Armstrong, British Columbia

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City of Armstrong
Welcome sign
Welcome sign
Location of Armstrong in British Columbia
City of Armstrong
Location of Armstrong in British Columbia
Coordinates: 50°26′54″N 119°11′46″W / 50.44833, -119.19611
Country Flag of Canada Canada
Province Flag of British Columbia British Columbia
Region Okanagan
Regional district Regional District of North Okanagan
Incorporated 1913
Government
 - Governing body Armstrong City Council
 - Mayor Jerry Oglow
Area
 - Total 5.24 km² (2 sq mi)
Elevation 360 m (1,181 ft)
Population (2006)
 - Total 4,241
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Highways 97A
Waterways Okanagan Lake
Website: City of Armstrong

The City of Armstrong, (2006 Population 4,241) is located in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Vernon and Enderby. It overlooks the Spallumcheen Valley, and is about 300 miles from Calgary, Alberta, Vancouver, B.C., Spokane and Seattle, Washington.

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[edit] Location and history

Armstrong, which sits above the dairy and ranch land of the Spallumcheen Valley, a name derived from the Salish First Nations word with disputed meaning "beautiful valley","flat meadow,""meeting of the waters" and "prairie-banked river[1], is a small community and commercial center, with agriculture, in particular alfalfa and wheat[2], and ranching being its traditional economic venture.[3]

Armstrong was named after E.C. Heaton Armstrong, a London banker who helped finance the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway in 1892 and local development at the turn of the century.[4]

The influence of Dutch immigrants settling in the valley after the Second World War is represented by their cheese-making knowledge, and Armstrong is well known today for the cheese it produces.[5]

The city is also well-known for hosting the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede, which has been running now for 103 years. This exhibition is very much a country fair, with contests being held to judge animals, cooking, sewing, hobbies and other items. Additionally, the exhibition offers a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts to clown shows.

Armstrong is run by a six-member Council headed by the Mayor, with meetings being held the second and fourth Mondays of every month. The current Mayor in 2006 is G.W.(Jerry) Oglow who had been a Council member for 22 years and has been Mayor for the past 10. Oglow is the longest serving member of Council in the 93-year history of the City.[6]

[7]

[edit] Economy, tourist attractions, and activities

While agriculture and ranching is a large portion of the economy of Armstrong and the Spallumcheen Valley, tourism also plays a significant role in the financial security of the region.

[edit] Museums and places of interest

Armstrong and the surrounding area feature many attractions including museums, golf courses, water sports, snow sports including skiing and snowmobile riding, boating, fishing and hiking trails.[8]

  • The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery, which is the site of the old Armstrong Machine Shop, has over thirty historical displays, replicas of the railways, a schoolhouse, a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, and a comprehensive archive of photographs, newspapers and maps.
  • The Old School House is one of the original educational institutions in British Columbia.
  • The Caravan Farm Theatre is where professional actors who have long provided entertainment throughout the Okanagan produce a number of annual events and festivals.
  • The Okanagan Valley Wine Train, which uses vintage cars that toured across Canada in the 1950s and 1960s, travels through the Okanagan Valley, where tourists can view the lakes, hillsides and orchards between Kelowna and Armstrong. This trip also includes a visit to Vernon's 1911 railway station en route.
  • Skiing and snowboarding: the Silver Star Provincial Recreation Area is the most northerly winter attraction in Okanagan Valley. Skiers and snowboarders take advantage of Silver Star Mountain where they have 2,491 feet (760 m) of vertical drop in which to defy gravity. Cross-country skiers also have a venue at Silver Star with 37 kilometers of tracked and groomed trails. In addition, there are 50 km of groomed trails that pass through the adjacent Sovereign Lake area.
  • The Armstrong Farmer's Market, which runs weekly April to December, is a key attraction at the IPE Fairgrounds on Saturday mornings.
  • The Okanagan and BC Rockies Circle Tour, takes tourists through the interior of British Columbia, north through the Okanagan to Sicamous, following Highway 1 into the mountains of the BC Rockies.

Above from [9]

  • A crop circle was spotted on the Noble Farm on August 2nd, 2006. Many say it is shaped like a music note.

[edit] Armstrong cheese

Village Cheese Factory
Village Cheese Factory

Armstrong Cheese is well-known throughout Canada and in parts of the United States, and originated in Armstrong. Dairyworld purchased Armstrong Cheese in 1997. Saputo Inc. purchased Dairyworld in 2003, and in February 2004, after being in operation for more than 100 years, closed the Armstrong Cheese site down, laying off 73 workers. However, one of the main tourist attractions continues to be the Village Cheese Factory [10]. At the Village Cheese Factory, one can watch master cheesemakers at their craft. Among the cheeses available are cheddar, Monterey Jack and "squeaky curds".[11]

[edit] Education

The public schools system is administered by School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap, headquartered in nearby Salmon Arm.

[edit] Sports

The city is home to the Armstrong Sharks of the WHA Junior West Hockey League. The city is also home to the Armstrong Shamrocks of the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League

[edit] Notes

  1. ^  http://www.armstrongbc.com/
  2. ^  http://cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?bhcp=1
  3. ^  http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3383
  4. ^  http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3383
  5. ^  http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3383
  6. ^  http://cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?bhcp=1
  7. ^  http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3383
  8. ^  http://cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?bhcp=1
  9. ^  http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3383

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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