Smithers, British Columbia
| Smithers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town | ||
| Town of Smithers[1] | ||
|
Main Street Smithers (1989) | ||
| ||
  Smithers Location of Smithers in British Columbia | ||
| Coordinates: 54°46′55″N 127°10′05″W / 54.78194°N 127.16806°WCoordinates: 54°46′55″N 127°10′05″W / 54.78194°N 127.16806°W | ||
| Country |
 Canada | |
| Province |
 British Columbia | |
| Regional District | Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako | |
| Founded | 1913 | |
| Incorporated (village) | 1921 | |
| Incorporated (town) | 1967 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Taylor Bachrach | |
| • Governing Body | Smithers Town Council | |
| • MP | Nathan Cullen (NDP) | |
| • MLA | Doug Donaldson (NDP) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 15.27 km2 (5.90 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 490 m (1,610 ft) | |
| Population (2011) | ||
| • Total | 5,404[2] | |
| • Density | 353.8/km2 (916/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | Pacific Time Zone (UTC−8) | |
| • Summer (DST) | Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7) | |
| Postal code span | V0J | |
| Area code(s) | 250, 778 | |
| Demonym | Smithereen | |
| Website |
www | |
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. With a population of 5,404, Smithers is a service area for most of the Bulkley Valley.
History
The Bulkley Valley in which Smithers is situated was originally inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en, Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers. In 1921, Smithers became the first incorporated village in British Columbia.[3] In 1967, Smithers was incorporated as a town. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Smithers was created in 1967.
Civic orientation
The town was surveyed in 1913 and a street grid pattern was established that is still very much evident today. Historically, intensive development has been oriented towards Main Street as the prime commercial focus with residential development radiating outward from the commercial core. The traditional downtown was punctuated by important civic structures — the (old) courthouse at the intersection of Main Street with Hwy 16 or by community focal points — the Canadian National Railway station at the western end of Main Street. This pattern has been sustained by the preservation of the old courthouse, as well as the establishment of a major civic park located around the cenotaph. The ongoing restoration of the CN railway station as a community resource centre is a further measure to improve the town.
The Smithers railway station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train.
Culture
Smithers and the Bulkley Valley have often been described by non-residents as being distinct from the rest of Northern British Columbia. Many factors contribute to the composition of society in Smithers, including the arts, environmental protection, and local industries such as forestry and mining.
Smithers has adopted an alpine theme, which is drawn from the geography of the area. A town bylaw requires businesses in the downtown area centred on Main Street to construct their buildings in an alpine style. A fibreglass statue of a man blowing an alpine horn, commonly referred to as The Alpenman or Alpine Al, is located at the entrance to the main street and has become the town symbol. Similarly, the Smithers chamber of commerce displays an Alpine Al costume at community events and in television advertisements for the town's businesses.
Residents of Smithers are called Smithereens which remains a more popularly accepted demonym than the sometimes used 'Smitherite'.[4]
Smithereens have a particularly strong environmental ethic. In 2006, over 600 Smithereens took to the streets to voice their opposition to a proposed coalbed methane gas field near Telkwa,[5] which they claimed would threaten local water quality, landscape integrity and wild salmon populations.
Likewise a proposal by Thompson Creek Metals to develop a molybdenum mine to extract the Davidson deposit on Hudson Bay Mountain near the town was vigorously opposed over a period of years before TCM abandoned the project.
Smithers and the Bulkley Valley are home to many musicians, including Juno-Award-winning Alexis Puentes. The biggest assembly of musical talent happens during the annual Mid-Summer Music Festival in late June. Over the years, the Mid-Summer Music Festival has seen some famous acts like Spirit of the West and the Barenaked Ladies and has drawn audiences and participants from all across North America.
The Della Herman Theatre, named after a longtime resident and former school board official, is the primary venue for shows and performances, though several pubs and even open fields serve as secondary performance venues. Numerous organizations including the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council operate to keep music and other artistic activities vibrant.
Demographics
| Canada 2001 Census[6] | ||
| Smithers | British Columbia | |
| Median age | 33.3 years | 38.4 years |
| Under 15 years old | 24% | 18% |
| Between 25 and 44 years old | 31% | 30% |
| Over 65 years old | 10% | 14% |
| Visible minority | 4% | 21% |
| Protestant | 35% | 31% |
| Catholic | 20% | 17% |
The latest census, taken in 2011, recorded 5,404 residents living in 2,190 households and 1,440 families. Of those over 15 years of age in 2011, 45.2% were married, slightly lower than the 51% provincial average.[7] With 87% of Smithers residents being Canadian-born, and 88% with an English-only mother tongue, the town has few visible minorities. Though not included as visible minorities, 10% identified themselves as Aboriginal, a higher proportion than the 4% provincial average.
Notable residents
Hockey players
Despite its small population, Smithers has produced several notable professional ice hockey players:
- Brothers Joe Watson and Jimmy Watson: won the Stanley Cup as defencemen with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. Jimmy Watson was a five-time NHL All-Star game selection and played for Team Canada at the Canada Cup in 1976. Joe Watson was a two-time NHL All-Star. Both are members of the Flyers Hall of Fame.
