Coordinates: 54°30′59.3″N 128°35′59.0″W / 54.516472°N 128.59972°W
| City of Terrace | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
 |
|||
|
|||
 |
|||
| Coordinates: 54°30′59″N 128°35′59″W / 54.51639°N 128.59972°W | |||
| Country |  Canada |
||
| Province |  British Columbia |
||
| Region | North Coast | ||
| Regional district | Kitimat-Stikine | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | David Pernarowski | ||
| - Terrace City Council | Bruce Bidgood Lynne Christiansen Brian Downie Carol Leclerc Bruce Martindale Brad Pollard |
||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 42.23 km2 (16.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 67 m (219 ft) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| - Total | 11,320 | ||
| - Immigrant population | 1,670 (14%) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC−8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−7) | ||
| Value of building permits (2000) | $24.9 million | ||
| Business licences issued (2001) | 1,159 | ||
| Website | City of Terrace | ||
Terrace is a service community on the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada. Tsimshian people have lived in the area for thousands of years. The community population fell between 2001 and 2006 from 12,109 with a regional population of 19,980 (Statistics Canada, 2001) to 11,320 and regional of 18,581 (Statistics Canada, 2006). The community vies with Prince Rupert as a regional hub for the northern coastal area. It is the seat of the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District.
The community sits on the Canadian National Railway and the Yellowhead Highway. The community is serviced by Terrace Airport, with connections to Prince George, Smithers, and Vancouver. The Terrace railway station is served by VIA Rails Skeena service.
On March 7, 2009, Terrace was chosen as Kraft Hockeyville 2009 out of 5 regional finalists, and hosted an NHL Pre-Season game between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Islanders on September 14, 2009 (NHL.com).
Contents |
History
First Nations peoples
Indigenous peoples have inhabited Northwest BC for over 5,000 years. This region is one of the oldest continuously occupied regions of the world and, long before European contact, was one of the most densely populated areas north of Mexico. Kitsumkalum and Kitselas are two of seven Tsimshian tribes in the Terrace area that have occupied traditional territories in northwest British Columbia. The Skeena River was known initially as the K'shian river meaning "water from the clouds". The traditional economy of the Tsimshian Nation was based on hunting, fishing and social gatherings, for domestic consumption or trade, on their traditional lands. For the aboriginal people, the Skeena River was used for transportation, communication, war, trade, as a source of food and at times for protection.
Steamboats
In 1866 the steamer Mumford made it as far as Kitsumkalum with supplies for the Collins Overland Telegraph line. It took an average of three days to travel from Port Essington (at the mouth of the Skeena River, near Prince Rupert) to Hazelton. It was not until 1891 that the Hudson's Bay Company sternwheeler Caledonia successfully negotiated through the Kitselas Canyon and reached Hazelton. A number of other steamers were built around the turn of the century, in part due to the growing fish industry and the Klondike Gold Rush.[1][2] In honour of its steamboat heritage, Terrace celebrates a festival called Riverboat Days each summer.
George Little
Ontarian George Little arrived in the Skeena River valley in March of 1905. While travelling from the Yukon by snowshoe on the Kitimat trail on route to the Bulkley Valley, he liked what he saw in the area, decided to remain, and staked claim later in the year to many acres of what would later be Terrace[3].
The riverboats operated on the Skeena for only 22 years; the last boat, the Inlander, finished up in September 1912, when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway took over its function. George Little donated 47 acres (0.19 km2) to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The station stop was originally named "Littleton"; however, as there was already a Littleton in New Brunswick, Little changed the name to "Terrace" in reference to the local geography. Little established a sawmill to accommodate the demand for railway ties. In 1955, Little rode the first CNR train to Kitimat, passing over the same route he had trekked one half century earlier.
Terrace Mutiny
During World War II, military units composed primarily of conscripts from central and eastern Canada were stationed in Terrace. Morale was low due to the poor relationship between the soldiers and the local populace, the isolation, the damp weather, lack of recreation, crowded facilities, and the distance from home. In late 1944, because of declining enlistment and heavy casualties, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was forced to reconsider his promise to not deploy conscripts overseas. Mackenzie King decided to a one-time assignment of conscripts for overseas service. On November 24, 1944, news that conscripts might be sent overseas triggered a mutiny amongst the men stationed in Terrace. It took until November 29 for officers to restore order to the troops. The Terrace Mutiny was the most serious breach of discipline in Canadian military history.
Geography
Terrace and the surrounding Skeena Valley are located in a hybrid coastal-interior rainforest on the Skeena River, approximately 115 kilometres (71 mi) from its mouth at the Pacific Ocean. The lush forests in the area consist primarily of cedar, hemlock and balsam. Sediment deposits from glaciers over thousands of years ago have produced the natural terraces or "benches" around much of the city, which sits approximately 70 metres (230 ft) above sea level and just east of the Skeena and Kitsumkalum River confluence. The Hazelton Mountains are to the west of the city, while the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains are to the east. The area sits above an active fault line that runs north-south. The area also boasts several natural and developed hotsprings.
