| Hope | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — district municipality — | |||
| Municipal building and street clock with Memorial Park in background | |||
|
|||
|
Hope
|
|||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | British Columbia | ||
| Regional District | Fraser Valley | ||
| Established | 1848 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Laurie French | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 41.42 km2 (16 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 41 m (135 ft) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Total | 6,185 | ||
| • Density | 149.3/km2 (386.7/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Pacific Standard Time | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Pacific Daylight Time (UTC) | ||
| Website | http://www.hope.ca/ | ||
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope is at the eastern end of both the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland region, and is at the southern end of the Fraser Canyon. To the east over the Cascade Mountains is the Interior region, beginning with the Similkameen Country on the farther side of the Allison Pass in Manning Park. Located 154 kilometres (96 mi) east of Vancouver, Hope is at the southern terminus of the Coquihalla Highway and the western terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, locally known as the Hope–Princeton (Highways 5 and 3, respectively), where they merge with the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). Hope is at the eastern terminus of Highway 7. Hope is a member municipality of the Fraser Valley Regional District which provides certain municipal-type services to unincorporated settlements and rural areas.
The District of Hope includes Hope Townsite[1] (the previous Town of Hope)[2] and surrounding areas including the communities of Kawkawa Lake,[3] Silver Creek,[4] Flood, and Lake of the Woods.[5]
Contents |
The history of Hope can be divided into thousands of years of First Nations settlement and a European settlement period from 1808 to present day.
Hope's First Nations settlement period starts with the first traces of people living in the Fraser Valley. These first nation origins date from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, when the Sto:lo First Nations were in the area. In late 1782 a smallpox epidemic among the Stó:lō killed thousands or an estimated two thirds of the population.
The European settlement period of Hope history begins in 1808. Explorer Simon Fraser arrived in what is now Hope in 1808, and the Hudson's Bay Company created the Fort Hope trading post in 1848. The area was transformed by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, beginning in 1858. The following year Governor James Douglas laid out the Fort Hope townsite. Hope became part of the Colony of British Columbia when the new British colony was created on 2 August 1858. Along with the rest of British Columbia, Hope became part of Canada in 1871. Late in 1859, Reverend Alexander St. David Francis Pringle arrived in Hope. On December 1 of that year, he founded the first library on the British Columbia mainland. Within two years, he founded Christ Church (Anglican). Today, Christ Church is the oldest church on the B.C. mainland still holding services on its original site and is a National Historic Site of Canada.[6][7] Hope incorporated as a village (District) on 6 April 1929, became a Town on 1 January 1965, and was reincorporated as a District Municipality named the District of Hope on 7 December 1992.[8]
During World War II an internment camp for Japanese Canadians was set up in Hope.
Hope is located at the easternmost point of British Columbia's Lower Mainland area and is usually considered to be part of the Fraser Canyon area or Eastern Fraser Valley as the Lower Mainland is commonly understood as synonymous with Greater Vancouver. There are relatively significant peaks to the north, east, and south of the townsite. Only to the west can flat land be seen, and that view is dominated by the broad lower reaches of the Fraser River. The segment from Lytton to Hope separates the Cascade Mountains and Coast Mountains, thereby forming the lower part of the Fraser Canyon, which begins far upriver near Williams Lake. At Hope, the river enters a broad flood plain extending 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the coast and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Coquihalla and Silverhope rise in the Cascade Mountains northeast and south of Hope respectively, and empty into the Fraser River.
