Pickleball Passion Ignites in the remote community of K’il Kun (Sandspit), Haida Gwaii

Nestled on coast of Moresby Island on Haida Gwaii lies the tiny community of K’il Kun (Sandspit), with a population of just 300 people. It's the kind of place where the world slows down, and nature envelops you. Now, thanks to one passionate player, it’s also becoming an unlikely hotspot for pickleball lovers.

In Skidegate Inlet, Mateo Cariglino and I paddled sea kayaks past oystercatchers, guillemots, Harlequin ducks and even a Steller sea lion. We passed uninhabited islands, steered clear of the ferry that connects Haida Gwaii’s two main islands and made our way back to the village of Daajing Giids by lunch before the grey clouds unleashed a downpour.

The thing we loved most about Hekate’s Retreat was the central location. Located at the north end of Moresby Island, it served as the perfect basecamp for all our adventures. We drove down to Gray Bay one day for a picnic, joined a fishing charter from the Sandspit marina, and jumped on the BC ferry to explore the rest of Haida Gwaii. So much to explore and so little time. We had three full days, and it wasn’t nearly enough.

While most don’t necessarily think of Haida Gwaii as a golf destination, that is soon about to change! Over the past two years the Willows Golf Course at Sandspit has undergone a massive transformation, with upgraded greens, fairways and tee-boxes as well as a renovated Clubhouse and new patio area. The attached article, posted in the Haida Gwaii Trader in August 2021, provides a great summary of the history of the Willows Golf Course.