Nelson, BC, Canada

Nelson is world-renowned for its exquisite setting on the shores of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. The fever began when, in the late fall of 1886, a band of prospectors led by the Hall Brothers of Fort Colville discovered that in southeastern B.C., near the top of Toad Mountain, lay a supply of silver which had a purity of over 300 ounces of silver per ton of ore, and produced gold as a by-product.

The claims that the Hall Brothers staked led to the development of the thriving Silver King Mine and the village of “Fredericton”. The rich ore from Silver King descended on a 1220-vertical-metre aerial tramway to a smelter in the nearby community of “Salisbury,” on the shore of Kootenay Lake. In 1890 Salisbury’s name was changed to Nelson, in honor of Hugh Nelson, the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. at the time. On March 18, 1897, Nelson was incorporated.

The mining era is mostly a memory now, but through the heyday of the sternwheelers and with the arrival of the railroads, the steady development of Nelson’s modern infrastructure continued. Nelson was home to Canada’s first Civic Centre and is still served by this structure today, which includes a movie theatre, a gymnasium and arena. Through decades of remarkable lifestyle, thriving outdoor adventure, and a culture strengthened by a strong regional presence of the arts and education, Nelson has developed into a city of 9500 residents. To retain its small-city character, Nelson works to protect its heritage values and architectural styles and these efforts to preserve its rich history have made Nelson famous throughout North America and abroad.

Nelson is an area not yet over run by the rest of the world. In Nelson you can enjoy all of the four seasons in a magnificent mountain playground steeped in natural history and vibrant with a local arts scene.

Mild winters and an abundance of snow make Nelson a destination for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and heli-skiing, and its warm summers make it one of B.C.’s best hiking, climbing, mountain biking, golfing, fishing, camping, and kayaking spots.

Nelson continues to be an important cultural and arts centre whose lively local arts groups contribute a vital and critical dimension to the livability of the city.

Nelson serves as an important centre for government and post-secondary education services, and coupled with a growing tourism industry, is shifting its economic base from one reliant upon industry to one that relies more on the service sector.

Much of Nelson’s strength comes from its residents who are knowledgeable and energetic in community affairs and who over the years have created a number of strong vibrant local residential neighborhoods whose characters are distinct.

Nelson offers an eclectic array of boutiques in the downtown core making shopping a unique and fun experience. From one restaurant to the next, dining out is always an exploration of new taste possibilities (for taste buds). Fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables can easily be found at local markets and some of the finest coffee available anywhere is produced right here in Nelson.

Check out these Nelson links.