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Revision as of 06:49, 22 January 2010 editKenWalker (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers10,840 edits Undid revision 339304643 by Stuntology (talk) restoring sourced information removed by sockpuppet← Previous edit Revision as of 06:58, 22 January 2010 edit undoStuntology (talk | contribs)20 edits →Demographics: Setting things straight.Next edit →
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], taken in 2001, recorded 5,415 residents living in 2,195 households and 1,460 families. Of those over 15 years of age in 2001, 48% were married, slightly lower than the 51% provincial average. With 87% of Smithers residents being Canadian-born, and 88% with an English-only mother tongue, the town has few visible minorities. Though not included as visible minorities, 10% identified themselves as Aboriginal, a higher proportion than the 4% provincial average. ], taken in 2001, recorded 5,415 residents living in 2,195 households and 1,460 families. Of those over 15 years of age in 2001, 48% were married, slightly lower than the 51% provincial average. With 87% of Smithers residents being Canadian-born, and 88% with an English-only mother tongue, the town has few visible minorities. Though not included as visible minorities, 10% identified themselves as Aboriginal, a higher proportion than the 4% provincial average.


===Jewish community=== There never was a Jewish community, if you thought so, you are mistaken.
]
Smithers has a sizable Jewish community which supports two synagogues and and a kosher deli. Smithers' Jewish population was once mostly ], today reflected by the older generation. Recently, younger Smithereen Jews have turned to more liberal ]. This shift in demographics has been reflected by the recent, 1998, construction of a reform synagogue. The liberal temple, which has performed several gay marriages<ref>Cole, Alexander (28 February 2005). "Hava Na''gay''la: vows shared in Smithers' first Jewish, same-sex ceremony". The Interior News.</ref>, complements Smithers' more conservative orthodox Jewish community.

Jews fleeing ] elsewhere in British Columbia rode the rails to Smithers and established it as the "Jewish capital" of northern British Columbia today<ref name="meir">Meir, David (1995) pp. 226</ref>. Initially, four families and a ] — who was the grandfather of one of the families — arrived in ]<ref name="meir" /><ref name="shervill" />. Since then, Jews from all over British Columbia and the ] have flocked to Smithers.<ref name="meir" />

Benjamin Glatzer, Smither's second rabbi, who arrived in early ]<ref >Meir, David (1995) pp. 231</ref>, is fondly remembered by the community.<ref name=shervill>{{Citation | last = Shervill | first = R. Lynn | title = Smithers - From Swamp to Village | place= Cloverdale, BC | publisher = D W Friesen & Sons | year =1981 | isbn = 9780969073703 }}</ref> Little is known about Smither's first rabbi, who died in the winter of ]<ref >Meir, David (1995) pp. 230</ref>. Glatzer begat two generations of Smithers Rabbis, which ended with Rabbi Benjamin Glatzer III who died ], ]. Although he had four sons, all left Smithers to pursue other careers.


==Notable residents== ==Notable residents==

Revision as of 06:58, 22 January 2010

Town in British Columbia, Canada
Town of Smithers
Town
Main Street Smithers (1989)Main Street Smithers (1989)
Flag of Town of SmithersFlagCoat of arms of Town of SmithersCoat of arms
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Regional DistrictRegional District of Bulkley-Nechako
Founded1913
Incorporated (village)1921
Incorporated (town)1967
Government
 • MayorCress Farrow
 • Governing BodyTown of Smithers Council
Area
 • Total15.54 km (6.00 sq mi)
Elevation490 m (1,610 ft)
Population
 • Total5,217
 • Density348.4/km (902/sq mi)
DemonymSmithereen
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Postal code spanV0J
Area code(s)250, 778
DemonymSmithereen
WebsiteSmithers.ca

Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. With a population of 5,509, Smithers is a service area for most of the Bulkley Valley.

History

The Bulkley Valley in which Smithers is situated was originally inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en, an indigenous Carrier people whose native tongue is of the Athabaskan language family. Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers. In 1921, Smithers became the first incorporated village in British Columbia . In 1967, Smithers was incorporated as a town.

