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up-island
British Columbia
DCHP-3 (Nov 2024)
Spelling variants:up island, up-Island, up Island, upIsland
The term is not listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged
The fully contracted form upisland is still very rare.
The fully contracted form upisland is still very rare.
1aadj. — Geography, especially British Columbia
someone or something from a more northern part of Vancouver Island, or another island in Canada.
Type: 1. Origin — As Chart 1 displays up-island as a predominantly American term, it does seem to be Canadian by virtue of independent development as an intuitive term that is coined in the moment in various contexts. While down-island is confirmed by a frequency comparison as distinctly Canadian (see link to entry below), up-island shows considerable frequency in the United States. Chart 2 demonstrates some of the regional distribution within Canada, to the degree that the provincial and territorial government sites Chart 2 is based on allow. DARE, with its exclusive US focus, lists the term as "US Northeast", with a citation from 1885 referring to Martha's Vineyard, MA. Other uses in DARE refer to Long Island, NY (see DARE, s.v. "up island").
In Canada, and especially in British Columbia, the term is used attributively to refer to northern Vancouver Island.
See also COD-2, s.v. "up-island", which is marked "Cdn".
In Canada, and especially in British Columbia, the term is used attributively to refer to northern Vancouver Island.
See also COD-2, s.v. "up-island", which is marked "Cdn".
See: down-island
Quotations
1908
It is stated that Nanaimo will have six of her line-up from the mainland and Ladysmith five, and other players who have been asked to come across from the mainland to help win the game for the up island rivals.
1916
VICTORIA - Plans for securing a sufficient number of patrons for an up-Island excursion has been arranged for Nov. 14 and the two days following in the interests of building up this city's business connections with other parts of the Island were discussed yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the special committee of the Board of Trade appointed to attend the details.
1993
"We're a good team." Besides her music therapy work, Sherlock has produced two children's albums and plays in an up-Island rock band, a blues duo, and a jazz quartet.
2005
One story -- albeit unsubstantiated -- doing the rounds in the B.C. Assessment offices concerns an up-Island man, incensed over the loss of his cushy farm-tax status. He stormed the local assessment office and began chucking frozen lamb about the room.
2012
"Unfortunately, the rumor is that other teams decided to attend an up island event this weekend, instead of coming to Lake Cowichan, because they are not happy with the new Town Council camping policy that affects our Annual Summer Spiel," said Blatchford.
2016
The Sooke Thunderbirds dug the knife deeper into their up-Island rivals Tri Port in female midget hockey play on Saturday [...] Three weeks ago Sooke went to Port McNeill for a tournament and defeated the Tri Port for the gold medal, so Tri Port came to town with revenge on its mind this weekend.
1badv. — Geography, especially British Columbia
north of one's present or usual location on Vancouver Island.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — In relation to meaning 1a, use as an adverb of location has been documented throughout the 20th century. In the phrase "go up-island", the term is most prevalent in British Columbia (see Chart 1). As the 2024 quotations shows, def. 1b, however, the terms finds use on Cape Breton Island, NS, and on smaller BC Gulf Islands, e.g. Galiano Island.
See also COD-2, s.v. "up-island", which is marked "Cdn".
See also COD-2, s.v. "up-island", which is marked "Cdn".
Quotations
1920
R.E. Chadwick, manager of the Foundation Company, Ltd., of Montreal, was in Victoria early in the week, and proceeded up-Island to inspect progress on the Alberni railway extension which the company is building for the C.P.R.
1980
Along the Trans-Canada Highway stretching from St. John's, Nfld., to Victoria, B.C. (well, actually to Tofino up island) there is a convenient campground approximately every 100 miles and a groomed picnic spot every 50 miles.
1998
If you've been to Victoria already, and are looking for something different to fill up a spare day, try taking the The Malahat, Via's dayliner return service to towns 'up island.'
1998
The new Island Highway between Parksville and Fanny Bay has motorists driving up-Island faster -- often too fast for the RCMP.
2001
It takes no more than a couple of hours on the Vineyard to hear someone referring to "up island" versus "down island."
2008
We did spend a pleasurable hour up-island in West Tisbury, before finishing our weekend by hopping off the bus at Joseph Silvia State Beach between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
2016
The Mariners Premier squad travels up Island to take on the Nanaimo Pirates in a doubleheader next Saturday, May 28, then hits the field at Henderson that Sunday hosting the Langley Blaze in a doubleheader. Catch the action starting at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
2024
"It's so out of control that we don't have the resources to manage it," Chris Hyde-Lay, Oak Bay parks manager, told the Oak Bay News. That's true across the region, up Island[,] in the Okanagan[,] where a variety of spear grass species present danger to both pets and rare plants.
2024
Celtic Colours International Festival
Take the long way home #islandroads #upisland #ladysmithbc #countryroads #takethelongwayhome
Take the long way home #islandroads #upisland #ladysmithbc #countryroads #takethelongwayhome
2024
Direct service in under an hour from the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen makes Galiano the most readily accessible of the southern Gulf Islands to mainland BC visitors. Steps from the ferry dock, Sturdies Bay is home to most of the amenities on this long, lean island, including a resort hotel, art galleries, dining options, bookstore and neighbourhood pub. Ferry foot passengers can rent mopeds, bikes and Smart cars to explore beaches, parks and hiking trails further up-island. Don’t miss the astronomically aligned standing stones and decorative rocks at Stoneworld.
References
- COD-2
- DARE
- Merriam-Webster Unabridged
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 10 October 2024
