Golden, British Columbia
Golden is a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, 262 kilometres (163 mi) west of Calgary, Alberta, and 713 kilometres (443 mi) east of Vancouver.
Golden | |
|---|---|
| Town of Golden[1] | |
View of Golden in 2005 | |
Seal | |
Golden Location of Golden in British Columbia | |
| Coordinates: 51°18′7″N 116°58′0″W / 51.30194°N 116.96667°WCoordinates: 51°18′7″N 116°58′0″W / 51.30194°N 116.96667°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Columbia Valley |
| Regional District | Columbia-Shuswap |
| Incorporated | 1957 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ron Oszust |
| • Governing Body | Golden Town Council |
| • MP | Rob Morrison (politician)[2] (Conservative-Kootenay/Columbia) |
| • MLA | Doug Clovechok (BC Liberal Columbia/Revelstoke) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.33 km2 (4.37 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 800 m (2,600 ft) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
| • Total | 3,986 |
| • Density | 351.9/km2 (911/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (Mountain Daylight Time) |
| Postal code span | |
| Area code | 250 / 778 / 236 |
| Highways | Hwy 1 (TCH)Trans-Canada Highway Hwy 95 |
| Website | www |
History
In 1807, David Thompson – renowned fur trader, surveyor, and map maker – was tasked by the North West Company to open a trading route to the lucrative trading territories of the Pacific Northwest. He first crossed over the Rocky Mountains and travelled along the Blaeberry River to the future site of Golden.[4]
In 1881 the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) hired surveyor A. B. Rogers to find a rail route through the Selkirk and Rocky Mountains, and in 1882 he found the pass now named for him. Rogers established a base camp for his survey crew led by a man named McMillan. Initially known as McMillan's Camp, the settlement was the beginning of the town of Golden. By 1884, in response to a nearby lumber camp naming itself Silver City, the residents of McMillan's Camp, headed by Baptiste Morigeau,[5] decided not to be outdone and renamed the settlement Golden City.[6] The word city was later dropped.
Golden is also the site of notable South Asian Canadian history, after Sikh settlers first arrived in Golden in 1902 to work at the Columbia River Lumber Company.[7] These early settlers built the first gurdwara (Sikh temple) in North America in 1905,[8][9] which burned down in 1926.[10]
Much of the town's history is tied into the CPR and the logging industry. The town's economy still relies heavily on those two influences, but the development of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, along with other outdoor adventure companies, has allowed the town to diversify into tourism. Mount 7, which is just southeast of town, is popular with paragliding, hang gliding, and mountain biking enthusiasts. The town forms part of the Golden Triangle cycle route.
Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge is the longest freestanding timber-framed bridge in Canada.[11] Planned as a community project by the Timber Framers Guild,[12] volunteers from Golden were joined by carpenters and timber framers from the United States and from Europe. The bridge structure is 46 metres (150 ft) long, with a 95-tonne (210,000 lb) Burr arch structure. The bridge was completed in September 2001.
In June 2021, the Golden Skybridge opened. The bridge is the highest suspension bridge in Canada.[13]
The Golden meteorites fell there on October 4, 2021.[14]
Geography
Golden is nestled in the Rocky Mountain Trench, built around the confluence of the Columbia and Kicking Horse rivers, surrounded by three different mountain ranges (most notably the Purcell Mountains and Rocky Mountains) and five national parks: Yoho National Park, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Glacier National Park, and Kootenay National Park.
Golden is on Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway), and it is the northern terminus of Highway 95, connecting it to the United States via the rest of the East Kootenay region and the city of Cranbrook, British Columbia (B.C. Highway 95 is a continuation of U.S. Route 95, which runs north-to-south through the U.S. and into Mexico). The Trans-Canada Highway east of Golden has numerous upgrade projects ongoing to greatly improve the roadway west of the Yoho National Park boundary. The Ten Mile Hill section of the project was recently[when?] completed and is a major upgrade to the old highway.
