TCRR

Campbell River

Campbell River hugs Vancouver Island’s mid-east coast, bordered on the west by the rugged mountains of central Vancouver Island and on the east by the islands and waterways of the Inside Passage. The river which gave the settlement its name flows out of the forest into a channel renowned for spectacular fishing.

First Nations peoples have lived in this area for at least 8,000 years. The abundant forests and waterways amply provided sources of food, clothing and shelter. In villages connected by their ocean highway, the indigenous peoples developed rich cultural traditions which remain alive, visible and vibrant today.

In the late 18th century, both British and Spanish ships were exploring the complex waterways of the British Columbia coastline. In 1792 the Discovery, under Captain George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy, became the first European vessel to visit what is now called Discovery Passage.

The explorers visited a number of native villages in the area. It is believed these were then populated by Salish speaking peoples, but it is possible that the Lekwiltok had already begun their southward expansion into this area. Certainly by the mid-1800s the Lekwiltok controlled the strategic trading position and rich salmon grounds of Discovery Passage from their villages at Campbell River and Cape Mudge.

During the latter half of the 19th century, loggers were attracted to the area’s massive stands of timber, settlers began to farm, and sportsmen the world over were lured here by reports of huge salmon and abundant trout. Charles and Fred Thulin, two enterprising brothers from Sweden, built a hotel in the wilderness and the future town of Campbell River was born.

Quickly outgrown, the first Willows Hotel was replaced by a grand structure that remained a coastal landmark for half a century. In 1910, a large party headed by BC’s Commissioner of Lands stayed at the surprisingly sophisticated accommodation before setting out on an exploratory survey of central Vancouver Island. Their expedition resulted in the establishment of BC’s first provincial park the following year. Beautiful Strathcona Park includes many icefields (also well-known Comox Glacier), the highest peak on the island (the Golden Hinde) and the highest waterfall in Canada (Della Falls).

While Campbell River grew as a service area surrounded by large logging camps, it also played host to increasing numbers of visitors bent on catching mighty Tyee salmon. In 1924, to regulate and protect the sport, the Tyee Club of British Columbia established a set of rules that called for skill and restraint, principles which are continued by the Club to this day.

Sportsman and pioneering conservationist Roderick Haig-Brown (1908-1976) wrote books known the world over from his home on the banks of the Campbell River. Renowned for his eloquence on fly fishing, Haig-Brown was ahead of his time in his concern for the environment and became an active spokesperson for the principles of conservation, particularly regarding rivers and salmon. The family home is now the Haig-Brown Heritage Site dedicated to preserving the author’s influence and legacy.
In the 1940s, a huge hydro-electric project began to develop the power potential of the Campbell River system. It included construction of three dams and took 13 years to complete, bringing prosperity and a building boom to the community. In 1952 the opening of the Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill further escalated Campbell River’s development and growth.

An event of national interest took place in April 1958. Seymour Narrows, near Campbell River, was the site of the largest non-nuclear explosion in history when 1,400 tons of dynamite blasted away a marine hazard known as Ripple Rock. The deadly mountain of rock reached close to the water’s surface in a narrow passageway, causing numerous shipwrecks and lost lives. After two and a half years of preparation, it was removed in a spectacular eruption of rock and water 300 metres (1,000 ft) high. One of the country’s first live television broadcasts carried the sight across Canada.
Visitors can relive the drama in the Museum at Campbell River’s comfortable little theatre, which offers footage of the Ripple Rock explosion and other film choices.
At the Museum you can see, hear and touch the region’s history through vibrant exhibits that present ancient and contemporary First Nations cultures and the unique coastal lifestyles that have developed over more recent times. Take the wheel of an early logging truck, step aboard a real floathouse, meet Mrs. Butler, the “Tyee Man” of 1934, enter the lobby of the town’s first hotel, examine commercial fishing methods…and more.
The Museum’s “History Outdoors” exhibits include a heritage cod-fishing boat, logging steam donkey, early logging truck, totem pole and native plant gardens with interpretive signage. A short walk from the downtown core, the Museum at Campbell River stands on a grassy, tree-covered slope above the Island Highway at 5th Avenue, its huge foyer window affording an unparalleled view of Discovery Passage and the mainland mountains.

 Zeballos

Zeballos sits at the head of Zeballos Inlet, named after Ciriaco Cevallos, one of the lieutenants of Captain Alejandro Malaspina who explored the Wild West coast in 1792.

The discovery of gold in Zeballos in the 1920’s resulted in a massive influx of miners and adventurers and by 1940 there were four mines that boasted mills and up to 500 miners working for wages.

During its heyday Zeballos boasted many hotels, restaurants, stores, a bank, a school, a hospital, a weekly newspaper and a library and some of these historical buildings still line the streets of the village.

As men started enlisting to fight in World War II, production in the gold mines slowed and finally stopped in 1943.  The mines reopened for a few years at the end of the war but with the price of gold fixed at $35 an ounce and costs escalating, the last mine closed in 1948.

The opening of an iron ore mine in 1962 gave Zeballos a short-lived boost until it too closed in 1969.  Then, in 1970, a road connecting the village to the outside world was built and a logging camp established by Tahsis Company.  Forestry remains an integral part of the Zeballos economy, but tourism is fast becoming a gold mine for the community’s future.