Campbell River, British Columbia

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Campbell River is a city in British Columbia at the south end of Discovery Passage on northern Vancouver Island. Campbell River claims a population (2001 census) of 28,456 and has long been known as the salmon capital of the world.

The first settlers were members of the Kwakiutl First Nations and Weewaikai (Cape Mudge) and Wewaykum (Campbell River) tribe members of the Laich-kwil-tach First Nations.

The town is served by Campbell River Airport, a seaplane base called YHH at Campbell River Harbour, a BC Ferries route to Quadra Island, and highways which connect it to neighbouring towns such as Courtenay, The Village of Sayward, Gold River and Port Hardy.

[edit] Economy

The people of Campbell River rely on the forestry industry, the mining industry (Campbell River has been home to many famous miners such as Curtis Davidsen), the fishing industry, and the tourism industry. It is arguably the salmon capital of the world, sharing a healthy rivalry with nearby Port Alberni, the other contender. It is known for its sport fishing and many tourists come to fish.

The 1948 construction of the BC Power Corporation's Elk Falls hydroelectric dam — later named the John Hart Generating Station — allowed Crown Zellerbach to establish the Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill in 1952, which greatly improved the town's economy.

Plans to build a cruise ship dock have been in the making for a long time, with the Canadian Government providing $4.23 million assistance in December 2003, and $9 million in 2004 towards the actual construction. Numerous cruise ships go by Campbell River daily, but have never made stops, so a dock would provide large amounts of tourism and revenue provided the ships dock. The dock will provide an expected 150 full-time jobs, and an extra $8.5 million for the region^{[citation needed]}. Construction has begun on the project, and is expected to be completed in time to allow cruise ships to visit by the spring of 2007.

[edit] History

Captain George Vancouver reached Campbell River with the ships HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham in 1792. The captain and his botanist, Mr Archibald Menzies, discovered a small tribe of 350 natives who spoke the Salish language. A Lekwiltok or Laich-wil-tach (Kwakiutl or Kwaguilth Native Indian Band) war party, heavily armed with European rifles, paddled south from Johnstone Strait in the middle of the 19th Century and were in control of the area when the HMS Plumper came through on a cartography mission under Captain George Henry Richards around 1859. Dr Samuel Campbell was the ship surgeon, and it's believed his name was given to the town^{[citation needed]}. Likewise, the name of the ship's Lieutenant Zachary Mudge is preserved in the nearby Cape Mudge.

Sports fishermen travelled to the area as early as the 1880s, especially after the tales from noted anglers such as Sir Richard Musgrave and Sir John Rogers. The formation of the Campbell River Tyee Club in 1924, over concern regarding over-fishing of the salmon stocks, actually served to increase the popularity of the area. E.P. Painter, for instance, moved to Campbell River the following year and opened his Painter's Lodge in 1929. Commercial fishing was a large industry for many years. While Roderick Haig-Brown purchased a fishing cabin on Campbell River and wrote some influential books on flyfishing.

Industrial logging took off in the 1920's with Merrill Ring and Company, Bloedel, Stewart and Welch and Comox Logging. A large forest fire started near Buttle Lake and burned much of the valley in 1938. Rock Bay, Menzies Bay, and Englewood all were big logging camps.

Campbell River prospered after 1912 and it became a supply point for northern Vancouver Island, Quadra Island and Cortes Island. The E and N Railway was surveyed to Campbell River, yet it only reached Courtenay, fourty miles south. After the second world war, Campbell River became a boom town and industrial centre with the building of the Elk River pulp mill, and nearby mills in Tahsis and Gold River. Logging and mining in the area prospered. There is a lead zinc mine nearby, and coal mines, while a large copper mine operated to the north.

[edit] Climate

Campbell River enjoys a mild climate, with temperatures usually between 0°C (32°F) and 32°C (90°F) year-round. The most precipitation is measured in November, at 218.0 mm (8.6 in) on average. While January sees the most average snow, 152 mm (6 in), only 10 mm (1/3 in) will be seen actually accumulating. In the winter months occasional Arctic bursts from the interior of British Columbia can make their way onto the coast bringing temperatures below zero. If a Pacific low reaches the coast a large snowfall can occur. Snowfalls in excess of 40 cm (16 in) have been recorded. A snow shovel is usually not needed as the snowfalls tend to turn to rain.

• Climate statistics are from the Campbell River Airport weather station<ref>Weatheroffice.gc.ca - Climate statistics</ref>.

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] Education

Public schools are administered by School District 72 Campbell River.

[edit] Other facts

Campbell River is located near Seymour Narrows, the site of the largest man-made non-nuclear explosions. In 1958 Campbell River miners tunneled for 28 months to plant explosives and demolish a navigational hazard called Ripple Rock, a submerged peak which made the narrows so treacherous that Captain George Vancouver claimed it was "one of the vilest stretches of water in the world" upon sailing it in 1792<ref>CBC article - Campbell River explosion</ref>. Adjoining Seymour Narrows is Menzies Bay, British Columbia.

Movies filmed in Campbell River:

• The 13th Warrior
• Are We There Yet?
• Final Destination 2
• Fisherman's Fall
• Going the Distance
• Seven Years in Tibet
• The Scarlet Letter

People From Campbell River Include:

• Barry Pepper the actor
• Iris Graham the actress
• Rod Brind'Amour the hockey player (born in Ottawa but grew up in Campbell River)
• John Davison (born in Campbell River but grew up in Australia)
• Alden Penner of The Unicorns
• Nicholas Thorburn of Islands and The Unicorns
• Bill Henderson - Master Carver

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The City of Campbell River
• CR Community Network
• Campbell River Chamber of Commerce
• The technology of Pacific fishing, with museum pictures
• A short history of Campbell River
• The taming of Ripple Rock
• A short history of Campbell River (tourist edition)

Coordinates: 50°1′28″N, 125°14′51″W