Zeballos, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Zeballos is a village
located on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island
in British Columbia
, Canada
. While legend suggests Spanish gold seekers may have explored the area in the late 16th century, Zeballos is now known for its ecotourism
and sport fishing.
delta, at the end of Zeballos Inlet. It is accessible from Highway 19, about a two and half hour drive north of Campbell River
. Zeballos' position relative to nearby Nootka Sound
and Kyuquot Sound
make it a popular "jump-off" point for tourists and anglers. Other areas of interest include Nootka Island
, Fair Harbour, a 35 km (22 mi) trip by unpaved road from Zeballos, and Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park
.
's expedition, Zeballos remained relatively obscure until well over 100 years later, when the village grew exponentially due to a gold rush
in the 1930s. Although estimates vary, Zeballos may have had a population of over 5,000 during the peak of mining activity. Between 1938 and 1943, $13 million worth of gold
bricks were shipped from Zeballos.http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=95
With the onset of World War II
, Zeballos lost significant numbers of its workforce to the Canadian Army. Eventually, the mines began to close. Although post-war efforts were made to begin production again, the set price of $35.00 an ounce made it uneconomical for the mines to continue operating.http://www.zeballos.com/zeb/history.htm Within twenty years, the mines had closed for good.
In the 1950s, logging
emerged as a promising new industry for the village. In 1964, an iron mine was established. Although the timber industry proved successful for the community, the mine shut its doors just five years after opening.
In 1964, the Good Friday Earthquake
and ensuing tsunami
brought destruction to the small coastal community. Charles Ford, a young seaplane pilot and resident of Zeballos, wrote:
On April 27, 2004, the body of young resident Kayla John was found in a wooded area close to her home. The murder made national headlines, shaking this tiny community of under two hundred and fifty people. Less than one month after her death, a local man, George Osmond, was charged with the death of the thirteen-year-old girl.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2004/05/17/bc_arrest20040517.html He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison shortly thereafter.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2005/12/13/bc_osmond-john20051213.html
The fact that Kayla John was a member of the Ehattesaht First Nation
, and that her alleged killer was a white man, lead to suggestion of the crime having racial undertones. It also brought attention to the developing issue of juvenile delinquency in the area, a problem faced by many isolated, predominantly First Nations
communities. http://www.canada-justice.com/en/ps/rs/rep/2003/rr03yj-5/rr03yj-5_00.html The public's growing concern resulted in a locally organized policing initiative: Citizens on Patrol.http://www.zeballos.com/privateer/20040521/paper.htm
Small businesses, specializing in ecotourism
, sight-seeing, commercial fishing
and oyster farming
also contribute to economic growth in the area.http://www.vipubs.com/PUBS/pages/zabellos/history.htm
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
in 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...
. While legend suggests Spanish gold seekers may have explored the area in the late 16th century, Zeballos is now known for its ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
and sport fishing.
Location and geography
Zeballos is a deep-sea port surrounded by rugged mountains and forests, located on the Zeballos RiverZeballos River
Zeballos River is a river located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The river is up island and flows south into the north end of Zeballos Inlet, near the town of Zeballos. The river was discovered to be gold bearing before 1900 and has been mined....
delta, at the end of Zeballos Inlet. It is accessible from Highway 19, about a two and half hour drive north of Campbell River
Campbell River, British Columbia
Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route...
. Zeballos' position relative to nearby Nootka Sound
Nootka Sound
Nootka Sound is a complex inlet or sound of the Pacific Ocean on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Historically also known as King George's Sound, as a strait it separates Vancouver Island and Nootka Island.-History:The inlet is part of the...
and Kyuquot Sound
Kyuquot Sound
Kyuquot Sound is a complex of coastal inlets, bays and islands on northwestern Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia.-Name:...
make it a popular "jump-off" point for tourists and anglers. Other areas of interest include Nootka Island
Nootka Island
Nootka Island is an island near Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It contains 534 km² of area. It is separated from Vancouver Island by Nootka Sound and its side-inlets....