| Climate data for Hope | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15 (59) |
19.4 (66.9) |
25.1 (77.2) |
30.1 (86.2) |
38.4 (101.1) |
36.7 (98.1) |
40 (104) |
39.1 (102.4) |
38.3 (100.9) |
29 (84) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
40 (104) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
15 (59) |
18.4 (65.1) |
20.7 (69.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
21.2 (70.2) |
14.6 (58.3) |
7.2 (45.0) |
3.9 (39.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) |
0 (32) |
2.1 (35.8) |
4.6 (40.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
12.6 (54.7) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
6.3 (43.3) |
1.9 (35.4) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
5.6 (42.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −22.8 (−9.0) |
−21.1 (−6.0) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−11.2 (11.8) |
−21.4 (−6.5) |
−24.4 (−11.9) |
−24.4 (−11.9) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 281.2 (11.071) |
208.3 (8.201) |
174 (6.85) |
145.2 (5.717) |
106.3 (4.185) |
93.1 (3.665) |
64.4 (2.535) |
53.5 (2.106) |
98.5 (3.878) |
191 (7.52) |
309.8 (12.197) |
283.1 (11.146) |
2,008.4 (79.071) |
| Source: Environment Canada[9] | |||||||||||||
(according to Statistics Canada 2006 census)
Hope holds chainsaw wood carving competitions and exhibitions. From 4–7 September 2008 the Second Annual Hope Chainsaw Carving Competition took place.[10] Chainsaw wood carvings are displayed and exhibited throughout the downtown core of Hope. Memorial Park in downtown Hope has a display of chainsaw wood carvings. Hope is home to a notable widely known carver named Pete Ryan who has carved a number of the chainsaw wood carvings exhibited in downtown Hope.[11]
The Hope Arts Gallery exhibits and sells a variety of art by local artists.[12] The Hope Arts Gallery is located in downtown Hope and has several rooms displaying sculpture, pottery, paintings and drawings, jewellery, fabric arts, basketry, cards and gifts, and photography. The Hope Arts Gallery is run by volunteers from the Hope Arts Guild. The Hope Arts Gallery presents ART WALK, a self-guided tour to art and chainsaw wood carvings in Hope.
One of the largest events of the year in Hope is Hope Brigade Days. Hope Brigade Days occur every year at the start of September. Hope Brigade Days events include a parade, fireworks display, midway, chainsaw carving competition, demolition derby, kids' carnival, and 4x4 racing.[13][14]
The Hope Museum shows the history, culture and heritage of Hope. Located in downtown Hope together with the Hope Visitors Centre, the Hope Museum is open during the summer. Exhibits include First Nations culture, early Fort Hope, the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, the Kettle Valley Railway, pioneer life, logging, and mining. A main exhibit is The Home Gold Mill gold ore concentrator. The large Home Gold Mill exhibit is located outside the Museum and can be viewed year round.[15][16]
The Hope Recreation Complex includes a pool, arena, and fitness centre. The Hope and District Recreation Complex is run by the Fraser Valley Regional District.[17]
The Hope Slide was one of the largest landslides ever recorded in Canada. It occurred in the morning hours of January 9, 1965, near Hope, British Columbia, and killed four people. A viewing site showing the Hope Slide is located approximately a 15-minute drive east of Hope on Highway 3.[18][19]
Immediately adjacent to the District Hall in Hope is a Japanese garden called the Friendship Garden, dedicated to the Japanese-Canadians who were interned nearby at Tashme during World War II.[20] It was built by local Japanese-Canadians, and presented to Hope on July 27, 1991.[21]
Hope Memorial Park, adjacent to the District Hall and Friendship Garden, is the site of a concert series on Sunday afternoons in July and August.[22]
Memorial Park was granted to the then-village of Hope in 1932 by the province of British Columbia. It occupies roughly 7 acres (28,000 m2) in the heart of the town.
Othello Tunnels is the popular name for the main human-made features of Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, located east of Hope along the canyon of the Coquihalla River and a decommissioned railway grade, now a walking trail, leading eventually to Coquihalla Pass. Originally part of the Kettle Valley Railway, five tunnels and a series of bridges give a spectacular view of the Coquihalla River as it passes through the river's narrow gorge.[23][24]
The Hope Curling Club is located close to the Hope Recreation Complex. The Hope Curling Club sponsors bonspiels such as the Men's Bonspiel annually in January as well as the Mixed Curling Bonspiel.[25]
Hope has a picturesque Golf course and club located on the banks of the Coquihalla River.[26]
The Hope Icebreakers were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team. They played in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the town of Hope, British Columbia, Canada from the 03/04 to the 07/08 season, after which they were approved by BC hockey to move to Mission, BC, Canada. They subsequently changed their name to the Mission Icebreakers.
The District of Hope is a district municipality that is part of the regional district called the Fraser Valley Regional District.