Climate
Terrace has a coastal temperate climate with a normal mean temperature of 6.3°C, varying between average temperature in January of -4.3°C and in July 16.4°C. Maximum summer temperatures are in the 30s °C. Terrace receives a normal annual rainfall of 970mm and snowfall of 375cm, totaling 1322mm of precipitation. October and November are the wettest months.(Environment Canada Normals)
| Weather data for Terrace | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.4 (49) |
10 (50) |
16.9 (62) |
25 (77) |
34.6 (94) |
34.4 (94) |
35.6 (96) |
36.2 (97) |
32.2 (90) |
21.4 (71) |
21.4 (71) |
11.3 (52) |
|
| Average high °C (°F) | -2.2 (28) |
1.1 (34) |
5.7 (42) |
10.7 (51) |
15.4 (60) |
18.6 (65) |
21.3 (70) |
21.1 (70) |
16.3 (61) |
9.1 (48) |
2.4 (36) |
-1 (30) |
9.9 (50) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -6.4 (20) |
-3.8 (25) |
-1.2 (30) |
1.6 (35) |
5.2 (41) |
8.8 (48) |
11.3 (52) |
11.4 (53) |
8.1 (47) |
3.7 (39) |
-1.3 (30) |
-4.8 (23) |
2.7 (37) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -25 (-13) |
-25 (-13) |
-18.3 (-1) |
-8.3 (17) |
-2.2 (28) |
0.6 (33) |
3.3 (38) |
2.8 (37) |
-1.4 (29) |
-13.5 (8) |
-25.3 (-14) |
-26.7 (-16) |
|
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 168.2 (6.62) |
119.8 (4.72) |
84.8 (3.34) |
71 (2.8) |
53.3 (2.1) |
51.3 (2.02) |
52.7 (2.07) |
62.7 (2.47) |
98.6 (3.88) |
186.6 (7.35) |
181.7 (7.15) |
191.6 (7.54) |
1,322.4 (52.06) |
| Source: Environment Canada[4] 2009-07-12 | |||||||||||||
Economy
Terrace was once known as the cedar pole capital of the world. Over 50,000 poles were manufactured annually to supply many parts of North America with telephone and electric power poles. The world's tallest pole of 50 metres (160 ft) was cut in Terrace and is currently standing in New York City. For many years, logging has been the major industry in the region. In modern times, Terrace's economy has diversified. Becoming less dependent on one large employer or industry, the city boasts a balanced economy, one which is effectively equipped to withstand the brunt of any cyclic downturn.
The community was hit hard in 2001 by the problems and eventual closure of the biggest local employer, the former Skeena Cellulose Inc. pulp mill. The mill was bought by Terrace Lumber Co., a group of local owners, and re-opened in late August 2005, but did not prosper and closed in mid-2006. By the end of 2006, the remaining equipment was auctioned off and the mill was torn down. However, with a possible oil pipeline that would run through Terrace, as well as the recent announcement of a major container port expansion project in nearby Prince Rupert, the economic situation appears to have a brighter future.
Throughout the economic fallout and recovery, the city has been accepting donations and collecting grants to direct at the production of a largely enhanced sportsplex to replace the aging arena and aquatic centre, largely as a symbol of economic resilience. As of March 2006, slightly over $4 million of the $5 million required to initiate the project has been collected from various sources. While city reserve funds have not been included in these totals, it is conceivable that they may be required to complete the project.
Educational institutions
Terrace is located within School District 82 Coast Mountains, along with Kitimat. Prior to amalgamation in 1996 with School District 80 (Kitimat), schools in Terrace were within School District 88 (Terrace). There is one senior secondary school within Terrace itself, Caledonia Senior Secondary School[1], which serves grades 11 and 12.
There is also one junior secondary school, Skeena Junior Secondary School. Another junior secondary, Thornhill Junior Secondary School, is located in Thornhill, a community directly across the Skeena River from Terrace. Centennial Christian School is also located within the town limits of Terrace. For the children from kindergarten to grade 7, a fully French language education is offered at Jack Cook School.
The main campus of the Northwest Community College[2] is located in Terrace, where it was established in 1975. The Frida Studio offers Native courses such as sculpture. A lot of Native students begin to be known as Native artists around the world and have beautiful exhibitions.
Old Skeena Bridge
The Old Skeena Bridge officially opened July 1925, halting the use of the Ferry Island ferry service to Thornhill Creek. In 1944, the Skeena River highway between Terrace and Prince Rupert was ceremoniously opened with a convoy of Canadian and American Army bands that were part of the troops stationed here during World War II. Terrace could now easily transport to anywhere in British Columbia.
This bridge now shares its load with the New Skeena Bridge, a two-way bridge crossing Ferry Island and connecting Thornhill, British Columbia, with the other side of town. The new bridge, constructed circa 1975, is fully paved and offers uninterrupted two-way traffic flow, as opposed to the metal decking of the old one-lane bridge. The foundations of the new bridge are prepared for future twinning. The Old Skeena Bridge was once noted for being the largest curved wooden-plank bridge in North America until its decking was replaced with metal grates in 2002.
Media
Newspaper
Radio
- AM 590 - CFTK, hot adult contemporary
- FM 92.1 - CFNR, First Nations community
- FM 95.3 - CBTH, CBC Radio One
- FM 96.9 - CBUF-3, Première Chaîne
- FM 103.1 - CJFW, country
Television
- Channel 3 - CFTK, CBC Television private affiliate
- Channel 11 - CBUFT, SRC
Bibliography
- Bennett, Norma (1997). Pioneer Legacy: Chronicles of the Lower Skeena River. Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation. ISBN 0-9683026-0-2.
- Downs, Art (1971). Paddlewheels on the Frontier. one. ISBN 0888260334.
- de Leeuw, Sarah. Unmarked: Landscapes Along Highway 16.
Footnotes
- ^ Downs, Art (1971). Paddlewheels on the Frontier Volume 1. Foremost Publishing. pp. 61–72. ISBN 0888260334.
- ^ Bennett, Norma (1997). Pioneer Legacy: Chronicles of the Lower Skeena River. Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation. ISBN 0-9683026-0-2.
- ^ Terrace Library, George Little Family page
- ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 12 July 2009
External links
|
||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