- Brothers Ron Flockhart (NHL career 1980-1991) and Rob Flockhart
- Alan Kerr: played for the New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets in the 1980s and 1990s
- Dan Hamhuis: defenceman currently playing for the Dallas Stars and played for the 2014 Canadian Olympic team
- Michael Wall: goalie for the Colorado Avalanche (Traded 2007)
- Ron Homenuke: forward for the Vancouver Canucks. Career ended abruptly after a hiking accident. He later became a missionary.
Others
- Alex Cuba, musician
- Alicia Kaye, Canadian triathlete
- Antje von Seydlitz-Kurzbach, Canadian Olympic rower
- Dan Mangan, musician
- Robert Chaplin, artist and publisher
- Graham Roumieu, author and illustrator
- Gina Holden, actress
- Robin Mathews, poet, political activist, playwright, teacher, essayist
- Tobin Frank, musician with the Canadian band Spirit of the West
- Daniel Imhof, professional soccer player at VfL Bochum (Germany)
- Susan Juby, novelist, author
- Nathan Cullen, federal politician
- Dean Brody, country musician
- Ruth Hamblin, WNBA player for the Dallas Wings
Geography
West of Smithers are Moricetown, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, Terrace, Kitimat, Port Edward and Prince Rupert. East of Smithers are Telkwa, Houston, Topley, Burns Lake, Fraser Lake, Fort Fraser, Vanderhoof and Prince George.
Climate
Smithers has a borderline humid continental/subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb/Dfc).[8] Winters are cold and cloudy but highly variable with a January average of −8.9 °C (16.0 °F). Snow is the main type of precipitation during winter. Warm spells can push temperatures above freezing during the winter months, while cold weather systems can reduce the temperature to less than −30.0 °C (−22.0 °F).[9] The average annual snowfall is 204 centimetres (80.3 in) with maximum accumulations of snow tending to happen in February when the snow depth is around 36 centimetres (14.2 in) and there are many months when the snow depth reaches or surpasses 20 centimetres (7.9 in).[9] Summers are warm with a normal highs of just below 30 °C (86.0 °F) and an extreme high of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F). Nighttime temperatures are often cool with normal nighttime lows under 10 °C (50.0 °F). Depending on the year there may be very little or a lot of precipitation.[9] Spring and fall are short transition seasons. Smithers receives an average of 513 millimetres (20 in) of precipitation a year with February through April being the driest months. Smithers receives 1651 hours of bright sunshine a year, ranging from a minimum of 13% of possible sunshine in December to a maximum of 48% of possible sunshine in August.[9]
| Climate data for Smithers Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 15 | 11 | 18.5 | 25.5 | 35.2 | 35.2 | 38.1 | 37.3 | 32.9 | 23.7 | 14 | 12.9 | 38.1 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.6 (60.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
18.9 (66) |
25.8 (78.4) |
35.8 (96.4) |
34.2 (93.6) |
36 (97) |
35.2 (95.4) |
31.1 (88) |
24.4 (75.9) |
15.6 (60.1) |
13.6 (56.5) |
36 (97) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −3.5 (25.7) |
0.2 (32.4) |
5.2 (41.4) |
10.9 (51.6) |
15.9 (60.6) |
19.4 (66.9) |
21.6 (70.9) |
21.3 (70.3) |
15.8 (60.4) |
8.8 (47.8) |
1 (34) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
9.4 (48.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.2 (19) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
0.1 (32.2) |
4.8 (40.6) |
9.4 (48.9) |
13 (55) |
15.2 (59.4) |
14.6 (58.3) |
9.9 (49.8) |
4.4 (39.9) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
4.2 (39.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −11 (12) |
−8.8 (16.2) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
2.9 (37.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.6 (47.5) |
7.9 (46.2) |
4 (39) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−10.7 (12.7) |
−1 (30) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −43.9 (−47) |
−35.6 (−32.1) |
−33.3 (−27.9) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−7.2 (19) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−1.1 (30) |
−2.2 (28) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−22 (−8) |
−32.4 (−26.3) |
−39 (−38) |
−43.9 (−47) |
| Record low wind chill | −47.2 | −43.8 | −40.4 | −22.3 | −7.4 | −3 | 0 | −2 | −8 | −30.4 | −45.5 | −50.1 | −50.1 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 42.7 (1.681) |
23.4 (0.921) |
20.6 (0.811) |
23.8 (0.937) |
38.1 (1.5) |
55.2 (2.173) |
45.6 (1.795) |
43.8 (1.724) |
53.8 (2.118) |
64.8 (2.551) |
55 (2.17) |
41.9 (1.65) |
508.5 (20.02) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 10.1 (0.398) |
5.5 (0.217) |
6.7 (0.264) |
18.7 (0.736) |
37.4 (1.472) |
55.2 (2.173) |
45.6 (1.795) |
43.8 (1.724) |
53.8 (2.118) |
56.9 (2.24) |
25.6 (1.008) |
8 (0.31) |
367.2 (14.457) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 44.5 (17.52) |
23.5 (9.25) |
16.7 (6.57) |
5.6 (2.2) |
