Armstrong, British Columbia

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City of Armstrong
—  City  —
Welcome sign
Motto: "Pride, Spirit, Vision"
Location of Armstrong in British Columbia
Coordinates: 50°26′54″N 119°11′46″W / 50.44833°N 119.19611°W / 50.44833; -119.19611Coordinates: 50°26′54″N 119°11′46″W / 50.44833°N 119.19611°W / 50.44833; -119.19611
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Okanagan
Regional district	Regional District of North Okanagan
Incorporated	1913
Government
• Governing body	Armstrong City Council
• Mayor	Chris Pieper
Area
• Total	5.24 km2 (2.02 sq mi)
Elevation	360 m (1,180 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	4,524
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
Highways	97A
Waterways	Okanagan Lake
Website	City of Armstrong

The City of Armstrong is located in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Vernon and Enderby. It overlooks the Spallumcheen Valley, which forms a broad pass between the Okanagan Valley to the south and the Shuswap Country to the north, and is about 300 mi (480 km) from each of Vancouver, B.C., Calgary, Alberta, Spokane and Seattle, Washington.

Location and history

Armstrong, which sits above the dairy and ranch land of the Spallumcheen Valley, a name derived from a Shuswap language word with disputed meaning "beautiful valley","flat meadow,""meeting of the waters" and "prairie-banked river^[2], is a small community and commercial center, with agriculture, in particular alfalfa and wheat^[3], and ranching being its traditional economic venture.^[4]

Armstrong was named after E.C. Heaton Armstrong, a London banker who helped finance the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway in 1892 and local development at the turn of the century.^[5]

The influence of Dutch immigrants settling in the valley after the Second World War is represented by their cheese-making knowledge, and Armstrong is well known today for the cheese it produces.^[6]

The city is also well known for hosting the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede,^[1] which has been running now for 111 years. This exhibition is very much a country fair, with contests being held to judge animals, cooking, sewing, hobbies and other items. Additionally, the exhibition offers a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts to clown shows.

Armstrong is run by a six-member Council headed by the Mayor, with meetings being held the second and fourth Mondays of every month. The current Mayor for 2010 is Chris Pieper, who is in his first term as mayor.^[7]

There are two elementary school, a middle school and a high school. There is also a store front alternative school.

[8]

Economy, tourist attractions, and activities

While agriculture and ranching is a large portion of the economy of Armstrong and the Spallumcheen Valley, tourism also plays a significant role in the financial security of the region.

Museums and places of interest

Armstrong and the surrounding area feature many attractions including museums, golf courses, water sports, snow sports including skiing and snowmobile riding, boating, fishing and hiking trails.

• The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery, which is the site of the old Armstrong Machine Shop, has over thirty historical displays, replicas of the railways, a schoolhouse, a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, and a comprehensive archive of photographs, newspapers and maps.
• The Old School House is one of the original educational institutions in British Columbia.
• The Caravan Farm Theatre is where professional actors who have long provided entertainment throughout the Okanagan produce a number of annual events and festivals.
• The Okanagan Valley Wine Train, which uses vintage automobiles that toured across Canada in the 1950s and 1960s, travels through the Okanagan Valley, where tourists can view the lakes, hillsides and orchards between Kelowna and Armstrong. This trip also includes a visit to Vernon's 1911 railway station en route.
• Skiing and snowboarding: the Silver Star Provincial Recreation Area is the most northerly winter attraction in the Okanagan Valley. Skiers and snowboarders take advantage of Silver Star Mountain where they have 2,491 feet (760 m) of vertical drop in which to defy gravity. Cross-country skiers also have a venue at Silver Star with 37 kilometers of tracked and groomed trails. In addition, there are 50 km of groomed trails that pass through the adjacent Sovereign Lake area.
• The Armstrong Farmer's Market, which runs weekly April to December, is a key attraction at the IPE Fairgrounds on Saturday mornings.
• The Okanagan and BC Rockies Circle Tour, takes tourists through the interior of British Columbia, north through the Okanagan to Sicamous, following Highway 1 into the mountains of the BC Rockies.
• The Armstrong skateboard park is a large attraction in the city of Armstrong. Holding company jams and demos and bringing many people from all over B.C.

Armstrong Cheese

Armstrong Cheese is well-known throughout Canada and in parts of the United States, and originated in Armstrong. Dairyworld purchased Armstrong Cheese in 1997. Saputo Inc. purchased Dairyworld in 2003, and in February 2004, after being in operation for more than 100 years, closed the Armstrong Cheese site down, laying off 73 workers. However, one of the main tourist attractions continues to be the Village Cheese Factory.^[2] At the Village Cheese Factory, one can watch master cheesemakers at their Kraft :). Among the cheeses available are cheddar, Monterey Jack and "squeaky curds".^[9]

Climate

Education

The public schools system is administered by School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap, headquartered in nearby Salmon Arm.

Sports

Notable residents

• Cold Driven, Canadian rock band formed in 2005 founded by vocalist Billy Nickell, bassist Dennis Nickell, and guitarists Shane and Ben Bouthillier.
• Theobald Butler Barrett, Canadian politician.
• Shyla Stylez, pornographic actress.

Notes

References

External links

• City of Armstrong - Official site
• Armstrong, BC

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