Smithers, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia
, Canada
, approximately halfway between Prince George
and Prince Rupert
. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
.
With a population of 5,509, Smithers is a service area for most of the Bulkley Valley
.
in which Smithers is situated was originally inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en
, an indigenous Carrier
people whose native tongue is of the Athabaskan language family
. Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers
. In 1921, Smithers became the first incorporated village in British Columbia. In 1967, Smithers was incorporated as a town. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park
10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Smithers was created in 1967.
station at the western end of Main Street. This pattern has been sustained by the preservation of the old courthouse, with establishment of a major civic park in Central Park, and with the on-going restoration of the CN railway station as a community resource centre.
The Smithers railway station
is served by Via Rail
s Jasper – Prince Rupert train.
have often been described by non-residents as being distinct from the rest of Northern British Columbia. According to a 1990s survey, per capita, Smithers has 'the most of' in almost every category. Many factors contribute to the composition of society in Smithers, including the arts, environmental protection, and local industries such as forestry and mining.
Smithers has adopted an alpine theme, which is drawn from the geography of the area
. A town bylaw requires businesses in the downtown area centred on Main Street to construct their buildings in an alpine style. A fibreglass statue of a man blowing an alpine horn, commonly referred to as The Alpenman or Alpine Al, is located at the entrance to the main street and has become the town symbol. Similarly, the Smithers chamber of commerce
displays an Alpine Al costume at community events and in television advertisements for the town's businesses.
Residents of Smithers are called Smithereens which remains a more popularly accepted title than the sometimes used 'Smitherite'.
Smithereens have a particularly strong environmental ethic. In 2006, over 600 Smithereens took to the streets to voice their opposition to a proposed coalbed methane
gas field near Telkwa
, which threatened local water quality, landscape integrity and wild salmon
populations.
Smithers and the Bulkley Valley are home to many musicians, including Juno-Award-winning
Alexis Puentes and hometown folk hero Mark Perry
. The biggest assembly of musical talent happens during the annual Mid-Summer Music Festival in late June. Over the years, the Mid-Summer Music Festival has seen some famous acts like Spirit of the West
and the Barenaked Ladies
and has drawn audiences and participants from all across North America.
The Della Herman Theatre, named after a long time resident and former school board official, is the primary venue for shows and performances, though several pubs and even open fields serve as secondary performance venues. Numerous organizations including the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council operate to keep music and other artistic activities vibrant.
The latest census
, taken in 2001, recorded 5,415 residents living in 2,195 households and 1,460 families. Of those over 15 years of age in 2001, 48% were married, slightly lower than the 51% provincial average. With 87% of Smithers residents being Canadian-born, and 88% with an English-only mother tongue, the town has few visible minorities. Though not included as visible minorities, 10% identified themselves as Aboriginal, a higher proportion than the 4% provincial average.
players:
, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, Terrace
, Kitimat, Port Edward
and Prince Rupert. East of Smithers is Telkwa
, Houston
, Topley, Burns Lake, Fraser Lake
, Fort Fraser, Vanderhoof and Prince George
.
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...
, approximately halfway between Prince George
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
and Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia
The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako is a regional district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the population was 38,243. The area is 73,419.01 square kilometres...
.
With a population of 5,509, Smithers is a service area for most of the Bulkley Valley
Bulkley Valley
The Bulkley Valley is located in the northwest Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:The 257 km long Bulkley River runs through the valley which is bounded on the west by the Hudson Bay Mountain range and on the east by the Babine Mountains...
.
History
The Bulkley ValleyBulkley Valley
The Bulkley Valley is located in the northwest Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:The 257 km long Bulkley River runs through the valley which is bounded on the west by the Hudson Bay Mountain range and on the east by the Babine Mountains...
in which Smithers is situated was originally inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en
Wet'suwet'en
Wet'suwet'en are a First Nations people who live on the Bulkley River and around Broman Lake and Francois Lake in the northwestern Central Interior of British Columbia...
, an indigenous Carrier
Dakelh
The Dakelh or Carrier are the indigenous people of a large portion of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.Most Carrier call themselves Dakelh, meaning "people who go around by boat"...
people whose native tongue is of the Athabaskan language family
Language family
A language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestor, called the proto-language of that family. The term 'family' comes from the tree model of language origination in historical linguistics, which makes use of a metaphor comparing languages to people in a...
. Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers
Alfred Waldron Smithers
Sir Alfred Waldron Smithers was a British financier and parliamentarian. Smithers father William Henry Smithers was a prominent employee of the Bank of England. Alfred entered the world of finance early when he joined the London Stock Exchange at the age of 23...
. In 1921, Smithers became the first incorporated village in British Columbia. In 1967, Smithers was incorporated as a town. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park
Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park
Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park covers 23 ha of the Bulkley River Valley, on the east side of Driftwood Creek, a tributary of the Bulkley River, 10 km northeast of the town of Smithers. The park is accessible from...
10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Smithers was created in 1967.
Civic orientation
The Town was surveyed in 1913 and a street grid pattern was established that is still very much evident today. Historically, intensive development has been oriented towards Main Street as the prime commercial focus with residential development radiating outward from the commercial core. The traditional downtown was punctuated by important civic structures — the (old) Courthouse at the intersection of Main Street with Hwy 16 or by community focal points — the Canadian National RailwayCanadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
station at the western end of Main Street. This pattern has been sustained by the preservation of the old courthouse, with establishment of a major civic park in Central Park, and with the on-going restoration of the CN railway station as a community resource centre.
The Smithers railway station
Smithers railway station
The Smithers railway station is on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Smithers, British Columbia. The station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train. The station was designated a national heritage railway station in 1990....
is served by Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
s Jasper – Prince Rupert train.
Culture
Smithers and the Bulkley ValleyBulkley Valley
The Bulkley Valley is located in the northwest Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:The 257 km long Bulkley River runs through the valley which is bounded on the west by the Hudson Bay Mountain range and on the east by the Babine Mountains...
have often been described by non-residents as being distinct from the rest of Northern British Columbia. According to a 1990s survey, per capita, Smithers has 'the most of' in almost every category. Many factors contribute to the composition of society in Smithers, including the arts, environmental protection, and local industries such as forestry and mining.
Smithers has adopted an alpine theme, which is drawn from the geography of the area
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
. A town bylaw requires businesses in the downtown area centred on Main Street to construct their buildings in an alpine style. A fibreglass statue of a man blowing an alpine horn, commonly referred to as The Alpenman or Alpine Al, is located at the entrance to the main street and has become the town symbol. Similarly, the Smithers chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
displays an Alpine Al costume at community events and in television advertisements for the town's businesses.
Residents of Smithers are called Smithereens which remains a more popularly accepted title than the sometimes used 'Smitherite'.
Smithereens have a particularly strong environmental ethic. In 2006, over 600 Smithereens took to the streets to voice their opposition to a proposed coalbed methane
Coalbed methane
Coalbed methane or Coal Bed Methane, coalbed gas or coal mine methane is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent decades it has become an important source of energy in United States, Canada, and other countries...
gas field near Telkwa
Telkwa, British Columbia
Telkwa is a village located along British Columbia Highway 16, nearly 15 km southeast of the town of Smithers and 350 km west of the city of Prince George, in northwest British Columbia, Canada....
, which threatened local water quality, landscape integrity and wild salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
populations.
Smithers and the Bulkley Valley are home to many musicians, including Juno-Award-winning
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
Alexis Puentes and hometown folk hero Mark Perry
Mark Perry
Mark Perry may refer to:* Mark Perry , college wrestler at the University of Iowa* Mark Perry , American author* Mark Perry , professor at the University of Michigan...
. The biggest assembly of musical talent happens during the annual Mid-Summer Music Festival in late June. Over the years, the Mid-Summer Music Festival has seen some famous acts like Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began...
and the Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
and has drawn audiences and participants from all across North America.
The Della Herman Theatre, named after a long time resident and former school board official, is the primary venue for shows and performances, though several pubs and even open fields serve as secondary performance venues. Numerous organizations including the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council operate to keep music and other artistic activities vibrant.
