Throughout the 110 years since the establishment of Strathcona Provincial Park, its history has been contentious. Issues arising over land and water use have plagued the Park, and no consideration was initially given to Indigenous use or archaeology. Its roughly 250,00 hectares (2,500-sq km) were first set aside by Premier Richard McBride as a triangular shaped reserve in the centre of Vancouver Island in 1910; however, a lack ofallowed for continuation of industry, and it was not until 1993, when the was finally completed, that it was made clear that recreational values would supersede all others.
