COMMUNITIES
Most people in the Kootenay Rockies live within a municipality or unincorporated community. Each is unique in its own way.
Settlement in the region came about originally because of resource development and construction of the railways. The first major influx of people to the area was in 1863, when gold was discovered on Wild Horse Creek (Fisherville) near Fort Steele.
City of Cranbrook — (population 20,667) — Cranbrook is the largest municipality in southeast B.C. It has a service population in excess of 60,000, and is the main service centre for finance, transportation, retail/wholesale and government sectors. It also houses the regional hospital, has several seniors citizens’ homes, has extensive accommodation availability and has an expanding tourism industry, led by draws such as Fort Steele Heritage Town, the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, the Kootenay Ice Hockey Club (Western Hockey League), St. Eugene Mission Golf Resort and Casino and several other beautiful golf courses, established and new.
An interesting fact: Cranbrook has more sunshine hours than any other city in B.C.
Mayor: Scott Manjak. Council meets every second and fourth Monday. Contact: 250-489-0201 or go to www.cranbrook.ca for more information.
Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Karin Penner, Manager
Phone: 1-250-426-5914 www.cranbrookchamber.com
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Held third Wednesday every month exception July & August
Village of Canal Flats — (population 700) — A vibrant community with employment focused on logging and lumber mill (Tembec) operations. Canal Flats is B.C.’s youngest municipality, only incorporating in 2004. The village, which features several retail businesses, restaurants, pub and nine-hole golf course, is located at the south end of Columbia Lake, which is the headwater of the Columbia River system.
An interesting fact: the Columbia River and Kootenay River are only one kilometre apart here, separated by an alluvial fan on which the village is built.
Mayor: Bruce Woodbury. Council meets every second and fourth Monday. Contact: 250-349-5462 or go to www.canalflats.com for more information.
Creston — (population 5,100) — Agriculture is a major industry in the Creston area, which is located on Highway 3, just 10 minutes from the U.S. border. Creston is renowned for its fruit production, and hosts many orchards, a winery and the Columbia Brewing Company (Kokanee Beer). With more than 20,000 hectares of reclaimed land, farmers also produce grain and dairy cattle. Just 28 km south of Kootenay Lake and home to the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, Creston is also a popular tourist destination and service centre for the Central Kootenay Regional District.
An interesting fact: A total of 635 bottles of beer are produced per minute at the Columbia Brewing Company.
Mayor: Ron Toyota. Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday. Contact: 250-428-2214 or go to www.creston.ca for more information.
Creston & District Chamber of Commerce Mimika Coleman, Manager
Held every month with the exception of December, July & August.
District of Elkford — (population 2,400) — Elkford, located 20 minutes north of Sparwood on Highway 43, was established in 1971 as a home for miners working at the nearby coalmines. Residents have significantly higher than average earnings. The gateway to Elk Lakes Provincial Park, Elkford is experiencing growth in tourism, and requests for recreational housing.
An interesting fact: The community is now embracing its natural heritage with a promotional campaign — Wild at Heart.
Mayor: Dean McKerracher. Council meets every second and fourth Monday. Contact: 250-865-4003 or go to www.elkford.ca for more information.
Elkford Chamber of Commerce Susan Robitalaille, Manager
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Held every month exception July & August
City of Fernie — (population 4,200) — Fernie is a world-renowned destination for skiing and winter activities. Though tourism is the main industry, its history is steeped in coal mining and lumber mills. However, its location on Highway 3, close to the southern Alberta market, makes Fernie and its deep-snow Fernie Mountain Resort an ever-more popular destination for tourists. The city, with well-preserved heritage buildings, features all services and amenities required for most businesses and visitors.
An interesting fact: Fernie put in a bid to host the 1968 Winter Olympics, which were awarded to Grenoble, France.
Mayor: Cindy Corrigan. Council meets every second and fourth Monday. Contact: 250-423-6817 or go to www.fernie.ca for more information.
Fernie Chamber of Commerce Lynn Flokstra, Manager
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Held third Thursday (every other month breakfast) every month exception April, July, August, & October
Town of Golden — (population 4,400) — Golden is a main entry point on the Trans-Canada Highway into B.C., located at the junction of the north/south running Highway 95. A forestry and railway centre, with Louisiana Pacific’s value-added laminated veneer lumber operation and CP Rail serving as the main employers, Golden has been forging a new identity the last decade as a tourism centre, too, with the ongoing development of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. As a result of the growth of tourism, Golden is experiencing an increase in commercial and retail operations.
An interesting fact: Mount Seven, southeast of the town, is a world-class hang-gliding/soaring location.
Mayor (acting): Mag Magnusson. Council meets every first and third Monday. Contact: 250-344-2271 or go to www.town.golden.bc.ca for more information.
