PHOENIX, BRITISH COLUMBIA: ‘MILE HIGH CITY’ BUILT ON COPPER
From an area of just two square miles, in a single generation, the Phoenix mines yielded $100 million in copper, gold and silver ores. Phoenix, British Columbia, “was a camp that for several years at least shipped more ore than all other mining camps of Canada combined; a camp whose principal mine was opened by a man [virtually] broke, but in a few years paid $10 million in dividends; a camp that…started professional hockey in the province…[and the camp] which originated skiing in British Columbia…” The pioneer “camp” of these impressive distinctions was Phoenix, in its day the “highest incorporated city in Canada.” Like its legendary namesake, it flourished then died—not in flames, to be born anew, but in a whimper, the victim of cold, hard business logic. Situated in the Boundary District, 20 miles north of the international...
Read MoreS.S. Minto: Kootenay’s Lady of the Arrow Lakes
Named for then governor-general the Earl of Minto, S.S. Minto was the pride of the Arrow Lakes. For half a century she faithfully plied the 134-mile “milk run” between Robson, at the southern end of Lower Arrow Lake, and Arrowhead, at the head of Upper Arrow Lake. In 55 years she steamed 2.5 million miles and won the affection of all who boarded her. Originally, the Columbia and Kootenay Steam Navigation Co. had operated six first-class steamers on the Arrow Lakes route between Revelstoke and Northport, Wash. But the eclipse of Kootenay mining, dwindling freight and passenger traffic meant the end for half of this romantic fleet and the CPR kept only its three newest steamers, the Minto, Rossland and Kootenay. “The Minto,” wrote historian Edward L. Affleck, “having originally been designed for service on the Stikine River route...
Read MoreB.C. Artist Emily Carr—Aunt Milly—Had a Temper
(Conclusion) Emily Carr, British C.olumbia’s most famous artist, was no “sweet, simple old lady… The sweet, angelic old lady that loved everybody…just didn’t exist.” So her favourite—and only—nephew, the late Richard V. Nicholles of Port Alberni, told me, 40 years ago. Weary of widely circulated stories about Emily Carr’s character, personality and eccentricities, most of which he thought were exaggerated and inaccurate, he approached me for an interview. “I am so tired of hearing about ‘poor Miss Carr’ and welcome the chance to tell you about the real Emily Carr,” he said. “I admired her and I loved her. Had she been the woman I have read so much about I would never have felt toward her as I did.” He recalled the day he, his wife and infant daughter visited his aunts in the old Carr home. “We...
Read MoreBritish Columbia’s Greatest Artist Emily Carr Could Be Difficult
(First of 2 Parts) “Emily Carr was a woman to be reckoned with, not the sweet, deeply religious type that turned the other cheek, but a determined, opinionated woman who would stand for no nonsense.” The man behind these rather strong words about British Columbia’s foremost artist Emily Carr was the late Richard V. Nicholles of Port Alberni. Forty-five years ago, then 75, Nicholles could boast of a long and varied career along the British Columbia coast—as well as being Emikly’s nephew. Seventy years after her death, Emily Carr has achieved international acclaim for her distinctive paintings of our rain forests and of a First nations culture that seemed for a time to be on its way to extinction. When I interviewed Mr. Nicholles in 1975, memories of ‘Aunt Milly’ were as vivid as when he was a youngster....
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