddington

Category:Ludvig Holberg