Barriere, British Columbia

Barriere
Coordinates: 51.18307°N 120.12262°W / 51.18307; -120.12262
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional district	Thompson-Nicola Regional District
Incorporated	December 2007
Population
• Total	1,209
Website	www.districtofbarriere.com

Barriere is a district municipality in central British Columbia, Canada, located 66 km north of the larger city of Kamloops on Highway 5. It is situated at the confluence of the Barriere and North Thompson Rivers in the Central North Thompson Valley. In 2003, a major forest fire swept through the area and destroyed both homes and industry, most notably the Louis Creek sawmill, a large local employer. At one point up to 3000 were forced to evacuate the area. On July 26, 2008 a wildfire dragon monument was erected in Louis Creek to commemorate the determination and compassion of those who fought the flames and those who aided in the rebuilding of the community.

History

The Louis Creek sawmill and surrounding forest which burned in the fire of 2003

Barriere's welcome sign

The location of the town was originally the site of a fur trading post, and derives its name 'Barriere (originally and alternately, Barrière) from the rocks/nets placed in the water by first nations people to act as fish traps, forming a barrier to boat passage on the river. The descendants of those placing the fish-trap barriers are from the Simpcw/Secwepemc Nation, who still reside in present day Chu Chua, just north of Barriere.

Gold was discovered in the area as early as 1861, and was mined using the placer method. The August 12, 1861 edition of the British Colonist mentions "...one party of Frenchmen at a place above Kamloops called Barrier (sic). They are fluming the Thompson, and expect to take out $25 per day to the hand, it is also incorpurated (sic)."

Depending upon where one resided, $25 could purchase an acre of land, a saddle, or double-barreled shotgun. To give some sense of proportion to these figures: Comparing $25 of daily productivity per hired hand to the price of a barrel of crude oil in 1861 ($0.49), the gold production would yield roughly more than 1,200 barrels (190 m³) of oil per hand per day.

Infrastructure

The community voted to became an Incorporated Municipality in November 2007. Winning the election for the very first Mayor was Mr. Mike Fennell, one of the founding families of the community. The closest hospital in the region is the Royal Inland Hospital located to the south in Kamloops, BC and to the north in Clearwater. BC. One of the main reasons for the growing community's existence is its location on the Yellowhead Highway #5, which offers the only viable route in the interior to northern British Columbia, Jasper, and Edmonton. A Canadian National Railway line passes through the town also.

Industry

Barriere is primarily driven by the forest industry, however the other industries which serve the town are tourism and agriculture, primarily alfalfa. Mining development is on the increase in the North Thompson Valley, and is predicted that many forestry workers will migrate from forest to mining as these new developments begin production. There are two industrial parks in the community. One is located in nearby Louis Creek and was the former site of Tolko Mill was destroyed in the 2003 fire. Barriere is just south of the newly discovered Harper Creek Copper deposit, considered to be the 8th largest in the world.

The primary employers in the town are Gilbert Smith Forest Products and Darfield Building Products, with 75% of the town's residents being linked to forestry. Many residents who live in Barriere commute to work in Kamloops, BC 45 minutes to the south. Currently there is a community effort to promote the development of a TV,Film & New Media technology industry in the area.

Barriere is the same latitude as the world famous Stonehenge. In October 2009 it was proposed by Coun. Virginia Smith, that the community erect a scaled-down replica of the 100-metre-wide Druidic temple.

Recreation

Camping is available at Barriere Lake

• The Municipality is in the midst of a three-phase parks rejuvenation project, adding features such as a bandshell, small water park, paved walkways and trees.
• North of the town center is Chinook Cove Golf Course.
• Several lake resorts are a short driving distance from the community. East of the city is East Barriere Lake, South Barriere Lake as well as North Barriere Lake.
• The ski resort of Sun Peaks is approx a 1 hour drive from Barriere.
• There is a curling rink, library, Post Office and RCMP Station in the community.
• There are several parks including ball fields, there is a new park under construction near the elementary school.
• Community halls include the Fall Fair Hall and Lions Club Hall. Other larger facilities include the curling rink and Seniors center. At the Lions club hall there is a program called 'Cadets'.
• A local community theater group: Thompson Valley Players Society
• The North Thompson Museum
• Every Labour Day weekend the town hosts the North Thompson Fall Fair Rodeo. It is the communities' biggest yearly event produced by hundreds of volunteers. 2008's Fall Fair & Rodeo is its 59th annual event. Approx 10,000 people attend annually, over the 3-day fair.
• Barriere & The North Thompson Fall Fair have the 3rd oldest Royalty Pageant program in British Columbia.
• Barriere Fall Fair and Rodeo contains a large parade.

Schools

There are two schools in Barriere.

1. Barriere Elelmentary School

2. Barriere Secondary School

There used to be a primary school called Barriere Ridge Elementary, but it was shut down because of a lack of students. It is now a daycare and the City Hall. Sometime in the 1960s, the Secondary school had burnt down and a new one was built.

Religion

There are five houses of worship within the town.

• The Church of St Paul - a worshipping community of Anglicans ACC, Uniteds UCC and Lutherans ELCIC
• Bethany Baptist Church
• Pentecostal Christian Life Assembly
• St. George's Roman Catholic Church
• Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

Additionally, the First Nations community of Chu Chua is located 10 minutes north of Barriere on Dunn Lake Road.

Notable residents

• Plein Air painter Wayne Broomfield calls Barriere home for much of the year.

External links

• Municipality website
• McClure-Barriere Fire
• Local Weekly Newspaper The Star/Journal