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History
The first settlement in the area was West Waterloo (now known as South-Castlegar). Discovery
of iron cappings in the vicinity led to interest in gold prospecting, and by 1895, there were
forty houses in Waterloo. The town boomed until the end of the century when interest in the
local mines declined. Around the year 1902, the Canadian Pacific Railway built the bridge at
Castlegar and laid the wide gauge railway tracks to Trail. They put in a box car station at the
old Waterloo trail crossing and called it Kinnaird Station in honour of Lord Kinnaird, who was a
shareholder in the Canadian Pacific Railway.
There was little in Castlegar until after the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway's bridge. Mr. Farmer built the
first store in town, with a Post Office included and the town hall on the second floor. William
Gage built the Castlegar Hotel in 1908 (it was destroyed in fire in 1982). Also in 1908, the first schoolhouse
was built by a few local residents who bought the lumber and erected the building. In 1913, there were
15 students at the school Eremenko's store, and a dance pavilion, garage, tourist cabins and a slaughterhouse
had all been established by 1925.
The first school in Kinnaird (now South Castlegar) was built in the fall of 1916 by volunteer labour.
The lumber and bricks were donated by local residents. This school opened in January 1917. There was
a fairly large mill built about a mile west of the present school in 1918-19. This mill was operated
by the Milestone Lumber Company from Milestone, Saskatchewan, hence the name Milestone Road (now known as
24th Street). They also had a lumber yard and a large planing mill covering the area from 9th Avenue (now
known as Columbia Avenue) and Milestone Road right down to and across the railway tracks.
During the 40s, both Castlegar and Kinnaird were incorporated as villages, and during the 60s, both
were incorporated as towns. The two communities amalgamated on January 1, 1974 and were incorporated as
the City of Castlegar.
Location
The City of Castlegar is centrally located in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. The City is 600
kilometers from both Vancouver and Calgary and 233 kilometres north of Spokane, Washington. Castlegar is
the focal point of three major highways - Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway), Highway 3A and Highway 22. It is
also situated at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers at the southern end of the Arrow Lakes.
Places to See
- Doukhobor Village Museum
The Doukhobor Village Museum is a reconstruction of a typical Doukhobor village, as lived in from 1908 to 1938, showing
all of the major buildings, tools, handicrafts, and and implements at the time.
Books, Doukhobor craft items, music, and films are available for purchase in the Village Art Gallery/Craft Center,
which also features art displays by Doukhobor artists.
- Canadian Pacific Railway Museum
Housed in a well-preserved rail station from the early-20th century, the CPR Museum features
a "yellow" caboose that children will love, as well as an extensive archive of newspapers. There
is a gift shop inside that offers a wide range of gifts and collectibles for visitors and residents
of Castlegar. There are also hand-made gifts crafted by local artisans, including paintings and pottery.
- Zuckerberg Island
Once home to the Russian sculptor Alexander Zuckerberg, the island has over 8 hectares of wood and a variety
of paths to explore. There is a chapel house built by Zuckerberg, as well as sculptures lining some of the
island pathways. A Hiroshima Memorial and a reconstructed pit house can also be found nearby.
- Syringa Creek Provincial Park
Syringa Creek Provincial Park is located in south central BC near the southeast end of the
Lower Arrow Lake. The lake is a part of the Columbia River that was widened and deepened with the
construction of the Hugh Keenleyside Dam at Castlegar. Recreation opportunities on the Arrow Lake
Reservoir have made the park a long time popular destination and offer a comfortable base camp for
the family to pursue a variety of recreational pursuits including fishing, boating and swimming.
Things to Do
- Skiing!
The Castlegar Nordic Ski Club provides well-maintained ski trails just 40 kilometres west of Castlegar. There
are day fees for non-members.
- Golfing!
The Castlegar Golf Club offers a championship 18-hole golf course situated above the Columbia River.
- Mountain Biking!
Cyclists can ride through the local trails or go to Rossland, 'Canada's Mountain Biking Capital'.
Events
- Castlegar Artwalk
Celebrate Castlegar's annual Artwalk! Discover unique sculptures, glass, metalwork, painting,
and photography at the mini-galleries all around town. Pick up your 'tour brochure' from the Visitor
Centre in Castlegar or any local business with an 'Artwalk' poster. Drive, walk, or sit down and relax while you inhale the artistic creations in this year's Castlegar Artwalk.
- West Kootenay Toy Run
This is a motorcycle event not to be missed! The Toy Run began in 1987 with just 15 local
riders who wanted to help out the less fortunate in the local area. Now, over 500 local and not-so-local motorcycle enthusiasts gather in Castlegar for a day of fun and charity. The 150 kilometre Toy Run starts off at the Castlegar Recreation Complex with registration and a pancake breakfast. This is followed by a ride through downtown Castlegar to Nelson, Salmo, Trail, and Rossland. Afterwards, it's back to the Castlegar Recreation Center for great live music, door prizes, food, refreshments, and of course, the Harley raffle draw!
Notable Comments
- On the evening of October 28, 1924, in Brilliant BC, she said goodbye to him for the last time. As she boarded
the train to Grand Forks, I stood back and watched helplessly, knowing I could not change her destiny. I can imagine
what must have happened next. The restless sleep to Castlegar, and the recurrent dreams of a daughter she'd never know.
Memories and thoughts of a grandson, born thirty years hence, and doomed to drown within the restless waters of the Columbia
River. Perhaps she knew too much. It wouldn't matter in the end.
Just past one in the morning, as the train pulled away from Farron, she was awakened by a hand upon her shoulder. An older man
with a white beard nervously introduced himself as Peter and said he wanted to speak with her. She hesitated, and in that half-second
before she could form a response, an explosion from beneath the seat of her new companion blew away the roof and the sides of the
coach. Her last thought as the bomb ripped through her body was of her daughter.
- Bella Boswell, in her romantic tragedy, I'll Be Waiting at the Station
- "I like Castlegar!
- Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic nine-year old from Kamloops
Contact Information
Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce
1995 6th Ave
Castlegar, BC V1N 4B7
Telephone: 250-365-6313
Fax: 250-365-5778
E-mail: info@castlegar.com
Website: http://www.castlegar.com/index.html
City of Castlegar
460 Columbia Avenue
Castlegar, B.C. V1N 1G7
Phone: 250-365-7227
Fax: 250-365-4810
Website: http://www.castlegar.ca/
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