Kaslo, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Kaslo is a village in the West Kootenay
West Kootenay
West Kootenay was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It was formed along with East Kootenay from a redistribution of the old Kootenay riding, which was one of the province's original twelve.- Demographics :...
region of British Columbia
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...
, located on the west shore of 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...
. Known for its great natural beauty, it is a member municipality of the Central Kootenay Regional District
Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia
The Regional District of Central Kootenay is a regional district in the province of British Columbia, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the population was 55,883. The area is 22,130.72 square kilometres. The administrative centre is located in the city of Nelson...
. As of 2006, it had a population of 1,072.
Originally designated as a sawmill site in 1889, Kaslo grew on the silver boom
Silver rush
A Silver rush is the silver-mining equivalent of a gold rush.Notable silver rushes have taken place in Mexico, Argentina, the United States , and Canada...
of the 19th century, and retains much of the history from its mining days. The town today relies mainly on the industries of forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
History
Kaslo was originally incorporated as a city on August 14, 1893, making it the oldest incorporated community in the KootenaysKootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
.
It was an important center for shipping and silver ore mining.
After the silver rush
Silver rush
A Silver rush is the silver-mining equivalent of a gold rush.Notable silver rushes have taken place in Mexico, Argentina, the United States , and Canada...
Kaslo's fortunes faded but it was re-incorporated as a village on January 1, 1959.
National Historic Sites
Kaslo is home to two National Historic Sites of Canada:- The SS MoyieMoyie (sternwheeler)The Moyie is a paddle steamer sternwheeler that worked on Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, Canada from 1898 until 1957.After her nearly sixty years of service, she was sold to the town of Kaslo and restored...
, which worked on Kootenay Lake from 1889 until 1957, found a permanent home on Front Street in Kaslo. Beautifully restored by the Kootenay Lake Historical Society, it is the oldest intact sternwheeler in the world and draws thousands of visitors every year.
- Village Hall, built in 1898, is one of only two intact wooden municipal buildings that are still in use in Canada.
Attractions
- The Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival, held every August long weekend in Kaslo Bay Park, is a popular music event which attracts international performers and draws large audiences. http://www.kaslojazzfest.com
- The Kaslo Golf Club is a 9-hole course which plays as 2,824 yard, men's par 35, women's par 37 course with well conditioned grass greens and well-manicured fairways. The course is tight with rolling hills which offer nuances of play to both the average and more experienced golfer. Kaslo's Golf Club dates back to 1923, when locals invested and donated their efforts and created a 4 hole course. This makes it one of the oldest in British Columbia. A new timberframe clubhouse was built in 2007.