Nakusp, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Village of Nakusp is a small community located on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake
, a portion of the Columbia River
, in the West Kootenay
region of British Columbia
. The town has a population of around 1,800, and it is known primarily for its nearby hot spring
s, which are a popular destination for tourists, as well as its picturesque mountain lakeside setting.
Nakusp has a recreational centre that consists of an ice rink, squash courts, curling rink and an auditorium as well as outdoor tennis courts and a soccer field. Arrow Lakes Hospital
serves the village and surrounding communities. There is an elementary school, a high school, and a campus of Selkirk College
. The schools are part of School District 10 Arrow Lakes
which has its board office in Nakusp. The area also provides many opportunities for recreation, including the Summit Lake Ski Hill, a short drive out of town towards New Denver
.
, Sinixt
and Kutenai
First Nations. In 1811, the first reported European explorer on the Arrow Lakes was Finan McDonald, an associate of David Thompson
.
European settlers arrived in 1890, and the settlement took shape in 1892 with opening of the first post office, the first store and the first sawmill. The nearest train link was the CPR at Revelstoke
, so all goods were shipped to the fledgling port of Nakusp. In 1954, the last of the sternwheelers, the Minto
was retired.
The construction of the Keenleyside Dam
north of Castlegar
in 1968 and the resulting rise of the lake level caused the rearrangement of the village and its waterfront.
Mining was historically the most important industry in the area, but it was eclipsed by forestry which is today the major economic base of the village.
station, CJHQ-FM
.
In 2004 the village held its first Nakusp Music Fest
, which has proved to be a popular attraction. Since then, the Festival has gotten bigger, supporting larger names. It is now known as the Interior's largest classic rock festival, although classic rock isn't the only genre being played.
is a professional ice hockey left winger who played several seasons in the National Hockey League
.
Arrow Lakes
The Arrow Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, divided into Upper Arrow Lake and Lower Arrow Lake, are widenings of the Columbia River. The lakes are situated between the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashee Mountains to the west. Beachland is fairly rare, and is interspersed with rocky...
, a portion of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
, in the West Kootenay
Kootenays
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...
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...
. The town has a population of around 1,800, and it is known primarily for its nearby hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s, which are a popular destination for tourists, as well as its picturesque mountain lakeside setting.
Services
Arrow Lakes Hospital
Arrow Lakes Hospital is a fourteen-bed facility, located in Nakusp, British Columbia.-Services:The hospital serves the village and the nearby communities including Edgewood, New Denver and Slocan.It services include:...
serves the village and surrounding communities. There is an elementary school, a high school, and a campus of Selkirk College
Selkirk College
Selkirk College, founded in 1966, was the first regional community college in British Columbia. The college offers over 60 programs. Selkirk has grown into one of the largest organizations in the West Kootenay and Boundary regions of south eastern British Columbia...
. The schools are part of School District 10 Arrow Lakes
School District 10 Arrow Lakes
School District 10 Arrow Lakes is a school district in British Columbia. This includes schools in Nakusp, New Denver, Edgewood and Burton-Schools:...
which has its board office in Nakusp. The area also provides many opportunities for recreation, including the Summit Lake Ski Hill, a short drive out of town towards New Denver
New Denver, British Columbia
New Denver is a village in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, along the shore of Slocan Lake. New Denver was founded as a mining town in 1892, and briefly known as Eldorado City before being renamed after Denver, Colorado. It was incorporated as a village in 1929 and currently has approximately...
.
History
The area around Nakusp was occupied by aboriginal peoples from the ShuswapSecwepemc
The Secwepemc , known in English as the Shuswap people, are a First Nations people residing in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their traditional territory ranges from the eastern Chilcotin Plateau and the Cariboo Plateau southeast through the Thompson Country to Kamloops and the Shuswap...
, Sinixt
Sinixt
The Sinixt are a First Nations People...
and Kutenai
Kootenai (tribe)
The Ktunaxa , also known as Kootenai, Kutenai or Kootenay , are an indigenous people of North America. They are one of three tribes of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation in Montana, and they form the Ktunaxa Nation in British Columbia...
First Nations. In 1811, the first reported European explorer on the Arrow Lakes was Finan McDonald, an associate of David Thompson
David Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
.
Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke is a city in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located east of Vancouver, and west of Calgary, Alberta. The city is situated on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River...
, so all goods were shipped to the fledgling port of Nakusp. In 1954, the last of the sternwheelers, the Minto
Minto (sternwheeler)
Minto was a sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia from 1898 to 1954. In those years of service, Minto had steamed over 2 million miles serving the small communities on Arrow Lakes. Minto and her sister Moyie were the last sternwheelers to run in regularly scheduled...
was retired.
The construction of the Keenleyside Dam
Keenleyside Dam
Hugh Keenleyside Dam is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River, 12 km upstream of the city of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada....
north of Castlegar
Castlegar, British Columbia
Castlegar is the second largest city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located within the Selkirk Mountains at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. It is a regional trade and transportation centre, with a local economy fueled by forestry, mining and tourism...
in 1968 and the resulting rise of the lake level caused the rearrangement of the village and its waterfront.
Mining was historically the most important industry in the area, but it was eclipsed by forestry which is today the major economic base of the village.
Culture
Nakusp is home to a community radioCommunity radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station, CJHQ-FM
CJHQ-FM
CJHQ-FM is a community radio station in Nakusp, British Columbia, broadcasting on 107.1 FM.Owned by the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, the station was licenced on April 15, 2005 and began broadcasting on September 5 of that year....
.
In 2004 the village held its first Nakusp Music Fest
Nakusp Music Fest
The Nakusp Music Fest is an annual music festival held in Nakusp, British Columbia, which is situated in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada...
, which has proved to be a popular attraction. Since then, the Festival has gotten bigger, supporting larger names. It is now known as the Interior's largest classic rock festival, although classic rock isn't the only genre being played.
Notable people
Brad LarsenBrad Larsen
Brad Larsen is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers...
is a professional ice hockey left winger who played several seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.