Burns Lake, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
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...
in the North-Central Interior of British Columbia
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
, 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...
, incorporated in 1923. It is the location of the head offices of 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...
.
There are three First Nations reserves that are part of the town, and another three nearby, making it one of the few communities in the province that have almost equal populations of native and Canadians
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...
of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an descent. Local nations include Wet'suwet'en First Nation
Wet'suwet'en First Nation
The Wet'suwet'en First Nation is a First Nations band located outside of Burns Lake in the central interior of British Columbia. It was formerly known as the Broman Lake Indian Band and is still usually referred to as Broman Lake although this is no longer its official name...
, Lake Babine Nation
Lake Babine Nation
Lake Babine Nation is a Babine First Nation originally based around Babine Lake. Its main community has been in Woyenne, near Burns Lake, since many of the nation's members moved there in the 1940s...
, Cheslatta Band, Burns Lake band, Skin Tyee band and Nee Tahi Buhn band.
The town serves as a hub for the local logging, saw-milling, mining and tourist industries. The town boasts a secondary school, Lakes District Secondary School
Lakes District Secondary School
Lakes District Secondary is a public high school in Burns Lake, British Columbia part of School District 91 Nechako Lakes....
, with a Fine Arts program. A K-7 school program is offered at William Konkin Elementary School. Burns Lake hosts annual Performing Arts and Alternative Arts Festivals, drawing talent from around the region. Burns Lake features three pubs, and a small selection of stores and services as well as a library and a hospital.
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 calls at the Burns Lake railway station
Burns Lake railway station
The Burns Lake railway station is on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Burns Lake, British Columbia. The station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train.- External links :*...
several times per week.
History
Bob Gerow, one of the main founders of Burns Lake, entered into partnership with Jack Seely and Howard Laidlaw to create Burns Lake Trading Company. Together, they built a store/hotel and a sawmill on Gerow Island.In 1911, there was just a pack trail through the bush where the main part of the village now stands. A bridge was constructed to connect Gerow Island to the mainland. All men not already employed by the railroad were hired to help build the bridge.
The first newspaper in Burns Lake was called the Observer, published and edited by Sidney Godwin. In the late 1950s, another newspaper, also called the Observer, was operated by Ralph Vipond. It closed in 1961.
A number of historic buildings still stand:
The Old Hospital
First built in 1933 by the Women's Missionary Society of the United Church of CanadaUnited Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, the hospital was officially opened by Canada's former Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Lord Tweedsmuir. Once the largest and finest public building between Prince George and Prince Rupert, it was famous for its fine gardens. It was later occupied by senior citizens apartment complex, then declared a heritage building in 1982 and redeveloped as an office building by its owner, the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation.
The Bucket of Blood
Located adjucent to the Burns Lake Museum, this square-cut log building is a former fur trade post which later became a gambling den. A stabbing over a game of poker led to the building's name. It now contains a display of historical artifacts from the life of Craig Wafflehouse, one of the founders of Burns Lake.Recreation
Skiing
The area around Burns Lake was settled by many Scandinavians, who brought with them their love of skiing. For many years, local residents participated in all forms of skiing, including jumping and downhill, through the Omineca Ski Club. By the late 20th century, however, the Omineca Ski Club was exclusively a cross-country (Nordic) ski club. Its facilities have hosted several national championships and are considered to rank among western Canada's best trail networks. Omineca ski club was one of the first ski club in Canada Notable past members have included Kaare Engstad, Karl Lindaas, Alford Eakin, Esther Bahen (Miller), Marvin Strimbold, Lana Lindaas and Chris Paulson.Opal Beds
The 1.9 kilometre Opal Bed Trail is the main hiking path in the region leading to the opals and agates. The hiking trail begins by hiking to a short ridge. From the ridge the trail leads pass a flat field to views overlooking a creek. Opals are recorded as being found in between the creek and the trail. Also the natural wonders referred to as Hoodoos (rock formations) are seen above the creek at this point of the hike.Burns Lake is well known for the trails running through the Opal beds. The trail network is best known for the precious minerals in the area which include opals and agate rocks. Today, the main trail leads to an active rock hounding destination so people can look and hunt for precious minerals.
Spirit Square
In February of 2007, the Village of Burns Lake received funding from the Government of BC for the construction of a public open space under the BC Spirit Squares program. Spirit Squares are intended to honour the past and celebrate the future; improve the economic health of communities; and enhance the social and cultural life of the community. It contains a wide array of free exercise equipment which uses your body weight as resistance.Golf
The Carnoustie Golf & Country Club opened in 1955, has nine holes and was built to go with the natural lay of the land. It covers 50 acres (202,343 m²) with water hazards on several assets. The original developers were very dedicated to golf and this was a family run business until 2000.Tennis
Burns Lake has recently completed construction of two free tennis courts which are open to the public. Racket rentals are available at the local Visitor Center.Mountain Bike Trails & Bike Parks
Burns Lake offers a world class trails network surrounding Boer Mountain designed by Gravity Logic. The Mountain Bike Park is the only mountain bike park to be built on Crown land in Canada - it is free to use. More information available at Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association website.Directions
Burns Lake is located east from Topley (51), Houston, British ColumbiaHouston, 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...
(81), Granisle (100), Smithers
Smithers, British Columbia
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....
(147), 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...
(350), and Prince Rupert (494). The other way is Fraser Lake (69), Vanderhoof (128), Fort St. James (175), 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"...
(223).
Further reading
The book Unmarked: Landscapes Along Highway 16, written by Sarah de LeeuwSarah de Leeuw
Sarah de Leeuw is a Canadian writer who wrote Unmarked: Landscapes Along Highway 16.A native of British Columbia, she grew up in Duncan, Queen Charlotte Islands and Terrace. She has worked as a tug boat driver, logging camp cook and journalist...
, includes a short essay on Burns Lake titled "Screamed on a Fence, Beside a Passing Train".
Climate