Mara

A Step Back in Time

The region was originally the location of the Ranch owned by the Canadian Merchant and Politician, John Andrew Mara. He lived there sometime during his life from July 21, 1840, till his death in February 11, 1920. It was from him that the town gained it’s name, along with the Mountains and Lake in the region.

Mara found success in politics in both the provincial and federal levels. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the province of British Columbia. He sat in the provincial legislature as the member from Yale. He ran for election as well as sat as both Government and Opposition – this was before political parties were allowed in the House. Federally, Mara was a Conservative and was twice acclaimed as a Member of Parliament in the federal riding of Yale before being defeated by Hewitt Bostock in the 1896 election in the new riding of Yale—Cariboo.

He owned the large ranchlands between Enderby and Sicamous where the Okanagan and Shuswap countries meet. The mountains east of the original ranch, and the Lake south of Sicamous, bear his name. Today Mara Lake Provincial Park is a popular tourist destination during the summer months.

Mara’s wife Alice was the daughter of Frank Barnard, founder of the Barnard’s Express Co. or “B.X.”. Her brother, and therefore Mara’s brother-in-law, was Sir Francis Stillman Barnard, 10th Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia (1914–1919).

Lexw Qwò:m Park, Halq’emeylem for "always lots of moss" and pronounced luhw KWOM, is a smaller park with several trails, including the Thaletel (THA la tell) trail which climbs approximately 300 metres over three kilometres and ends at the main Community Forest parking lot. The trail is truly lovely, running along a ridge above Dunville Creek for some distance before cutting off into the forest. Thaletel is Halq’emeylem for “wild ginger” and in the spring these plants can be seen along the trail.