Above Photo: A statue of a man blowing an alpine horn.
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.
Above Photo: Now this I thought was a excellent idea. On each of the street corners you will find a sign like you see in the picture. It lists the businesses on each street.
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. 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. According to a 1990s survey, per capita, Smithers has 'the most of' in almost every category.
Above Photo: On each of the street corners you will find a sign like you see in the picture. It lists the businesses on each street.
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 title than the sometimes used 'Smitherite'.
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, 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.
Above Photo: Hudson Bay mountain ski hill in the background.
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.
Above Photo: Hudson Bay mountain ski hill in the background.
Numerous organizations including the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council operate to keep music and other artistic activities vibrant.
Above Source Informmation: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Above Photo: A beautiful clock is located on the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue, Smithers, British Columbia.
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