, Fair Harbour, a 35 km (22 mi) trip by unpaved road from Zeballos, and Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park
Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park
Parts of this article have been adapted from the .Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park is a provincial park located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:...
.
History
Named for Lt. Ciriaco Cevallos, a member aboard an early ship of Spanish explorer Alessandro MalaspinaAlessandro Malaspina
Alessandro Malaspina was an Italian nobleman who spent most of his life as a Spanish naval officer and explorer...
's expedition, Zeballos remained relatively obscure until well over 100 years later, when the village grew exponentially due to a gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
in the 1930s. Although estimates vary, Zeballos may have had a population of over 5,000 during the peak of mining activity. Between 1938 and 1943, $13 million worth of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
bricks were shipped from Zeballos.http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=95
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Zeballos lost significant numbers of its workforce to the Canadian Army. Eventually, the mines began to close. Although post-war efforts were made to begin production again, the set price of $35.00 an ounce made it uneconomical for the mines to continue operating.http://www.zeballos.com/zeb/history.htm Within twenty years, the mines had closed for good.
In the 1950s, logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
emerged as a promising new industry for the village. In 1964, an iron mine was established. Although the timber industry proved successful for the community, the mine shut its doors just five years after opening.
In 1964, the Good Friday Earthquake
Good Friday Earthquake
The 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan Earthquake, the Portage Earthquake and the Good Friday Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST on Good Friday, March 27, 1964...
and ensuing tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
brought destruction to the small coastal community. Charles Ford, a young seaplane pilot and resident of Zeballos, wrote:
On April 27, 2004, the body of young resident Kayla John was found in a wooded area close to her home. The murder made national headlines, shaking this tiny community of under two hundred and fifty people. Less than one month after her death, a local man, George Osmond, was charged with the death of the thirteen-year-old girl.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2004/05/17/bc_arrest20040517.html He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison shortly thereafter.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2005/12/13/bc_osmond-john20051213.html
The fact that Kayla John was a member of the Ehattesaht First Nation
First Nations in British Columbia
First Nations in British Columbia constitute a large number of First Nations governments and peoples in the province of British Columbia. Many of these Canadian aboriginal peoples are affiliated in tribal councils...
, and that her alleged killer was a white man, lead to suggestion of the crime having racial undertones. It also brought attention to the developing issue of juvenile delinquency in the area, a problem faced by many isolated, predominantly First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
communities. http://www.canada-justice.com/en/ps/rs/rep/2003/rr03yj-5/rr03yj-5_00.html The public's growing concern resulted in a locally organized policing initiative: Citizens on Patrol.http://www.zeballos.com/privateer/20040521/paper.htm
Economy
Today, the majority of the town's residents, along with the population of the two neighbouring Native reserves, Oculcje and Ehatis are employed in the timber industry.Small businesses, specializing in ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
, sight-seeing, commercial fishing
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
and oyster farming
Oyster farming
Oyster farming is an aquaculture practice in which oysters are raised for human consumption. Oyster farming most likely developed in tandem with pearl farming, a similar practice in which oysters are farmed for the purpose of developing pearls...
also contribute to economic growth in the area.http://www.vipubs.com/PUBS/pages/zabellos/history.htm
Miscellaneous
- Zeballos offers a multitude of outdoor adventures, such as hiking, wildlife viewing, caving, rock climbing, diving, kayaking and fishing.
- Camping is available in several wilderness locations such as Little Zeballos, Lake Zeballos, and Iron Mine.
- In Autumn, the Zeballos RiverZeballos RiverZeballos River is a river located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The river is up island and flows south into the north end of Zeballos Inlet, near the town of Zeballos. The river was discovered to be gold bearing before 1900 and has been mined....
draws bears and eaglesEagleEagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
as spawning salmonSalmon runThe salmon run is the time at which salmon swim back up the rivers in which they were born to spawn. All Pacific salmon die after spawning. While most Atlantic salmon die after their first spawn, about 5-10% return to the sea to feed between spawnings. The annual run is a major event for sport...
struggle upstream.