Demographics
| Canada 2001 Census Canada 2001 Census The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In... |
||
| Smithers | British Columbia | |
| Median age | 33.3 years | 38.4 years |
| Under 15 years old | 24% | 18% |
| Between 25 and 44 years old | 31% | 30% |
| Over 65 years old | 10% | 14% |
| Visible minority | 4% | 21% |
| Protestant | 35% | 31% |
| Catholic | 20% | 17% |
The latest census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
, taken in 2001, recorded 5,415 residents living in 2,195 households and 1,460 families. Of those over 15 years of age in 2001, 48% were married, slightly lower than the 51% provincial average. With 87% of Smithers residents being Canadian-born, and 88% with an English-only mother tongue, the town has few visible minorities. Though not included as visible minorities, 10% identified themselves as Aboriginal, a higher proportion than the 4% provincial average.
Hockey players
Despite its small population, Smithers has produced several notable professional ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
players:
- Brothers Joe Watson and Jimmy Watson: won the Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
as defencemenDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
with the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. Jimmy Watson was a five-time NHL All-Star game selection and played for Team Canada at the Canada CupCanada Cup (ice hockey)The Canada Cup was an invitational international ice hockey tournament held on five occasions between 1976 and 1991. The tournament was created to meet demand for a true world championship that allowed the best players from participating nations to compete regardless of their status as professional...
in 1976. Joe Watson was a two-time NHL All-Star and is a member of the Flyers hall of fame. - Brothers Ron FlockhartRon Flockhart (ice hockey)Ronald E. "Flockey Hockey" Flockhart is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Ron Flockhart scored over 300 NHL points in the 1980s playing mostly with the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues...
(NHL career 1980-1991) and Rob FlockhartRob FlockhartRob Flockhart is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent parts of five seasons in the National Hockey League. He is the older brother of former NHL player Ron Flockhart.... - Alan KerrAlan KerrAlan G. Kerr is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward. He is currently the head coach and general manager of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs BCHL team....
: played for the New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets in the 1980s and 1990s - Dan HamhuisDan HamhuisDaniel Hamhuis is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ....
: currently defencemanDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
playing for the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. - Michael WallMichael Wall (ice hockey)Michael "Mike" Wall is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Anaheim Ducks.-Playing career:...
: goalie for the Colorado AvalancheColorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
(Traded 2007) - Ron HomenukeRon HomenukeRonald Wayne Homenuke is a former NHL player. He played in only one NHL game for the Vancouver Canucks, who had drafted him with the 51st pick in the 1972 Draft. He retired in 1976.-External links:...
: forward for the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. Career ended abruptly after a hikingHikingHiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
accident. He later became a missionaryMissionaryA missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
.
Others
- Alex CubaAlex CubaAlexis Puentes , better known by his stage name Alex Cuba, is a Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter who sings in Spanish and English. He has won two Juno Awards for World Music Album of the Year: in 2006 for Humo De Tabaco, and in 2008 for his second album, Agua Del Pozo...
, musician - Alicia KayeAlicia KayeAlicia Beth Kaye is a professional Canadian / US triathlete and Member of the USA Triathlon Project 2012 program....
, Canadian triathlete - Dan ManganDan ManganDaniel Mangan is a Canadian indie folk-rock singer-songwriter.-Early life:Mangan was born in Smithers, British Columbia. His family moved a fair amount, residing in both the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia - and primarily in his current home town of Vancouver...
, musician - Robert ChaplinRobert ChaplinRobert Chaplin is a Canadian artist and publisher, currently based in Vancouver. His practice includes carving gem stones, making sculptures, drawing pictures, writing stories, and publishing books....
, artist and publisher - Graham RoumieuGraham RoumieuGraham Roumieu is a Canadian illustrator based in Toronto, Ontario. He is perhaps best known for his Bigfoot-themed books , but his work has also appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Harper's, and the Wall Street Journal.- Bibliography :*Roumieu,...
, author and illustrator - Gina HoldenGina Holden- Early life :Holden was born in the small town of Smithers, British Columbia, Canada, and moved often while growing up. With every move, Holden would join whatever community group she could so she could follow her passion for acting. At fifteen, she was signed to a modeling contract and moved to...
, actress - Robin MathewsRobin MathewsRobin Mathews is a Canadian poet, professor, and political activist against United States foreign policy.-Education:...
, poet, political activist, playwright, teacher, essayist - Tobin FrankTobin FrankTobin Frank is a Canadian musician, who records, performs and tours with the bands Spirit of the West and The Paperboys. Primarily a bass guitarist, Frank also plays some accordion and keyboard parts....