0.7 (0.28) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
8.6 (3.39) |
37.4 (14.72) |
45.6 (17.95) |
182.7 (71.93) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 16.1 | 11.2 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 13.8 | 17.3 | 16.2 | 15.4 | 159.6 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.6 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 7.6 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 13.8 | 15.7 | 7.3 | 3 | 108.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 14.9 | 9.7 | 7.3 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.8 | 12.1 | 14.6 | 65 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 78.3 | 66.7 | 52.8 | 43.6 | 42.8 | 48.3 | 50.8 | 50.4 | 57.1 | 66.7 | 79.1 | 82.3 | 59.9 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 42.5 | 75.8 | 128 | 177 | 217.8 | 216.6 | 239.6 | 217.2 | 152.7 | 87.5 | 39.7 | 26.4 | 1,620.7 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 17.4 | 27.8 | 34.9 | 41.9 | 43.7 | 41.9 | 46.2 | 46.9 | 39.8 | 26.8 | 15.6 | 11.6 | 32.9 |
| Source: [10] | |||||||||||||
Transportation
Smithers Airport underwent a runway extension completed in the summer of 2008 that allows the landing of smaller jet aircraft.[11] Central Mountain Air is based in Smithers.
Smithers is also served by VIA Rail's Jasper-Prince Rupert three times a week in each direction as a scheduled stop.
Movies and Television
- Disney's Eight Below, starring Paul Walker and Jason Biggs, was partially filmed here.
- The film The Grey, starring Liam Neeson and Dermot Mulroney, was partially filmed here. It was mostly shot in Vancouver.
- The Comedy Network show, Alice, I Think, is set in Smithers; however, it is not actually filmed there, aside from location shots.
- Smithers was referenced in the show How I Met Your Mother (Season 7, Episode 6 - Mystery Vs. History).
Media
Television
Smithers is served by four television stations, rebroadcast using transmitters owned by the Houston-Smithers Rebroadcasting Society:[12]
| Call sign | Channel | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBCY-PT-2 | 5 (VHF) | CTV Two | Community-owned rebroadcaster of CFTK-TV (Terrace) |
| CFHO-TV-2 | 10 (VHF) | Global | Community-owned rebroadcaster of CHAN-DT (Vancouver) |
| CFHO-TV-1 | 13 (VHF) | CTV | Community-owned rebroadcaster of CIVT-DT (Vancouver) |
| CH4441 | 20 (UHF) | Knowledge Network | Community-owned rebroadcaster |
Radio
Smithers is served by six radio stations:
| Call sign | Frequency | Name | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFBV | 870 AM | The Moose | Adult contemporary | |
| CKEW-FM | 88.1 FM | CBC Radio 2 | Adult contemporary, public radio | Community-owned rebroadcaster of CBU-FM (Vancouver) |
| CJFW-FM-6 | 92.9 FM | CJFW | Country music | Rebroadcaster of CJFW-FM (Terrace) |
| CICK-FM | 93.9 FM | Smithers Community Radio | Community radio | |
| VF2169 | 95.1 FM | CFNR | Classic rock, First Nations community radio | Rebroadcaster of CFNR-FM (Terrace) |
| CBRS-FM | 97.5 FM | CBC Radio One | Public radio | Rebroadcaster of CBYG-FM (Prince George) |
Recreation
Smithers is known for its world class skiing and fishing (in particular for steelhead). Other popular activities include soccer, volleyball, hockey, baseball, downhill mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, quadding and snowmobiling. Smithers offers a variety of extreme sports, for example quadding in the back country, snowmobiling in the surrounding mountains, paragliding, or mountain biking down Hudson Bay Mountain. Smithers is known for its variety of recreation.
References
- ↑ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ↑ Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census - Census subdivision of Smithers, T (British Columbia)
- ↑ Smithers at www.canadianencyclopedia.ca
- ↑ "Smithers Public Library, A Short History". Smithers Public Library. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ↑ concernedaboutcbm
.org - ↑ Statistics Canada, Community Highlights for Smithers, 2001 Community Profiles, October 23, 2007.
- ↑ Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census - Census subdivision of Smithers, T (British Columbia)
- ↑ "Climatic Regions [Köppen]". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. June 2003. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000". Environment Canada. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data". Environment Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ Smithers Regional Airport
- ↑ "About Us". Houston-Smithers Rebroadcasting Society. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
External links
- Smithers Regional Airport Information
- Basic demographic information about Smithers from Stats Canada's page
- Town of Smithers
- Tourism Smithers: contains in-depth information about the town
- Smithers Roots Live on in Nashville's Hamhuis at NHL.com
- Bulkley Valley Museum in Smithers
- Smithers Public Library
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