is a
Community in
British Columbia at the south end of
Discovery Passage on northern
Vancouver Island . Campbell River claims a population (2001 census) of 28,456 and has long been known as the
Salmon capital of the world.
The first settlers were members of the
Kwakiutl First Nations and
Weewaikai (
Cape Mudge ) and
Wewaykum (Campbell River) tribe members of the
Laich-kwil-tach First Nations.
The town is served by
Campbell River Airport , a
Seaplane base called
YHH at
Campbell River Harbour , a
BC Ferries route to
Quadra Island , and highways which connect it to neighbouring towns such as
Courtenay ,
The Village Of Sayward and
Port Hardy .
The people of Campbell River rely on the
Forestry industry, the
Mining industry (Campbell River has been home to many famous miners such as Curtis Davidsen), the
Fishing industry, and the
Tourism industry. It is arguably the
Salmon capital of the world, sharing a healthy rivalry with nearby
Port Alberni , the other contender. It is known for its
Sport Fishing and many tourists come to fish.
The 1948 construction of the BC Power Corporation's Elk Falls
Hydroelectric Dam - later named the
John Hart Generating Station - allowed Crown Zellerbach to establish the Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill in 1952, which greatly improved the town's economy.
Plans to build a
Cruise Ship dock have been in the making for a long time, with the Canadian Government providing $4.23 million assistance in December 2003, and $9 million in 2004 towards the actual construction. Numerous cruise ships go by Campbell River daily, but have never make stops, so a dock would provide large amounts of tourism and revenue. The dock will provide an expected 150 full-time jobs, and an extra $8.5 million for the region. Construction has begun on the project, and is expected to be completed in time to allow cruise ships to visit by the spring of 2007.
Captain
George Vancouver reached Campbell River with the ships
HMS Discovery and
HMS Chatham in 1792. The Captain and his botanist, Mr
Archibald Menzies , discovered a small tribe of 350
Natives who spoke the
Salish language. A Lekwiltok or
Laich-wil-tach (
Kwakiutl or Kwaguilth Native Indian Band) war party, heavily armed with European rifles, paddled south from
Johnstone Strait in the middle of the 19th Century and were in control of the area when the
HMS Plumper came through on a cartography mission under Captain George Henry Richards around 1859. Dr
Samuel Campbell was the ship surgeon, and it's believed his name was given to the town. Likewise, the name of the ship's Lieutenant
Zachary Mudge is preserved in the nearby
Cape Mudge .
Sports fishermen travelled to the area as early as the 1880s, especially after the tales from noted anglers such as
Sir Richard Musgrave and
Sir John Rogers . The formation of the
Campbell River Tyee Club in 1924, over concern regarding over-fishing of the salmon stocks, actually served to increase the popularity of the area.
E.P. Painter , for instance, moved to Campbell River the following year and opened his
Painter's Lodge in 1929.
Campbell River enjoys a mild
Climate , with temperatures usually between 0°C (32°F) and 32°C (90°F) year-round. The most
Precipitation is measured in
November , at 218.0
Mm (8.6
In ) on average. While January sees the most average snow, 152
Mm (6
In ), only 10
Mm (1/3
In ) will be seen actually accumulating.
Campbell River is located near
Seymour Narrows , the site of the largest man-made non-
Nuclear explosions. In 1958 Campbell River miners tunneled for 28 months to plant explosives and demolish a navigational hazard called
Ripple Rock , a submerged peak which made the narrows so treacherous that Captain
George Vancouver claimed it was "one of the vilest stretches of water in the world" upon sailing it in 1792.
Movies filmed in Campbell River:
People From Campbell River Include:
