Sparwood

History

Prior to 1900, there was a railroad stop known as Sparwood which was so named because of the trees from this area being shipped to the Coast for manufacturing spars for ocean vessels.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, coal development in this area resulted in the creation of small communities known as Michel, Natal and Sparwood, respectively. The former two communities were in the immediate area of the coal mines and the latter, Sparwood, was a few miles removed and thus not affected by the coal dust.

Further afield, at the Alberta/B.C. border, there was (and still is) a small CPR settlement known as Crowsnest. In addition, there was (and still is) a rural area extending northward along the Elk River Valley. In 1960 the Natal settlement incorporated as a Village. By 1966, the Village of Natal and the settlement of Michel had become devastated by coal dust pollution. There was no regulatory legislation to protect the public. The Village of Natal, in cooperation with the Provincial and Federal Governments, entered into an Urban Renewal and Land Assembly program which eventually resulted in the total elimination of Natal and Michel and the expansion of the Sparwood community.

In order to afford the local portion of the costs, a District Municipality was formed in 1966 which took in the communities of Michel, Natal, Sparwood, Elk Valley (in part only) and Crowsnest.

Initially Prepared by: Loretta Montemurro, retired Clerk Administrator

Location

The District of Sparwood is situated in the southeast corner of British Columbia in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Located on Highway #3 Sparwood lies on the western slope of the Crowsnest Pass, 18 kilometers from the Alberta border. The nearest United States border crossing is located at Roosville, approximately 97 kilometers to the south- west by road.

Distances:

To Calgary, Alberta: 270 km / 162 miles
To Vancouver, B.C. : 970 km / 582 miles
To Edmonton, Alberta: 546 km / 328 miles

Places to See

• Sparwood Golf Club
  
  Enjoy fantastic views, fantastic golf at BC's easternmost golf course. Located in the Rocky Mountains - the scenery is spectacular. The course is finely manicured and a pleasure for all levels of golfers to play.
  
  
• Elk Lakes Provincial Park
  
  Just north of Sparwood and within the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains, Elk Lakes Provincial Park contains outstanding landscapes, glaciers, peaks, and lakes. Possible activities include hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, and camping.

Things to Do

• Fishing!
  
  The nearby Elk River provides world-class fishing, with abuntant supplies of Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout.
  
  
• Canoeing and Kayaking
  
  Take a trip down the Elk River and experience inspiring views of Mount Hosmer and Three Sisters Peak, as well as lots of cottonwoods, aspens, and evergreens.
  
  
• Wildlife Watching!
  
  Sparwood's alpine setting, near many mountain lakes, woodlands, and glacier fed rivers, abounds in a vast assortment of wildlife. The upper Elk Valley is often referred to as the "Serengeti of North America". Big game animals include: elk, bighorn sheep, deer, grizzly bears, and cougars. Game birds include: ptarmigans, blue grouse, migratory geese, and ducks.
  
  
• View the Downtown Murals
  
  Murals painted on the walls of buildings in the downtown core depict Sparwood's mining and railway history.

Events

• Coal Miner Days
  
  A stupendous, mega-fan-tabulous celebration of Sparwood's mining history! Taking place every year at the end of June, Coal Miner Days features a delicious pancake breakfast, a rousing parade, a playful skipping contest (awesome!), a soapbox derby, and many, many, MANY more events that will have you jumping for joy!

Notable Comments

• Nemo McCay, age four, was viewing Sparwood's Terex Titan (the world's largest dump truck) when he accidentally fell asleep in his mother's arms. This singular event, rare in the case of a little boy who had long fought for his right to stay awake, would have proven disastrous, for Nemo had waited the entire morning to see the truck. Fortunately, he was visited by the Terex Titan in a dream. From his playhouse in the kingdom of Slumberland, the two new friends departed, and headed for the Elkview coal mine, where the truck displayed its incredible strength by bench-pressing 350 tons of coal. A few games of hide-and-seek were attempted, but alas, the Titan's outstanding girth made such an undertaking unfavorable. After a few more hours of revelry, Nemo was returned safely to his playhouse, at which point he awoke and told his amused parents of all that had happened.
  
  His grateful mother made sure to return later and thank the Terex Titan for visiting her son. The truck merely nodded and replied, "Anything for a fan."
  
  - Mackenzie Silverton, in a report for the Fernie Times
  
  
• "I like Spar-wood!"
  
  - Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic five-year old from Kamloops

Contact Information

Sparwood & District Chamber of Commerce

Box # 1448 Sparwood, BC VOB 2GO
Phone: (250) 425-2423
Toll Free: 1-877-485-8185
E-mail: administrator@sparwoodchamber.bc.ca
Website: http://www.sparwoodchamber.bc.ca/

District of Sparwood

P.O. Box 520, 136 Spruce Ave.
Sparwood, B.C. V0B 2G0
Phone: 250-425-6271
Fax: 250-425-7277
E-mail: webmaster@sparwood.bc.ca
Website: http://www.sparwood.bc.ca/