, musician with the Canadian band Spirit of the WestSpirit of the WestSpirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began... - Daniel ImhofDaniel ImhofDaniel Wendel Imhof is a Canadian footballer who currently plays for St. Gallen.-Early life:He was born in Switzerland but his parents immigrated to Canada when he was four. Imhof grew up in Smithers, British Columbia and started a study to become a sport teacher at the University of Victoria...
, professional soccer player at VfL BochumVfL BochumVerein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
(GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) - Susan JubySusan JubySusan Juby is a Canadian novelist who works in several genres but is most widely recognized for her work in humorous young adult fiction.- Biography :...
, novelist, author - Adrian Miles, musician. Former singer for U.K. based doom metal band Solstice
- Shawn Boonstra, host of It Is Written television, author.
- Michael Plug, only surviving Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross for covert combat operations in Mapia, Indonesia (disputed territories between West Papua/Irian Jaya province and Papua New Guinea), 2004.
Geography
West of Smithers is MoricetownMoricetown
Moricetown is a Wet'suwet'en village in Central British Columbia, Canada. The current village was built during early 1900s. Evidence of inhabitants date back to around 4,000 years ago. The original name of the village was 'Kyah Wiget...
, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, Terrace
Terrace, British Columbia
Terrace is a city on the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada. The Kitselas people, a tribe of the Tsimshian Nation, have lived in the Terrace area for thousands of years. The community population fell between 2001 and 2006 from 12,109 with a regional population of 19,980 to 11,320 and...
, Kitimat, Port Edward
Port Edward, British Columbia
The District of Port Edward is a town of approximately 577, located on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada.It is situated on the Tsimpsean Peninsula, opposite Ridley Island, 15 km south of Prince Rupert.-Directions:...
and Prince Rupert. East of Smithers is Telkwa
Telkwa, British Columbia
Telkwa is a village located along British Columbia Highway 16, nearly 15 km southeast of the town of Smithers and 350 km west of the city of Prince George, in northwest British Columbia, Canada....
, Houston
Houston, British Columbia
Houston is a forestry, mining and tourism town in the Bulkley Valley of the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its urban population is approximately 3600 people, with approximately 2000 in the surrounding rural area. It is known as the "Steelhead Capital" and it has the world's largest...
, Topley, Burns Lake, Fraser Lake
Fraser Lake, British Columbia
Fraser Lake is a village in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the southwest side of Fraser Lake between Burns Lake and Vanderhoof alongside the Yellowhead Highway....
, Fort Fraser, Vanderhoof and Prince George
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
.
Climate
Miscellaneous
- Smithers AirportSmithers AirportSmithers Airport, , is located north of Smithers, British Columbia, Canada.-Runways:Originally the runway was , but it has been expanded to so that the airport can land larger aircraft. The extension was completed by in late 2008. Once the expansion of the ski areas is complete, there would then...
underwent a runway extension completed in the summer of 2008 that allows the landing of smaller jet aircraft. - The airlineAirlineAn airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
Central Mountain AirCentral Mountain AirCentral Mountain Air Ltd. is a Canadian regional airline based in Smithers, British Columbia. It operates scheduled and charter services and transborder services...
is based in Smithers. - The film Eight BelowEight BelowEight Below is a 2006 American adventure film directed by Frank Marshall and written by David DiGilio. It stars Paul Walker, Jason Biggs, Bruce Greenwood and Moon Bloodgood...
was filmed here. - The Comedy Network television show, Alice, I ThinkAlice, I Think (TV series)Alice, I Think was a Canadian television series based on the Susan Juby book of the same name. Fifteen-year-old Alice is a "hyper-critical, socially-retarded narcissist with mind-numbingly poor judgement," played by Carly McKillip. Alice's brother, MacGregor, is played by Connor Price. Alice's...
, is based on Smithers. (However, not actually filmed in Smithers aside from location shots.) - The out coming film The Grey was filmed here.
Recreation
- Smithers is known for their world class skiing and fishing. Other popular activities include: soccer, hockey, baseball, down hill mountain biking, cross country skiing, hiking, quading and snowmobiling. Smithers offers lots when it comes to extreme sports, if its quading in the back country, snowmobiling in the mountains or biking down the Hudson Bay Mountain; Smithers is known for their great variety of recreation.