Mayne Island, rain or shine

Rainy Day on Mayne

Mayne gets far less rain than Vancouver, and plenty of sunshine. Still, a grey day rolls in now and then. When it does, this is our answer: a book, a game and a craft picked each month to get you through the next rainy weekend.

See this month's picks Suggest a pick

Mayne's weather

Rainy days are the exception here

Mayne sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island's ranges. Storms rolling in off the Pacific drop most of their rain before they reach us, which makes the southern Gulf Islands one of the mildest, sunniest corners of the B.C. coast.

Expect warm, dry summers, gentle winters and far less rain than the Lower Mainland. We even edge out Victoria, and we're a world away from Vancouver Island's soggy west coast. So when a grey day does show up, treat it as an excuse to slow down. That's what this corner of the site is for.

~840 mm Rain and snow in an average year on the southern Gulf Islands
~1,160 mm An average year at Vancouver airport
~900 mm An average year at Victoria airport on Vancouver Island
21 mm Average July rainfall, the driest month
10°C Average temperature across the whole year

Climate normals from Environment and Climate Change Canada: Saturna Island station (nearest to Mayne), 1981 to 2010; Vancouver International Airport and Victoria International Airport, 1991 to 2020.

What's in the Rainy Day corner

BooksA good read for a grey afternoon.
GamesBoard games for the kitchen table.
CraftsSimple makes with what's on hand.
BakingComing soon
MusicComing soon
Card gamesComing soon

Monthly picks

The first monthly picks are on the way. Check back soon.

Download for rainy days

Printables for anyone without a library or game shelf handy. More are added over time.

Three rainy-day card gamesGo Fish, Crazy Eights and War. Easy rules for all ages, one deck of cards.
Download
Leaf-rubbing cards & bookmarksThis month's craft, step by step.
Download
Mayne Island word searchA printable Mayne Island puzzle for all ages. Answer key included.
DownloadAnswer key
Mayne Island crosswordTest what you know about Mayne. Answer key included.
DownloadAnswer key
Printable colouring sheetIsland scenes to colour in.
Coming soon

Got a recommendation?

Suggest a rainy-day pick

Tell us a favourite rainy-day book, game or craft, and a line on why it's worth trying. We might feature it.

We only use your email to say thanks or ask a quick question about your pick.

Good to know

Rainy day questions

Answers to common questions about Mayne's weather and rainy-day plans.

Does it rain a lot on Mayne Island?

Much less than most of the B.C. coast. Mayne sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island, so the southern Gulf Islands average roughly 840 mm of precipitation a year, compared with about 1,160 mm at Vancouver airport and about 900 mm at Victoria airport. Summers are warm and dry, and November is usually the wettest month.

What can you do on Mayne Island on a rainy day?

Curl up with a book, set out a board game or try a simple craft. Each month we pick one of each on this page. The Mayne Island Library, Books On Mayne and the island's galleries are good places to duck into too. Check hours before you go.

Where can I buy a board game on Mayne Island?

Try Dragonfly Gallery or the Mayne Island Building Centre.

Can I suggest a book, game or craft?

Yes. Use the suggestion form on this page. Tell us what it is and why you love it.