Terrace, British Columbia
Coordinates: 54°30′59.3″N 128°35′59.0″W / 54.516472°N 128.59972°W
| City of Terrace | |||
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 City of Terrace
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| Coordinates: 54°30′59″N 128°35′59″W / 54.51639°N 128.59972°W | |||
| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  British Columbia |
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| Region | North Coast | ||
| Regional district | Kitimat-Stikine | ||
| Incorporated | 1911 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | David Pernarowski | ||
| • Terrace City Council | Bruce Bidgood Lynne Christiansen Brian Downie Carol Leclerc Bruce Martindale Brad Pollard |
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| Area | |||
| • City | 57.36 km2 (22.15 sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 73.91 km2 (28.54 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 67 m (219 ft) | ||
| Population (2011) | |||
| • City | 11,486 | ||
| • Density | 200.3/km2 (519/sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 15,569 | ||
| • Metro density | 210.6/km2 (545/sq mi) | ||
| • Immigrant population | 1,670 (14%) | ||
| • Demonym | Terracite | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC−8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−7) | ||
| Value of building permits (2000) | $24.9 million | ||
| Business licences issued (2001) | 1,159 | ||
| Website | City of Terrace | ||
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 (Statistics Canada, 2001) to 11,320 and regional of 18,581 (Statistics Canada, 2006). The community is the regional retail and service hub for the northwestern portion of British Columbia. The administrative offices of the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District are also located in Terrace.
The community sits on the Canadian National Railway and the Yellowhead Highway. Air services for the community are provided through Northwest Regional Airport, with connections to Prince George, Smithers, and Vancouver. The Terrace railway station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train. Health care in Terrace is administered by Northern Health and provided, in part, by Mills Memorial Hospital.
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[edit] History and Culture
[edit] First Nations peoples
Indigenous peoples have inhabited Northwest BC for over 10,000 years. This region is one of the oldest continuously occupied regions of the world and, long before European contact, was one of the most densely populated areas north of Mexico. Kitselas and Kitsumkalum are two of 14 Tsimshian tribes in the Terrace area that have occupied traditional territories in northwest British Columbia. The Skeena River was known initially as the K'shian river meaning "water from the clouds". The traditional economy of the Tsimshian Nation was based on hunting, fishing and social gatherings, for domestic consumption or trade, on their traditional lands. For the aboriginal people, the Skeena River was used for transportation, communication, war, trade, as a source of food and at times for protection.
[edit] Steamboats
In 1866 the steamer Mumford made it as far as Kitsumkalum with supplies for the Collins Overland Telegraph line. It took an average of three days to travel from Port Essington (at the mouth of the Skeena River, near Prince Rupert) to Hazelton. It was not until 1891 that the Hudson's Bay Company sternwheeler Caledonia successfully negotiated through the Kitselas Canyon and reached Hazelton. A number of other steamers were built around the turn of the century, in part due to the growing fish industry and the Klondike Gold Rush.[1][2] In honour of its steamboat heritage, Terrace celebrates a festival called Riverboat Days each summer.
[edit] George Little
Ontarian George Little arrived in the Skeena River valley in March 1905. While travelling from the Yukon by snowshoe on the Kitimat trail on route to the Bulkley Valley, he liked what he saw in the area, decided to remain, and staked claim later in the year to many acres of what would later be Terrace.[3]
The riverboats operated on the Skeena for only 22 years; the last boat, the Inlander, finished up in September 1912, when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway took over its function. George Little donated 47 acres (0.19 km2) to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The station stop was originally named "Littleton"; however, as there was already a Littleton in New Brunswick, Little changed the name to "Terrace" in reference to the local geography. Little established a sawmill to accommodate the demand for railway ties. In 1955, Little rode the first CNR train to Kitimat, passing over the same route he had trekked one half century earlier.
[edit] Old Skeena Bridge
The Old Skeena Bridge officially opened July 1925, halting the use of the Ferry Island ferry service to Thornhill Creek. In 1944, the Skeena River highway between Terrace and Prince Rupert was ceremoniously opened with a convoy of Canadian and American Army bands that were part of the troops stationed here during World War II. Terrace could now easily transport to anywhere in British Columbia.
This bridge now shares its load with the New Skeena Bridge, a two-way bridge crossing Ferry Island and connecting Thornhill, British Columbia, with the other side of town. The new bridge, constructed circa 1975, is fully paved and offers uninterrupted two-way traffic flow, as opposed to the metal decking of the old one-lane bridge. The foundations of the new bridge are prepared for future twinning. The Old Skeena Bridge was once noted for being the largest curved wooden-plank bridge in North America until its decking was replaced with metal grates in 2002.
[edit] Terrace Mutiny
During World War II, military units composed primarily of conscripts from central and eastern Canada were stationed in Terrace. Morale was low due to the poor relationship between the soldiers and the local populace, the isolation, the damp weather, lack of recreation, crowded facilities, and the distance from home. In late 1944, because of declining enlistment and heavy casualties, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was forced to reconsider his promise to not deploy conscripts overseas. Mackenzie King decided to a one-time assignment of conscripts for overseas service. On November 24, 1944, news that conscripts might be sent overseas triggered a mutiny amongst the men stationed in Terrace. It took until November 29 for officers to restore order to the troops. The Terrace Mutiny was the most serious breach of discipline in Canadian military history.