Kicking Horse Country (Golden & District) Chamber of Commerce Ruth Kowalski , Manager
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Contact the Chamber for information
District of Invermere — (population 3,200) — Invermere is a haven for recreation and resort living, located at the north end of Lake Windermere. It was established originally as a trading post, with mining, logging and ranching its main economic engines. However, the town is now the market centre for the larger Columbia Valley community (full-time population of 10,000 but summer weekend population soars to 40,000), which is one of the province’s key four-season tourism draws. The past decade has seen enormous growth in the resort and recreational home development sector, including more than $20 million in upgrades to nearby Panorama Mountain Village.
An interesting fact: Legendary explorer and cartographer David Thompson established Kootenae House near where the town is located in 1807 and based exploration and fur-trading efforts from there for two years.
Mayor: Gerry Taft. Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday. Contact: 250-342-9281 or go to www.invermere.net for more information.
Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Heather Overy, Manager
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Held usually the forth Wednesday every month exception June, July & August
City of Kimberley — (population 6,500) — Kimberley knew many years in advance that Teck Cominco’s massive Sullivan Mine was going to close and town leaders took steps toward tourism by planning out The Platzl. The pedestrian-only downtown shopping, dining and social centre was the forerunner of a successful town revitalization and shift to a tourism-based economy. Since the Sullivan Mine closed in 2001, the city has enjoyed steady growth in its tourism infrastructure, especially at Kimberley Alpine Resort.
An interesting fact: With an elevation of 1,110 metres above sea level, Kimberley is the second highest city in Canada.
Mayor: Jim Ogilvie. Council meets every second and fourth Monday. Contact: 250-427-5311 or go to www.city.kimberley.bc.ca for more information.
Kimberley Bavarian Society Chamber of Commerce Sioban Staplin, Manager
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Held every Wednesday Held at DJ’s.
Village of Radium Hot Springs — (population 750) — Radium is a world-famous destination for tourists, thanks to the Parks Canada operated hot springs. The gateway to Kootenay National Park, Radium is an important highway/travel services location. It is the second largest municipality in the larger Columbia Valley community and thanks to well-established infrastructure, it has enjoyed remarkable growth in the past decade, with several large recreation home projects completed and more on the way. Though businesses are mainly tourism-oriented, including more than 25 motels and hotels, the village has an industrial side thanks to the Canfor saw mill.
An interesting fact: The village, thanks to its location beside the Columbia River and its wetlands, as well as along Sinclair Canyon, is home to a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep band numbering about 140 members.
Mayor: Dee Conklin. Council meets the second and fourth Wednesday. Contact: 250-347-6455 or go to www.radiumhotsprings.ca for more information.
Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Kyle Kebe Manager
Chamber Networking Luncheons
Held second Tuesday every month exception June, July & August
District of Sparwood — (population 4,000) — Known as ‘The Gateway to B.C.’ as it is the first community from Alberta on Highway 3, Sparwood’s economy is closely tied to the coal mining industry. Because most of the district’s residents are employed in coal mining, the town boasts a higher than average income. Along with ongoing mining at several mines located near the town, exploration is being carried out for natural gas and coal bed methane. The forest industry is also significant, and the district has begun branching out into tourism, with a new golf resort and always-popular ‘Biggest truck in the world.’
An interesting fact: The nearby Elkview Coalmine is the largest open-pit coalmine in Canada.
Mayor: David Wilks. Council meets every first and third Monday. Contact: 250-425-6271 or go to http://www.sparwood.bc.ca for more information.
Sparwood & District Chamber of Commerce Katrina Cohrs, Manager
Contact the Chamber for information
Unincorporated communities fall under the local governance umbrella of regional district electoral areas. In the Kootenay Rockies area there are three regional districts, including Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD). Kootenay Rockies features the entire RDEK and portions of the RDCK and CSRD.
Along with the above noted municipalities, the Kootenay Rockies area features a number of significant unincorporated areas located in electoral areas in the three regional districts. They include:
RDEK Electoral Area A: Hosmer.
RDEK Electoral Area B: Galloway, Elko, Jaffray, Grasmere, Roosville, New Gate.
RDEK Electoral Area C: Fort Steele, Wardner, Bull River, Moyie.
RDEK Electoral Area E: Wasa, Ta Ta Creek, Skookumchuck.
RDEK Electoral Area F: Fairmont Hot Springs, Windermere, Panorama Mountain Village.
RDEK Electoral Area G: Wilmer, Edgewater, Brisco, Spillimacheen.
CKRD Electoral Area A: Wyndell, Sirdar.
CKRD Electoral Area B: Yahk, Erickson, Kitchener, Kingsgate.
CSRD Electoral Area A: Field, Donald, Nicholson, Parson.
Photo: Diana Scott