Climate
Golden has a climate with influences of the humid continental (Dfb) and semi-arid (BSk) varieties. Summers are warm but rarely hot, with winters being somewhat moderated in comparison to areas east of the Rockies. Annual snowfall is heavy, averaging 184 centimetres (72 in).
| Climate data for Golden Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 6.7 | 8.4 | 19.6 | 25.5 | 34.2 | 41.0 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 32.0 | 22.4 | 11.2 | 5.4 | 41.0 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.3 (46.9) | 12.2 (54.0) | 20.2 (68.4) | 28.9 (84.0) | 35.6 (96.1) | 40.7 (105.3) | 40.0 (104.0) | 37.8 (100.0) | 33.9 (93.0) | 25.6 (78.1) | 17.2 (63.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 40.7 (105.3) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −4.3 (24.3) | −0.1 (31.8) | 6.6 (43.9) | 13.3 (55.9) | 18.4 (65.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 24.5 (76.1) | 24.2 (75.6) | 18.4 (65.1) | 10.1 (50.2) | 1.0 (33.8) | −4.8 (23.4) | 10.7 (51.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −5 (23) | 0.8 (33.4) | 6.5 (43.7) | 11.3 (52.3) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 16.7 (62.1) | 11.5 (52.7) | 5.0 (41.0) | −2 (28) | −7.8 (18.0) | 5.1 (41.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −11.5 (11.3) | −9.8 (14.4) | −5 (23) | −0.5 (31.1) | 4.1 (39.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.0 (50.0) | 9.1 (48.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | −0.2 (31.6) | −5 (23) | −10.9 (12.4) | −0.6 (30.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −46.1 (−51.0) | −39.4 (−38.9) | −31.7 (−25.1) | −19.4 (−2.9) | −9.4 (15.1) | −6.7 (19.9) | −2.2 (28.0) | −2.8 (27.0) | −9.4 (15.1) | −18.3 (−0.9) | −32.8 (−27.0) | −43.9 (−47.0) | −46.1 (−51.0) |
| Record low wind chill | −42.3 | −31.2 | −28.1 | −14.3 | −5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | −4.5 | −15 | −29.9 | −38 | −42.3 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 45.9 (1.81) | 24.1 (0.95) | 24.4 (0.96) | 24.4 (0.96) | 34.5 (1.36) | 49.7 (1.96) | 50.6 (1.99) | 45.3 (1.78) | 38.0 (1.50) | 34.9 (1.37) | 51.1 (2.01) | 43.9 (1.73) | 466.8 (18.38) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 6.4 (0.25) | 5.5 (0.22) | 14.1 (0.56) | 21.9 (0.86) | 33.3 (1.31) | 49.7 (1.96) | 50.6 (1.99) | 45.3 (1.78) | 38.0 (1.50) | 32.3 (1.27) | 21.6 (0.85) | 6.4 (0.25) | 325.2 (12.80) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 45.3 (17.8) | 20.7 (8.1) | 12.1 (4.8) | 2.5 (1.0) | 1.1 (0.4) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.8 (1.1) | 31.8 (12.5) | 42.5 (16.7) | 158.7 (62.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 14.6 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 15.4 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 10.6 | 12.1 | 13.9 | 13.5 | 148.8 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 2.4 | 2.7 | 6.3 | 9.9 | 12.4 | 15.4 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 10.6 | 11.3 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 106.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 13.5 | 7.1 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 8.2 | 12.8 | 49.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 81.2 | 70.7 | 53.6 | 38.8 | 38.6 | 42.4 | 42.0 | 44.2 | 50.0 | 60.0 | 80.4 | 82.2 | 57.0 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 25.2 | 55.3 | 111.3 | 155.2 | 209.6 | 194.1 | 227.0 | 228.9 | 162.5 | 85.0 | 26.1 | 12.9 | 1,492.9 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 9.7 | 19.6 | 30.3 | 37.4 | 43.5 | 39.2 | 45.5 | 50.7 | 42.7 | 25.6 | 9.7 | 5.2 | 29.9 |
| Source: [15][16][17] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,968 | — |
| 2001 | 4,020 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 3,811 | −5.2% |
| 2011 | 3,701 | −2.9% |
| 2016 | 3,708 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 3,986 | +7.5% |
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Golden had a population of 3,986 living in 1,734 of its 1,892 total private dwellings, a change of 7.5% from its 2016 population of 3,708. With a land area of 11.33 km2 (4.37 sq mi), it had a population density of 351.8/km2 (911.2/sq mi) in 2021.[18]
Religion
According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Golden included:[19]
- Irreligion (2,430 persons or 62.3%)
- Christianity (1,225 persons or 31.4%)
- Sikhism (115 persons or 2.9%)
- Hinduism (40 persons or 1.0%)
- Buddhism (15 persons or 0.4%)
- Other (55 persons or 1.4%)
Economy
Golden has a service-based economy, relying heavily on tourism and services for tourists. Unlike many other Canadian towns with similar population size, Golden boasts nine automobile repair shops that all offer a wide range of services and are open extended hours. Golden also features a large number of hotels with mountain views that provide accommodation to both tourists and stranded drivers.