[edit] Geography
Terrace and the surrounding Skeena Valley are located in a hybrid coastal-interior rainforest on the Skeena River, approximately 115 kilometres (71 mi) from its mouth at the Pacific Ocean. The lush forests in the area consist primarily of cedar, hemlock and balsam. Sediment deposits from glaciers over thousands of years ago have produced the natural terraces or "benches" around much of the city, which sits approximately 70 metres (230 ft) above sea level and just east of the Skeena and Kitsumkalum River confluence. The Hazelton Mountains are to the west of the city, while the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains are to the east. The area sits above an active fault line that runs north-south. The area also boasts several natural and developed hotsprings. West of Terrace is Port Edward (132) and Prince Rupert (144). East of Terrace is Smithers (203), and Prince George (573). And South is Kitimat (58). Also east of Terrace is Kitwanga (91) and New Hazelton (139).
[edit] Climate
Terrace has a coastal temperate climate with a normal mean temperature of 6.3°C (43.3°F) varying between average temperature in January of -4.3°C (24.3°F) and in July 16.4°C (61.5°F) Maximum summer temperatures are in the 30s°C (high 80s to 90s °F). Terrace receives a normal annual rainfall of 970mm (38.2 in) and snowfall of 375 cm (148 in), totaling 1322mm (52.0 in) of precipitation. October and November are the wettest months.(Environment Canada Normals)
| Climate data for Terrace | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) |
10 (50) |
16.9 (62.4) |
25 (77) |
34.6 (94.3) |
34.4 (93.9) |
37.3 (99.1) |
36.2 (97.2) |
32.2 (90.0) |
21.4 (70.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
11.3 (52.3) |
36.2 (97.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) |
1.1 (34.0) |
5.7 (42.3) |
10.7 (51.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
21.3 (70.3) |
21.1 (70.0) |
16.3 (61.3) |
9.1 (48.4) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−1 (30) |
9.9 (49.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −6.4 (20.5) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
1.6 (34.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.3 (52.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
8.1 (46.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
2.7 (36.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25 (−13) |
−25 (−13) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
0.6 (33.1) |
3.3 (37.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−13.5 (7.7) |
−25.3 (−13.5) |
−26.7 (−16.1) |
−26.7 (−16.1) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 168.2 (6.622) |
119.8 (4.717) |
84.8 (3.339) |
71 (2.8) |
53.3 (2.098) |
51.3 (2.02) |
52.7 (2.075) |
62.7 (2.469) |
98.6 (3.882) |
186.6 (7.346) |
181.7 (7.154) |
191.6 (7.543) |
1,322.4 (52.063) |
| Source: Environment Canada[4] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Economy
Terrace was once the cedar pole capital of the world. Over 50,000 poles were manufactured annually to supply many parts of North America with telephone and electric power poles. The world's tallest pole of 50 metres (160 ft) was cut in Terrace and is currently standing in New York City. For many years, logging had been the major industry in the region. In modern times, Terrace's economy has been forced to diversify since nearly all wood mills aside from those operated by First Nations groups have closed down. The largest employers in Terrace are in the public sector, but there are still some large private sector employers. Many people in Terrace commute to Kitimat to work at Alcan. The city of Terrace has continually tried to reinvent itself as a service hub for northwestern British Columbia.
In 2001, the community was significantly affected by problems with and the eventual closure of the largest local employer, the former Skeena Cellulose Inc. sawmill. The mill was bought by Terrace Lumber Co., a group of local owners, and re-opened in late August 2005, but did not prosper and closed in mid-2006. By the end of 2006, the remaining equipment was auctioned off and the mill was torn down. The former site of this mill is now a vacant lot with the footings covered in spray paint graffiti. Current prospects are linked to tourism, mineral development in the northwest, construction of a powerline towards Iskut and energy developments in Kitimat. The Prince Rupert container port expansion has resulted in increased rail traffic by CN Rail in recent years.
Throughout the economic fallout and recovery, the city collected donations and secured grants that enabled development of a recreation sportsplex comprising two ice rinks, meeting rooms and an adjacent aquatic centre.
[edit] Educational institutions
Terrace is located within School District 82 Coast Mountains, along with Kitimat; Stewart; and Hazelton. There is one senior secondary school within Terrace itself, Caledonia Senior Secondary School[1], which serves grades 11 and 12.
There is also one junior secondary school, Skeena Junior Secondary School. Centennial Christian School is also located within the town limits of Terrace, which houses pre-school through grade 12. For the children from kindergarten to grade 7, a fully French language education is offered at Jack Cook School.
The main campus of the Northwest Community College[2] is located in Terrace, where it was established in 1975. The college includes the Freda Diesing School, which offers courses related to First Nations art.
[edit] Media
[edit] Newspaper
[edit] Radio
- AM 590 - CFTK, hot adult contemporary
- FM 92.1 - CFNR-FM, First Nations community / classic rock
- FM 95.3 - CBTH-FM, CBC Radio One (repeats CFPR, Prince Rupert)
- FM 96.9 - CBUF-FM-3, Première Chaîne (repeats CBUF-FM, Vancouver)
- FM 103.1 - CJFW-FM, country
[edit] Television
- Channel 3 - CFTK-TV, CBC Television private affiliate
- Channel 11 - CBUFT-3, Radio-Canada (repeats CBUFT, Vancouver)
[edit] Bibliography
- Bennett, Norma (1997). Pioneer Legacy: Chronicles of the Lower Skeena River. Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation. ISBN 0-9683026-0-2.
- Downs, Art (1971). Paddlewheels on the Frontier. one. ISBN 0888260334.
- de Leeuw, Sarah. Unmarked: Landscapes Along Highway 16.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Downs, Art (1971). Paddlewheels on the Frontier Volume 1. Foremost Publishing. pp. 61–72. ISBN 0888260334.
- ^ Bennett, Norma (1997). Pioneer Legacy: Chronicles of the Lower Skeena River. Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation. ISBN 0-9683026-0-2.
- ^ Terrace Library, George Little Family page
- ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 12 July 2009
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Roberval, Quebec |
Kraft Hockeyville 2009 |
Succeeded by Dundas, Ontario |
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