Halfmoon Bay is small community of about 2800 people, many of whom are only summer residents. It is a large scalloped bay protected from the open sea by South Thormanby Island, and Vancouver Island. Halfmoon Bay encompasses a small village of permanent homes, summer cottages and five regional parks on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.
The community of Halfmoon Bay can be reached by the uniquely named Redrooffs Road, so-called because a popular local resort once featured a cluster of tourist cabins, all with red roofs. Some homes are also located off Highway 101.
Halfmoon Bay Elementary School, the community's only elementary school, has 200-300 students ranging from kindergarten to grade seven. After grade seven students can go to one of the three high schools on the Sunshine Coast, these are Pender Harbour Secondary School, Chatelech Secondary School (in Sechelt), and Elphinstone Secondary School (in Gibsons).
This area of the Sunshine Coast was originally inhabited solely by the Shishalh people of the Coast Salish First Nations. The area was chosen for its mild climate and abundance of fresh water and natural food (fish, shellfish, berries and roots). The Shishalh tribe became known as the Sechelts, a derivation of she'shalt, meaning the people. Roberts Creek formed the boundary between the Sechelt people to the north and the Squamish people to the south.