Civic orientation

The Town was surveyed in 1913 and a street grid pattern was established that is still very much evident today. Historically, intensive development has been oriented towards Main Street as the prime commercial focus with residential development radiating outward from the commercial core. The traditional downtown was punctuated by important civic structures — the (old) Courthouse at the intersection of Main Street with Hwy 16 or by community focal points — the Canadian National Railway station at the western end of Main Street. This pattern has been sustained by the preservation of the old courthouse, with establishment of a major civic park in Central Park, and with the on-going restoration of the CN railway station as a community resource centre. service.

The Smithers railway station is served by VIA Rails Skeena passenger service.

Culture

Smithers and the Bulkley Valley have often been described by non-residents as being distinct from the rest of Northern British Columbia. According to a 1990s survey, per capita, Smithers has 'the most of' in almost every category. Many factors contribute to the composition of society in Smithers, including the arts, environmental protection, and local industries such as forestry and mining.

Smithers has adopted an alpine theme, which is drawn from the geography of the area. A town bylaw requires businesses in the downtown area centered on Main Street to construct their buildings in an alpine style. A fiberglass statue of a man blowing an alpine horn, commonly referred to as The Alpenman or Alpine Al, is located at the entrance to the main street and has become the town symbol. Similarly, the Smithers chamber of commerce displays an Alpine Al costume at community events and in television advertisements for the town's businesses.

Residents of Smithers are called Smithereens which remains a more popularly accepted title than the sometimes used 'Smitherite'.

Smithereens have a particularly strong environmental ethic. In 2006, over 600 Smithereens took to the streets to voice their opposition to a proposed coalbed methane gas field near Telkwa, which threatened local water quality, landscape integrity and wild salmon populations.

Smithers and the Bulkley Valley are home to many musicians, including Juno-Award-winning Alexis Puentes and hometown folk hero Mark Perry. The biggest assembly of musical talent happens during the annual Mid-Summer Music Festival in late June. Over the years, the Mid-Summer Music Festival has seen some famous acts like Spirit of the West and the Barenaked Ladies and has drawn audiences and participants from all across North America.

The Della Herman Theatre, named after a long time resident and former school board official, is the primary venue for shows and performances, though several pubs and even open fields serve as secondary performance venues. Numerous organizations including the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council operate to keep music and other artistic activities vibrant.

Demographics

Canada 2001 Census
Smithers British Columbia
Median age 33.3 years 38.4 years
Under 15 years old 24% 18%
Between 25 and 44 years old 31% 30%
Over 65 years old 10% 14%
Visible minority 4% 21%
Protestant 35% 31%
Catholic 20% 17%

The latest census, taken in 2001, recorded 5,415 residents living in 2,195 households and 1,460 families. Of those over 15 years of age in 2001, 48% were married, slightly lower than the 51% provincial average. With 87% of Smithers residents being Canadian-born, and 88% with an English-only mother tongue, the town has few visible minorities. Though not included as visible minorities, 10% identified themselves as Aboriginal, a higher proportion than the 4% provincial average.

There never was a Jewish community, if you thought so, you are mistaken.

Notable residents

Hockey players

Despite its small population, Smithers has produced several notable professional ice hockey players:

Others

Miscellaneous

  • Smithers Airport underwent a runway extension completed in the summer of 2008 that allows the landing of smaller jet aircraft.
  • The airline Central Mountain Air is based in Smithers.
  • The film Eight Below was filmed here.
  • The Comedy Network television show, Alice, I Think, is based on Smithers. (However, not actually filmed in Smithers aside from location shots.)

References

  1. Smithers at www.canadianencyclopedia.ca
  2. http://concernedaboutcbm.org
  3. Statistics Canada, Community Highlights for Smithers, 2001 Community Profiles, October 23, 2007.
  4. Smithers Regional Airport

External links

Subdivisions of British Columbia
Subdivisions
Communities
Metro areas and
agglomerations
Towns
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