History
The Carrier Indians pioneered the land in this area long before the first white man
arrived. An ancient Indian village known as Chinlac lies just a few miles east of
Vanderhoof on the junction of the Nechako and Stuart Rivers. Simon Fraser's diary
relates that he was the first white man to trade with the people of the Chinlac.
After the fur traders, came the packers, miners, telegraph operators, surveyors, and
finally, settlers looking for the free land of the frontier.
In 1906, the Village of Vanderhoof was only a survey line in the wilderness to mark
the location of the marked railway. When the last spike was driven on April 7th,
1914, it started a race for the land. The Grand Trunk Pacific Development Company
offered cheap land and had one of its employees, Mr. Herbert Vanderhoof lay out the
townsite. Vanderhoof is Dutch for "of the farm", which was very appropriate, since it
was the first agricultural settlement in the province.
The town grew, and in 1926, the Village of Vanderhoof was born.
With the arrival of World War II, many young men left, and Vanderhoof came to a
standstill. But with the rise in lumber prices, and the arrival of new people
in the late 1940s, it started to grow again.
The next boost to the population and the economy came with the construction of Kenney
Dam in the early 1950s. At the peak of its construction, it employed 1,500 men and a
number of them stayed in the area after the dam was built.
The next expansion period came with a large influx of American immigrants in the 1960s,
and since that time Vanderhoof has enjoyed steady growth.
Location
Though the true geographic centre of the province, Vanderhoof is considered to be part
of northern British Columbia, one of the last great wilderness and resource industry
frontiers in the world. This spectacular part of Canada is sparsely populated, yet
accessible, rural and wild, well serviced, and close to big city amenities.
Vanderhoof Municipality has an area of 5,763 hectares and is located at the junction
of Highways 16 and 27. To the north on highway 27 is the District of Fort St James,
and 51 km to the west is the Village of Fraser Lake. Together, the three communities
form what is known locally as the “tri-cities of the Stuart Nechako”.
The Canadian National Rail runs through the centre of the District, parallel to Highway
16. Vanderhoof is the second largest and most easternly member of the Buckley-Nechako
Regional District, which encompasses a total land area of approximately 78,000 square
kilometres, and has a population of only 40,856 (inclusive of rural and reserve estimates~
as of 2001). You can be guaranteed wide-open spaces and friendly people that take pride in
their historic connections to the land.
Vanderhoof is surrounded by the Northern Interior Plateau’s low-rolling and upland terrain
that is forested with sub-boreal spruce and pine. This landscape is the foundation of the
forestry and agricultural industries that have dominated the economy since Vanderhoof’s
origin in 1926. True to its roots, the Nechako Valley is home to communities that offer a
strong work ethic and a hardy, pioneering spirit for developing businesses. The Region has
many lakes and contains the headwaters of the Fraser, Stikine and Mackenzie River systems.
Places to See
- Vanderhoof Heritage Museum
Take a leisurely walking tour through the "Town Square" and the wagon trails using the
tour brochure (available in English and German) or have one of the friendly tour guides
accompany you through the restored buildings. Experience good old-fashioned home cooking
in the OK Cafe or just relax in the Town Square on a break from your day. Whatever your
interest, there is something here for you! Make a day of it and enjoy some of Vanderhoof's
other attractions while you're here.
- Vanderhoof Bird Sanctuary
The Vanderhoof Bird Sanctuary offers an ethereal paradise for local and migratory birds
who need a place to relax and share drinks while in the company of friends.
- Vanderhoof Public Library
Sit and read a book in peace and quiet, or do some research on the Internet! Awesome!
Things to Do
- Hiking!
Hike into lakes, falls, and creeks on well-groomed trails. Ask for a hiking guide and
a recreation road map of the area from the Chamber of Commerce.
- Mountain Biking!
There are several trails in the region! Use the hiking guide to locate some of them.
- Fishing!
Can you catch any fish in one of the many nearby lakes? Many have tried- and many have failed.
To learn how to catch Vanderhoof's elusive- and possibly mischievious- fish, please obtain a
fishing guide from the Chamber of Commerce.
- Canoeing / Kayaking!
Rent a canoe from one of the resorts, or head up to Stuart Lake to try one of the
touring Kayaks. Brochures can be obtained from the Chamber of Commerce.
Events
- Canada Day Celebrations
You are invited to join in the celebration of Canada's birthday! Come have a piece of
birthday cake, play water balloon volleyball, tug-o-war, and more!
- Pumpkin Walk and Fireworks
Come and see the pumpkins and fireworks on Halloween! Trick or treating begins at 5:00pm,
followed with fireworks at 8:00pm.
- Parade of Lights and Midnight Madness
Run rampant on the streets and take advantage of the great sales! Held in Vanderhoof
on the first Friday in December, Midnight Madness is kicked off by the Parade of Lights.
Bring the whole family downtown to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Notable Comments
- "I like Vander-hoof!"
-Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic six-year old from Kamloops
Contact Information
Vanderhoof District Chamber of Commerce
2353 Burrard Ave. Box 126
Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0
Telephone: 250-567-2124
Website: http://www.vanderhoofchamber.com/
