| District of Sicamous | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 50°50′0″N 118°58′52″W / 50.833333°N 118.98111°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  British Columbia |
| Region | Shuswap Country |
| Regional district | Columbia-Shuswap |
| Incorporated | 1989 |
| Government | |
| - Governing body | Sicamous Council |
| - Mayor | Malcolm MacLeod |
| Area | |
| - Total | 14.39 km2 (5.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 360 m (1,181 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 3,192 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| Highways | 1, 97A |
| Waterways | Shuswap Lake |
Sicamous, British Columbia is a town in British Columbia located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 97A junction of Mara Lake and the Shuswap Lake system. It is known as a popular all season tourist destination attracting visitors from throughout Canada and the United States as well as worldwide. It has a population of 3,192 which nearly doubles during the summer months.
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Name origin
Sicamous is an adaptation of a Shuswap language word meaning "River circling mountains".[1]
History
In the 1800s Sicamous and area was inhabited by a semi-nomadic Indigenous nation called the Secwepemc or Shuswaps. They crossed the Rocky Mountains to hunt buffalo on the plains. In this area they were called the "Schickamoos". In 1871, a Provincial Map shows Schickamoos Narrows which in early history was known as a "meeting place of Indians".
In 1864 gold was discovered on the Columbia. Seymour Arm became a supply centre in the Big Bend Gold Rush.
In 1885 permanent settlers arrived after the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie which linked Canada sea to sea. Among the first settlers in Sicamous were the families from Finland. Old Town, or Eagle Pass Landing as it now known, became an almost instant town in 1871. It was the central supply centre for railway construction. Today it is used primarily for recreational purposes such as sledding, houseboating, hiking, swimming, and biking.
Later in the early 1900s CPR hill became a residential development. Finlayson's store and a jail was built in 1892 adding a post office in 1904. The first school opened around 1908. In 1949 the bridge was built across the channel, having previously been just a ferry crossing. Several hotels opened. In the early 1900s the Sicamous Hotel was built. The hotel was Tudor style with 75 rooms and a large elegant dining room. The dances were locally popular and well attended . The hotel was demolished in 1964.
Eagle Valley, in Sicamous, became the home of many settlers. They came and farmed the land putting up with forests, deep snow and hordes of mosquitoes. The first newspaper in Sicamous was the Eagle Valley News; printed for the first time on 22 October 1958, it continues today.
Sicamous was incorporated in 1989.
Notable natives
- Colin Fraser, NHL player currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Shea Weber, NHL player currently playing for the Nashville Predators.
- Cody Franson, NHL player drafted by the Nashville Predators.
Kristopher "Kris" Beech, professional ice hockey center, currently playing for HV71 in the Swedish elite league Elitserien.
References
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Coordinates: 50°50′16″N 118°58′13″W / 50.83778°N 118.97028°W
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