I experience an immense sense of peace each time I drive off the ferry when it arrives in Langdale. Maybe I’ve been running errands in Vancouver or maybe I’m returning from a short getaway but when I roll down the ramp, I’m so excited to know I’m only a few minutes away from returning home to Gibsons.
Gibsons isn’t just another coastal town. It’s a place that feels human-sized. I run into friends when I go for a seawalk. People wave from their cars when they see me crossing the street. I recognize players from the badminton club when I go grocery shopping. Gibsons is a friendly town filled with friendly people and I’m so lucky to call it my home.
Gibsons is a small town with two distinct personalities
Gibsons is split into two distinct parts. Lower Gibsons occupies a hillside overlooking Shoal Channel and there are breathtaking views everywhere you look. It’s boats, mountain views, and sea air. Go for a walk and you’ll find the gazebo at the end of the wharf, and the familiar yellow of Molly’s Reach that made Gibsons famous in the early 1970s.
If Lower Gibsons is where you go for an ice cream cone and a walk along the ocean, Upper Gibsons is where you go to get your windshield fixed or to do your grocery shopping. There are hardware stores and new car dealers and the recycling centre.
Most days, I find myself bouncing back and forth between the two. I might go outrigger paddling at the marina before hitting the Gibsons and Area Community Centre to use its weight room. I’ll go to a staff meeting at the RE/MAX City Realty office and then head down to Molly’s Reach (now operated by the Black Bean) to meet a client. My husband and I go for dinner at the Blackfish before walking the meal off with a seawalk. Gibsons’ two separate personalities combine to make one amazing place to call home.
The type of people who choose to live in Gibsons
Gibsons attracts a certain kind of person, someone who doesn’t mind slowing down a bit. I relocated to Gibsons from Edmonton but a lot of residents come from Vancouver looking for small town living close enough to the big city for easy access to work and family but far enough for space and quiet.
You see that in the mix of folks you meet: artists, remote workers, tradespeople, retirees, and young families. It’s a friendly blend that keeps the community interesting.
Nature at your doorstep
It’s impossible to talk about Gibsons without talking about nature. Almost everyplace you go, there’s some kind of a view. You’ll get stunning views of Shoal Channel from atop Soames Hill, sunsets at Secret Beach, and glassy mornings at the harbour. The town feels like it’s built right into the environment rather than on top of it. Even after more than a decade here, I fall deeper in love with Gibsons everyday I’m here.
Why I think Gibsons is special
For me, what makes Gibsons special isn’t just the scenery; it’s how it makes me feel. You’ll start noticing little things like the way waves sound when they roll back into the ocean over a pebbly beach, or how you can see the wind blow across the water. It’s the kind of place that makes you ignore your phone.
REALTOR’s Note
As a REALTOR®, I get to see firsthand how people fall in love with Gibsons. They’ll show up on a Friday afternoon and by Sunday night, they’re texting me asking what it costs to live here. It’s easy to understand why. There’s something about this place that makes you fall in love with it.
If you’re curious about life here, keep following along. I’ll be sharing more about what day-to-day living on the Sunshine Coast really looks like.
Call or text Val: 604-399-8935
Email Val: info@vallabrecque.ca
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