Falkland, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Falkland is a small community located in the Okanagan-Shuswap region of British Columbia
, Canada
between Vernon
and Kamloops
.
Falkland is recognized for one Canada's largest Canadian flags, which is located on Gyp Mountain and can be seen up to 7 km away. The Falkland area has a wide array of lakes for fishing and recreation. Also on the Victoria Day
holiday, the Falkland Stampede begins. The Falkland Stampede is one of Canada's oldest stampedes.
The name Slahaltkan was never used among the people who eventually settled in the area, although the sub-post office bore the name. When the settlement developed and they needed a postal address, the government asked if Colonel Falkland G.E Warren, R.H.A; C.M.G.;C.B (an earlier pioneer in the valley) would object to his name being used. The postal records from 1894 said that the proposals for the new post office in the area would either be "Falkland" or "Salmon River."
Falkland hasn't really changed very much in the last few years. Many of the people who live in Falkland enjoy the lifestyle that the small community provides.
The standard joke in Falkland was that if you blinked while driving through it you might miss it. While that may not be true, Falkland is still pretty small.
In celebration of the war's end, the residents of Falkland and surrounding area planned a large picnic. Everyone was excited about the idea, especially the children who looked forward to the races, food and homemade ice cream.
On the date of March 24, 1919, in the gyp field in the north west corner of the townsite they gathered, never imagining that many decades later people from all over the world would come to Falkland to enjoy one of B.C's most legendary events- the Falkland Stampede. The early years of the rodeo were filled with great ideas and the need for many things, including a fence to protect the spectators and a small corral to hold the horses. The first site chosen for the more permanent facilities was what then was the old mill site but now is known as the school ball field. Events included Chuck Wagon racing, Buffalo bull riding, bucking horse riding and many other small games for the children and women.
Location: 152.4 Metres (500 feet) above the valley floor on Gyp Mountain
Height: 8.5 Metres (28 feet)[2]
Width: 17.1 Metres (56.1 feet)[2]
Flag's Structure: 2 X 6 lumber framework, eight 14 metre (45 foot) telephone poles, 84 metric ton (18 4500 pound) cement blocks, and metal. 3500 screws attach the metal together. The colors are heated onto enamel.
The Falkland flag is considered to be the biggest Canadian Flag in Western Canada. The purpose of building this flag was to support the I Care Campaign which received international attention when the people of Falkland challenged the rest of Canada to fly the Canadian Flag.
The Canadian flag is illuminated at night, allowing visitors of Falkland to view the flag day and night. The power reaches the flag from a 700 metre (2231 foot) extension cord.
There were 19 corporate sponsors who donated material, equipment and labour. The total cost of the flag was $42,493 ($33,960 for construction, $3,343 lighting, and $5,190 lettering.)
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
between Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
and Kamloops
Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River and near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district's offices. The surrounding region is more commonly...
.
Falkland is recognized for one Canada's largest Canadian flags, which is located on Gyp Mountain and can be seen up to 7 km away. The Falkland area has a wide array of lakes for fishing and recreation. Also on the Victoria Day
Victoria Day
Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. The date is also, simultaneously, that on which the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday is recognized...
holiday, the Falkland Stampede begins. The Falkland Stampede is one of Canada's oldest stampedes.
Town History
The History of Falkland goes back a long ways. The members of the Salish tribes frequently stayed in the Slahaltkan during the summer to gather the tribes food for the winter. It was the job of the women to prepare the fish and meat for drying beside the fire. Where to put the meat caused slight disagreement among the women because the ever-changing breeze would cause the wind to blow in changing directions. Thus the valley was named "Slahaltkan", meaning "Meeting of the winds".The name Slahaltkan was never used among the people who eventually settled in the area, although the sub-post office bore the name. When the settlement developed and they needed a postal address, the government asked if Colonel Falkland G.E Warren, R.H.A; C.M.G.;C.B (an earlier pioneer in the valley) would object to his name being used. The postal records from 1894 said that the proposals for the new post office in the area would either be "Falkland" or "Salmon River."
Falkland hasn't really changed very much in the last few years. Many of the people who live in Falkland enjoy the lifestyle that the small community provides.
The standard joke in Falkland was that if you blinked while driving through it you might miss it. While that may not be true, Falkland is still pretty small.
In celebration of the war's end, the residents of Falkland and surrounding area planned a large picnic. Everyone was excited about the idea, especially the children who looked forward to the races, food and homemade ice cream.
On the date of March 24, 1919, in the gyp field in the north west corner of the townsite they gathered, never imagining that many decades later people from all over the world would come to Falkland to enjoy one of B.C's most legendary events- the Falkland Stampede. The early years of the rodeo were filled with great ideas and the need for many things, including a fence to protect the spectators and a small corral to hold the horses. The first site chosen for the more permanent facilities was what then was the old mill site but now is known as the school ball field. Events included Chuck Wagon racing, Buffalo bull riding, bucking horse riding and many other small games for the children and women.
Falkland's Canadian flag
Height: 8.5 Metres (28 feet)[2]
Width: 17.1 Metres (56.1 feet)[2]
Flag's Structure: 2 X 6 lumber framework, eight 14 metre (45 foot) telephone poles, 84 metric ton (18 4500 pound) cement blocks, and metal. 3500 screws attach the metal together. The colors are heated onto enamel.
The Falkland flag is considered to be the biggest Canadian Flag in Western Canada. The purpose of building this flag was to support the I Care Campaign which received international attention when the people of Falkland challenged the rest of Canada to fly the Canadian Flag.
The Canadian flag is illuminated at night, allowing visitors of Falkland to view the flag day and night. The power reaches the flag from a 700 metre (2231 foot) extension cord.
There were 19 corporate sponsors who donated material, equipment and labour. The total cost of the flag was $42,493 ($33,960 for construction, $3,343 lighting, and $5,190 lettering.)
Mountains
Falkland is nestled at the confluence of three valleys and two rivers, the Salmon River and Bolean Creek, and is cradled by Tuktakamin Mountain (5811 feet/1771 metres) to the south, and Estekawalan Mountain to the west (5960 feet/1817 metres). These mountains create a type of valley.External links
- Falkland, British Columbia at BritishColumbia.com]
- BritishColumbia.com Falkland