Garibaldi, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Garibaldi, originally named Daisy Lake and also known as Garibaldi Lodge and Garibaldi Townsite, is an abandoned locality in British Columbia
, Canada
, on the Cheakamus River
around its confluence with Rubble Creek
and just south of Daisy Lake.
The townsite had been in existence since shortly after the opening of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, with its post office opening in 1916, and it had been the site of Garibaldi Lodge, one of several rail-tourism lodges along the rail line, the most well-known in this locality being Rainbow Lodge
at Alta Lake
. The settlement's name was changed from Daisy Lake to Garibaldi in 1932 by dint of association with the intended main basetown for Garibaldi Provincial Park
.
Although some buildings remain, including public works facilities, the community is officially depopulated due to the geohazard
posed by The Barrier
, a lava dam
holding back Garibaldi Lake
that has let go at various points in the past; Rubble Creek gets its name from the large boulder field created by successive degenerations of the Barrier.
Plans for a ski development at this location were ended when evacuation was ordered, property owners and residents of the townsite were ordered by the provincial government to evacuate Garibaldi amid much public controversy as to whether it was really necessary or not. To compensate property owners, lots were offered in the new Pinecrest
and Black Tusk Estates subdivisions a bit further north, and out of the way of the debris path from The Barrier. The name Garibaldi Lifts Company, the founding company of what is now Whistler Blackcomb, was chosen in anticipation that Garibaldi would be the major resort in this area.
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...
, on the Cheakamus River
Cheakamus River
The Cheakamus River is a tributary of the Squamish River, beginning on the west slopes of Outlier Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park upstream from Cheakamus Lake on the southeastern outskirts of the resort area of Whistler. The river flows into Cheakamus Lake before exiting it and flowing...
around its confluence with Rubble Creek
Rubble Creek
Rubble Creek is a creek in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It flows northwest into Cheakamus Creek near Mount Garibaldi....
and just south of Daisy Lake.
The townsite had been in existence since shortly after the opening of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, with its post office opening in 1916, and it had been the site of Garibaldi Lodge, one of several rail-tourism lodges along the rail line, the most well-known in this locality being Rainbow Lodge
Rainbow Lodge
right|400px|Rainbow Lodge sat centre left at far end of lakeby grove of orange poplars on Alta Lake; Whistler sits out of view at right.Rainbow Lodge was the first fishing and weekend retreat cabin on Alta Lake, which is now metropolitan Whistler, British Columbia, and stood from 1914 to 1977...
at Alta Lake
Alta Lake, British Columbia
Alta Lake was a recreational community and railway station on the west side of Alta Lake. It is now a neighbourhood of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The post office was renamed Whistler in 1976 when the area was incorporated as part of the Resort Municipality of Whistler.-References:**...
. The settlement's name was changed from Daisy Lake to Garibaldi in 1932 by dint of association with the intended main basetown for Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park, also called Garibaldi Park, is a wilderness park located in British Columbia, Canada, about 70 kilometres north of Vancouver. The park is located to the east of the Sea to Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler and covers an area of over 1,950 square kilometres...
.
Although some buildings remain, including public works facilities, the community is officially depopulated due to the geohazard
Geohazard
A geohazard can be defined as a geological state that represents or has the potential to develop further into a situation leading to damage or uncontrolled risk. This definition implies that geohazards are widespread phenomena that are related to geological and environmental conditions and involve...
posed by The Barrier
The Barrier
The Barrier is a lava dam retaining the Garibaldi Lake system in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is over 300 m in thickness and about 2 km wide where it impounds the lake....
, a lava dam
Volcanic dam
A volcanic dam is a type of natural dam produced directly or indirectly by volcanism, which holds or temporarily restricts the flow of surface water in existing streams, like a man-made dam. There are two main types of volcanic dams, those created by the flow of molten lava, and those created by...
holding back Garibaldi Lake
Garibaldi Lake
The Garibaldi Lake volcanic field is a volcanic field, located in British Columbia, Canada. It was formed by a group of nine small andesitic stratovolcanoes and basaltic andesite vents in the scenic Garibaldi Lake area immediately north of Mount Garibaldi was formed during the late Pleistocene and...
that has let go at various points in the past; Rubble Creek gets its name from the large boulder field created by successive degenerations of the Barrier.
Plans for a ski development at this location were ended when evacuation was ordered, property owners and residents of the townsite were ordered by the provincial government to evacuate Garibaldi amid much public controversy as to whether it was really necessary or not. To compensate property owners, lots were offered in the new Pinecrest
Pinecrest
Pinecrest is the name of a number of places in North America:in Canada* Pinecrest Road , in Ottawa* Pinecrest Public School, in Ottawa* Pinecrest Station , in Ottawain the United StatesFlorida:...
and Black Tusk Estates subdivisions a bit further north, and out of the way of the debris path from The Barrier. The name Garibaldi Lifts Company, the founding company of what is now Whistler Blackcomb, was chosen in anticipation that Garibaldi would be the major resort in this area.