Trail, British Columbia
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| Motto: Home of Champions | |
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| Census division | |
| Regional District | Kootenay Boundary |
| Area: | 34.78 km² |
| Founded | |
| Incorporated | |
| Population
City population |
7,575 (2001) |
| Population density | 217.8/km² |
| Time zone | Pacific: UTC -8 |
| Postal code span | V1R |
| Latitude
Longitude |
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| Elevation | m MSL |
| Highways | Highway 3B Highway 22 |
| Waterways | Columbia River |
| Mayor | |
| Governing body | Trail City Council |
| 1(sc) According to the Canada 2001 Census. 2(gr) Geographic references.  |
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Trail () is a city in the Kootenay region of the interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is the seat of the Kootenay Boundary Regional District.
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[edit] Geography
Trail has an area of 34.78 square kilometers. The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 kilometres north of the US border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the Monashee Mountains to the west and the Selkirk Mountains to the east. The Columbia flows directly north-south from Castlegar, turns east near downtown Trail, and then meets the US border at Waneta and the Pend Oreille River.
Summer climate in Trail is generally hot and dry with moderately cool nights. Temperatures often exceed 35°C during summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common during the late-Spring and Summer season, often moving into the valley from the south. The fall months brings dense river fog, especially during the overnight and morning hours, as a cold air inversion lingers above the relatively warm river surface. Winters are mild to cold with periods of moderate snowfall. Nearby villages such as Warfield and Fruitvale often receive greater amounts of snow due to higher elevation.
The Monashee Mountains are the first major mountain range east the Coastal Mountains to intercept moisture laden westerly flow from the Pacific. As a result, areas west of Trail, including the Christina Range, Rossland Range, the city of Rossland, and the Blueberry-Paulson section of the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) receive greater amounts of winter precipitation, mostly in the form of heavy snow. Vegetation in the Trail area, although fairly lush, is noticeably drier than other areas with a more westerly aspect.
[edit] Transportation
Highway 3B, a branch of the Crowsnest Highway is the main east-west artery through Trail. Highway 22 connects branches northward to Castlegar. Highway 22A connects 3B to Waneta and the US Border. There is a second border crossing south of Rossland on Highway 22.
There are two bridges that cross the Columbia River. The majority of traffic volume is found on the "new" bridge which serves Highway 3B (Victoria Street). The original bridge ("old" bridge) is found further south and has a wooden deck with two narrow lanes. It was recently closed for structural repair and is now once again in full use.
Kootenay Boundary Transit System operates a fleet of buses providing conventional transit service on 8 routes through out the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary with a fleet of Low-floor buses which provide wheelchair and scooter accessible service on transit routes throughout the region. Low-floor buses are equipped with a ramp, have no entry steps and have a kneeling feature that lowers the entry level for passengers who have difficulty climbing stairs, aswell as handy DART
Pacific Coastal Airlines operates flights between Trail Airport (CAD4) and Vancouver (CYVR) on a daily basis. Air Canada flights are available between nearby Castlegar (CYCG) to both Calgary and Vancouver. Flights from Trail airport are often delayed or cancelled during the winter season due to thick low cloud and reduced visibility.
[edit] Neighbourhoods
Trail is known as the "Little Italy of Canada". Downtown Trail is located on the west side of the Columbia River. Teck Cominco metallurgical operations are located on a flat plateau directly north of Downtown, at a higher elevation. West Trail is one of Trail's oldest neighbourhoods, and is predominantly Italian. It is located along the steep slopes of Lookout Mountain, directly south and west of Downtown Trail. West Trail is characterized by steep streets, rock walls, covered stairways, and vistas of both Teck Cominco and the Columbia River valley. Highway 3B passes through Downtown Trail as Victoria Street, heads westward through The Gulch, and starts a steep ascent to Warfield and Rossland.
Heading east from Downtown Trail, Highway 3B crosses the Columbia River and enters East Trail. Northwards from here lies Gyro Park and Sunningdale. Further east lies Shavers Bench, Muriel Heights, Glenmerry, and Waneta. Trail's main shopping mall, Waneta Plaza, and airport (CYZZ) is located in Waneta.
[edit] Demographics
According to Statistics Canada, Trail's population was 7575 during the Canada 2001 Census.
- Whites: 91.3% of which 72.6% are mediterranean
- Aboriginal: 4.0%
- Chinese: 1.6%
- South Asian: 1.4%
- Filipino: 0.8%
- Hispanic: 0.4%
- Other races: 0.5%
[edit] Attractions
The Trail Memorial Centre currently plays host to the Trail & District Public Library, the Trail Smoke Eaters hockey team, the Trail Museum, and the Sports Hall of Memories, in addition to many local sports facilities. This historic landmark, located at 1051 Victoria Street, was home to two world championship Smoke Eaters teams. The arena section of the facility was recently revitalized and is one of the highest capacity arenas in the province, outside of cities like Vancouver and Kelowna. The Trail Memorial Centre is a hub of civic activity year-round, and has been a focal point of the community since its inception.
[edit] Famous natives
- Jason Bay, current MLB player - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Lauren Bay, Canadian National Softball Team and National Pro Fastpitch pitcher
- Dallas Drake, current NHL player - Blues
- Steve McCarthy, current NHL player - Blackhawks, Canucks, Thrashers
- Shawn Horcoff, current NHL player - Oilers
- Ray Ferraro , former NHL player - Islanders, Rangers, Whalers, Thrashers, Kings
- Mike Matteucci, former NHL player - Wild
- Steve Tambellini, former NHL player & current Assistant GM of the Vancouver Canucks
- Cesare Maniago, former NHL player - Leafs, Canadiens, Rangers, NorthStars, Canucks
- Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Canadian Olympic Women's Ski Team, Downhill Olympic Gold Medal - 1992
- Ken Georgetti, current President of the Canadian Labour Congress
- Thomas d'Aquino, current President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
- Tom Harrison, former MLB pitcher - Kansas City A's
- Robert Hampton Gray, last Canadian soldier to die in WWII. Last Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- Bruno Freschi, Architect - Expo 86
[edit] Other Information
As part of its contribution to the Manhattan Project, Canada built and operated a 6 T/a electrolytic heavy water plant at Trail, BC, which started operation in 1943.
[edit] External links
- City of Trail Official Site
- Trail Chamber Of Commerce Website
- Trail Smoke Eaters Website
- Trail Transit Website
Subdivisions of British Columbia|
Alberni-Clayoquot · Bulkley-Nechako · Capital · Cariboo · Central Coast · Central Kootenay · Central Okanagan · Columbia-Shuswap · Comox-Strathcona · Cowichan Valley · East Kootenay · Fraser Valley · Fraser-Fort George · Greater Vancouver · Kitimat-Stikine · Kootenay Boundary · Mount Waddington · Nanaimo · North Okanagan · Northern Rockies · Okanagan-Similkameen · Peace River · Powell River · Skeena-Queen Charlotte · Squamish-Lillooet · Stikine · Sunshine Coast · Thompson-Nicola |
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Principal urban centres |
Abbotsford · Kamloops · Kelowna · Nanaimo · Prince George · Vancouver · Victoria |
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Large suburban communities |
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Delta · Langley Township · North Vancouver District · Richmond · Saanich · Surrey |
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Other major centres |
Campbell River · Chilliwack · Courtenay · Cranbrook · Fort St. John · Penticton · Port Alberni · Salmon Arm · Vernon |