The Mayor of Hope is Laurie French.[27][28] The District of Hope provides services such as Planning & Community Development, Building Permitting, Bylaw Enforcement, Operations (Public Works) and information about the District of Hope Volunteer Fire Department.[29]
Mayor Laurie French also serves as a director on the Board of the Fraser Valley Regional District.[30] In addition to regional planning, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) works in collaboration with the District of Hope to provide recreational and cultural programs, ice arena and swimming pool, regional parks, mapping, air quality, mosquito control, weed control, E911 dispatch fire service, and search and rescue.[31]
Hope is in the Chilliwack-Hope riding provincially. The current MLA is Barry Penner,[32] who was elected in the 2009 British Columbia general election.
Hope is in the electoral district of Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon,[33][34] which is represented in the Canadian House of Commons by Mark Strahl[35].
The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) passes through Hope. Hope is the southern terminus of the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5), the western terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, locally known as the Hope-Princeton highway (Highway 3), and the eastern terminus of Highway 7.
Hope Aerodrome (IATA: YHE, ICAO: CYHE) is located 2.6 NM (4.8 km; 3.0 mi) west of the Hope Townsite[1](the previous Town of Hope) within the municipal District of Hope, British Columbia, Canada. The aerodrome is operated by the Fraser Valley Regional District. There is one turf runway 3,960 ft (1,210 m) long. The airfield is home to the Vancouver Soaring Association, a gliding club owning and operating school and recreational sailplanes and tow planes. Hope Aerodrome lies within the community of Flood in the District of Hope.[36]
Both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways pass through Hope. The Canadian, a Canadian transcontinental passenger train currently operated by Via Rail Canada, passes through Hope, calling at the Hope railway station.
Hope heliport is a private heliport located at Fraser Canyon Hospital.
Hope has charter helicopter service available that provides service for the natural resource industry, including forestry and mining exploration, as well as other industries including film, tourism, and public service.
Fraser Canyon Hospital is a 10-bed hospital and provides services including: 24/7 emergency care stabilization and triage and hospice beds and services. Emergency care stabilization and triage 24/7 is unique to Fraser Canyon Hospital due to its geographic isolation and emergency service requirements in an area where major highways converge.[37] Fraser Canyon Hospital officially opened on January 10, 1959, and began as a 20-bed hospital, complete with delivery and operating rooms.[38]
The Fraser-Cascade School District #78 operates several schools in the District of Hope.[39] There are three schools in Hope Townsite[1](the previous Town of Hope): Coquihalla Elementary School, which offers Kindergarten to Grade 4; C.E. Barry Elementary School, which offers Grades 5-7; and Hope Secondary School, which offers Grades 8-12. In addition, Silver Creek Elementary School, which is located in the community of Silver Creek, offers Grades Kindergarten to 7, with these students then attending Hope Secondary School for Grades 8-12.[40] The Fraser-Cascade School District also operates other educational programs such as the District Alternative Secondary Program.[41]
Hope has been a popular location to shoot films. First Blood (1982), the first Rambo film, starring Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, and Richard Crenna, was filmed almost entirely in and around Hope, as was Shoot to Kill (1988), starring Sidney Poitier, Tom Berenger and Kirstie Alley. K2 (1992) was also filmed nearby, with the area's mountains standing in for the Himalayas.[42]
Hope Springs (2003), starring Colin Firth and Heather Graham, was filmed in and around Hope, but set in a fictional Hope, Vermont in the United States.[42]
Other films made in whole or in part in and around Hope have included Fire with Fire (1986), Yellow Dog (1994), White Fang II (1994), The Pledge (2001), The Stick Up (2003, starring James Spader), Suspicious River (2004), Afghan Knights (2007), and Wind Chill (2007).[42] Hope was the setting for a story by Todd McFarlane in Spider-Man #8-12.
Reality show contestant Ryan Jenkins from VH1's series Megan Wants a Millionaire was found dead in the Thunderbird Motel in Hope on August 23, 2009, of an apparent suicide after being charged with the murder of his wife in California.[43]
| Ruby Creek | Yale | Merritt | ||
| Laidlaw, Chilliwack |
Princeton | |||
| Hope | ||||
| Chilliwack Lake | Ross Lake | Manning Park |
|
|||||||||||||||||