Education
Public education is provided by School District 6 Rocky Mountain which operates 3 primary schools and one secondary school. Community College education is offered by the Golden Campus of the College of the Rockies.
Sports
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Rockets | KIJHL | Ice Hockey | Golden Arena | 1991 | 0 |
Notable people
- Doug Barrault, retired hockey player
- Dillon Dubé, NHL player with the Calgary Flames
- David Duncan, freestyle skier
- Curtis McKenzie, NHL player with the Dallas Stars
- Patricia Owens, actress
- Sara Renner, Olympic medal-winning cross country skier
References
- ^ (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ Richard Zussman. "Canada election results: Kootenay-Columbia". Global News. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ 2021 Community Profiles
- ^ "Golden BC in the Canadian Rocky Mountains; History and Mountain Culture". www.tourismgolden.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ "Metis Week recognizes Golden's roots". November 7, 2019.
- ^ "Golden BC in the Canadian Rocky Mountains; History and Mountain Culture". www.tourismgolden.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ "FIRST SIKH TEMPLE IN NORTH AMERICA". March 10, 2021.
The first Sikhs came to Golden about 1902, arriving to work in the sawmill of the Columbia River Lumber Company. When the Sikhs arrived in Golden the community was in its infancy and the sawmill had recently opened. The Columbia River Lumber Company recognized the value of these tall strong men and had no problem with the men. They hired them to work in the lumberyard, planer, and sawmill. The first documented proof that we have of South Asians of the Sikh faith being residents of Golden is a copy of a telegram sent to G.T. Bradshaw, Chief of Police, New Westminster from Colin Cameron, Chief of Police, Golden, BC on July 20, 1902. It was sent collect and reads: Geha Singh of Golden sent a telegram to Santa Singh care of Small and Bucklin for one thousand dollars.
- ^ "Sikhs celebrate history in Golden". April 26, 2018.
The original temple in Golden sat on a corner of a lot, in the south western area of town at the end of the street looking toward where Rona is now. The largest influx of men came from South Asia around 1905, which would be the time period that the temple in Golden would have began services. In 1926, a fire burned the timber limits of the Columbia River Lumber Company, where the South Asian men worked.
- ^ "Golden's Sikh heritage recognized on new Stop of Interest sign". November 9, 2016.
“We acknowledge the Gurdwara in Golden as the first in B.C., and quite likely the first in North America,” said Pyara Lotay, on behalf of the local Sikh community. “We thank the B.C. government for recognizing Golden’s Sikh pioneers and their place of worship with this Stop of Interest.”
- ^ "Golden Gurdwara is recognized for its historical significance". June 7, 2017.
The original temple sat on the corner of a lot, which is now owned by Gurmit Manhas, at the end of the street past the School Board Office looking towards the Rona. Plans are being put together to erect a kiosk there that would share information about the original building, the first South Asian people to Canada, the importance of the Gurdwara to the Sikh people and the history of why they left and what brought them back. The largest influx of men came from South Asia in about 1905-06, which would be the time period that the Temple would have begun services. In 1926 a fire burned the timber limits of the Columbia River Lumber Company, where all the South Asian men worked and the men left for the coast having no work to do. When the forest started to grow back the men came back and soon it was necessary to build the present Gurdwara on 13th Street South.
- ^ . Tourism Golden. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008.
- ^ Timber Framers Guild website
- ^ "Canada's highest suspension bridge just opened in B.C." British Columbia. June 17, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Staff, The Canadian Press (January 17, 2022). "Scientists study trajectory of meteorite that landed in Golden, B.C. last fall". Global News. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ "Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data". Environment Canada. 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for June 2021".
- ^ "Hourly Data Report for June 30, 2021".
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
External links
- Official website
- Golden travel guide from Wikivoyage