Balfour, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Balfour, also known as Balfour Bay, is an unincorporated community in British Columbia, located about 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) northeast of the city of Nelson
and located at the juncture of Kootenay Lake with its West Arm.
It is the location of the Kootenay Lake Ferry
, which is the longest toll-free vehicle ferry in North America. This marine link of the British Columbia highway system is made up of two vessels, the MV Osprey 2000, the larger of the two ferries with an 80 car capacity operating year round, and the MV Balfour, a 35 car ferry operating only in the summer.
Balfour was once the location of one of the Canadian Pacific's railway hotels
, the Balfour Hotel, which served the needs of passengers travelling the Southern Mainline
of the CPR. Passengers and freight were carried across the lake by the CPR's Lake and River Service vessel, the SS Moyie, other vessels serving Kootenay Lake
and also south up the Kootenai River to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho and up to Kaslo and other points northward on Kootenay Lake.
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
and located at the juncture of Kootenay Lake with its West Arm.
Kootenay Lake Ferry
The Kootenay Lake Ferry is a ferry across the Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It operates between Balfour, on the west side of the lake, and Kootenay Bay, on the east side. Two ferry vessels are used, the MV Osprey 2000 and the MV Balfour.The ferry operates under contract to the British...
, which is the longest toll-free vehicle ferry in North America. This marine link of the British Columbia highway system is made up of two vessels, the MV Osprey 2000, the larger of the two ferries with an 80 car capacity operating year round, and the MV Balfour, a 35 car ferry operating only in the summer.
Balfour was once the location of one of the Canadian Pacific's railway hotels
Canadian Pacific hotels
Canadian Pacific Hotels was a division of Canadian Pacific Railway that operated a series of hotels across Canada. Most of these resort hotels were originally built and operated by the railway's Hotel Department, while a few were acquired from Canadian National Hotels...
, the Balfour Hotel, which served the needs of passengers travelling the Southern Mainline
Kettle Valley Railway
The Kettle Valley Railroad was a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway that operated in the Thompson-Okanagan region of southern British Columbia....
of the CPR. Passengers and freight were carried across the lake by the CPR's Lake and River Service vessel, the SS Moyie, other vessels serving Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
and also south up the Kootenai River to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho and up to Kaslo and other points northward on Kootenay Lake.
