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Photos courtesy of District of Fort St. James
Fort St. James
Canada Day celebrations
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Photos courtesy of District of Fort St. James
Fort St. James
Dexter Hodder in the Caledonia Classic.
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Photos courtesy of District of Fort St. James
Fort St. James
Fort St. James National Historic Site.
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Photos courtesy of District of Fort St. James
Fort St. James
Prepping a hide.
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Photos courtesy of District of Fort St. James
Fort St. James
An artifact.
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Photos courtesy of District of Fort St. James
Fort St. James
Snowmobile racing.
By Emily Colombo
The small and bustling resource-based community of Fort St. James is located approximately 40 minutes north of Vanderhoof off of Highway 16 via Highway 27. Nestled along the shores of the breathtaking Stuart Lake this friendly, scenic and stress-free town is the perfect place to get away, breathe fresh air and relax.
Summertime draws visitors of all kinds to Fort St. James, to take in the beaches, sunsets and the National Historic Site, which sees over 10,000 visitors each season. Other outdoor activities during the warmer months include fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, ATVing, paddling, golfing, hunting, rock climbing and much more. The community also features an interpretive trail that displays the town’s history through several informational plaques.
Many seasonal camping and RV opportunities exist with five riverside/ lakeside camping facilities, including two scenic Provincial Parks and numerous free provincial recreation sites. Remote hunting and fishing lodges operate in the spring, summer and fall on some of the most pristine lakes in Northern BC including Takla, Tezzeron, Tsayta, Inzana, Grassham, and Tchentlo Lake which is also home to the Tchentlo hot springs. Paddlers are eager to access the Nation Lakes chain, a 4-lake canoe/kayak route similar to that of the Bowron chain of lakes. Summertime experiences also include:
- Weekly Farmers Market
- Annual Fishing Derby
- Canada Day Fireworks celebration
- Music on the Mountain music festival
Many of these events are unique to Fort St James and present the opportunity to mingle with the friendly locals
Fort St. James was once a Hudson’s Bay post that was the centre of trade and commerce in the 19th century fur trade. This history has been preserved and made available to visitors at the Fort St. James’ National Historic Site, a former Hudson’s Bay Company outpost first established in 1806 by Simon Fraser. The site has been beautifully restored and maintained to its former glory, and hosts a variety of excellent family events throughout the year such as:
- A Pancake Breakfast and Best Dressed Victorian Contest
- Aboriginal Day Celebration
- Salmon Day Cook Off
- Trapper Festival and
- Best Bannock Cook Off
However, this community offers more than a historical experience, with many small communities situated around Stuart Lake it serves as a busy hub, providing services, offering recreational and artistic opportunities, and showcasing a strong Aboriginal presence.
Three First Nations communities reside around Stuart Lake, maintaining their ties to the land base, history and language. They are; The Nak’azdli, “Place where the arrows flowed,” Tl’az’ten, “People by the edge of the bay,” and Yekooche, which refers to the place where the Yekoochet’en people are from at Cunningham Lake and Nankut Creek. The rich First Nations culture is perpetuated by twenty-two sets of pictographs that can be found on the northern cliff faces of Stuart Lake, along with the authenticated signature of Simon Fraser. To actively learn and interact with these cultures, visitors can attend the Aboriginal Day celebrations in and around Fort St James in the summer, as well as an Open House Metis Day Celebration at the National Historic Site that features free beef dips for everyone.
Winter in Fort St. James offers pristine scenery visible from the Murray Ridge Ski Area, a hidden gem of BC, which boasts 20 runs, including 10 black diamond runs, and 30 kilometers of freshly groomed trails. In addition to alpine skiing, visitors can enjoy 20 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails and snowshoeing opportunities. Other winter activities, which entice visitors and locals alike, include excellent ice fishing on nearby lakes, over 300 km of mapped snowmobile trails, and dog mushing. The exciting Caledonia Classic Dog Sled Races takes place over a weekend each February providing visitors the with a uniquely Northern experience. Between the heats of dog mushing across the frozen Stuart Lake, visitors can take in the various events of the Winter Festival.
Whether your interests are roughing it in the bush or relaxing at on the shores of Stuart Lake, Fort St. James offers the perfect backdrop for your holiday and rugged out-door adventure all year-round. Come see why Fort St James is the oldest consistently inhabited community in Northern BC.
For more information visit or call the District of Fort St. James at www.fortstjames.ca or (250) 996-8233; or the Fort St. James Chamber of Commerce at http://fortstjameschamber.ca or (250) 996-7023.