Vanderhoof is a district municipality near the geographical centre[3] of British Columbia, Canada. Covering 2.92 square kilometers,[4] it has a population of about 4,500 within town limits, and offers services to nearly 10,000 people in nearby rural communities. Its main industries are forestry, agriculture, and related businesses. Tourism is also growing, and mining operations are being developed in the area. It has many elementary schools, and one major secondary school, Nechako Valley Secondary School (NVSS), comprising School District 91 Nechako Lakes. The College of New Caledonia has a regional campus there.
The municipality is named after Herbert Vanderhoof of Chicago, one of its founders. He was an employee of the Grand Trunk Pacific Development Company, a subsidiary of Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.[5][6][7] The municipality's population rapidly expanded until World War II, when many of the town's men left to fight overseas. After the war, an increase in lumber prices and the construction of the Kenney Dam lead to increases in population again. Today Vanderhoof is a service centre in the eastern Bulkley-Nechako for surrounding communities, and the second-largest municipality in the regional district.[8]
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Vanderhoof had a population of 4,346 living in 1,786 of its 1,885 total private dwellings, a change of -2% from its 2016 population of 4,434. With a land area of 53.93 km2 (20.82 sq mi), it had a population density of 80.6/km2 (208.7/sq mi) in 2021.[9]
Ethnicity
Religion
According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Vanderhoof included:[10]
Vanderhoof is known for its bird sanctuary along the Nechako River. Many Canada geese, swans, and other migratory birds pass through Vanderhoof during their annual migrations. The Nechako is home to a number of fish species, including salmon and the endangered Nechako white sturgeon. Many hunters come to Vanderhoof in search of bear, moose, deer, cougar and elk.
Secondary: Nechako Valley Secondary School (NVSS Northside Christian School Valhalla High
Virtual School: EBUS Academy
Culture and recreation
Nechako Valley Exhibition Grounds- home of the Fall Fair (August), 2 riding arenas, and agricultural show facilities
Vanderhoof Heritage Museum
Vanderhoof Airport – 5,018-foot paved runway and two grass runways (5,200 feet and 3,200 feet)
Vanderhoof Aquatic Centre – 6-lane 25m lap pool, climbing wall, 30-person hot tub, sauna, and 1500 sq. foot leisure pool
Vanderhoof Skateboard Park
Grand Reo Theatre – a restored 175-seat movie theatre
Omineca Golf Course – par 72, 18 holes
Disc Golf Course
Vanderhoof Arena – indoor skating rink in the winter, home to Figure Skating Club, Speed Skating Club, Minor Hockey Club, other adult hockey recreation leagues, and a community centre hosting various events in the summer
Bradley Park, Leiding Park, Vanderview Park –playgrounds
Community Garden – greenhouse, raised beds, in-ground plots, public washroom
Rip n' The North Bike Park – mountain bike trails
Moore's Motocross Track – dirt bike track
Community trail system
Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre – identifying, maintaining and potentially restoring critical sturgeon habitat in the Nechako River
Nechako Valley Sporting Association – archery, hand gun range, fishing and hunting, cross-country skiing, trap shooting, Wilderness Watch
Omineca Express – local weekly newspaper published Thursdays
CIAM FM, "The Light 98.5 FM" – community radio station, also a rebroadcaster for CIAM radio network
CBC Radio 1, 91.5 FM
Real Country, 910 AM
Vanderhoof Public Library
Community Bus – free community transportation service (12-passenger capacity with 2 wheelchair positions)
Telegraph Trail
A telegraph line, set up in the 1890s for communication with the Klondike Gold Rush gold fields, was abandoned in the 1930s and later converted into a series of walking trails. A 10 km trail connects Hogsback Lake (near Vanderhoof) to Blackwater Road.
Community events
Wild Goose Chase: held the first Sunday in May, this community 8 km, 5 km, and 3.5 km Fun Run brings out hundreds of participants and volunteers.
Vanderhoof Chamber of Commerce Biennial Trade Show, scheduled in May on the "odd numbered" years.
BC Rodeo - held in April
Stoney Creek Elders Fishing Derby - May
Hooterville Hoot: an annual classic car show, held in early June.
Concert In The Park: July - Local talent performs for an afternoon and evening filled with great entertainment.
Canada Day Celebration: - July 1
Vanderhoof Farmers' Market: fresh locally grown produce, organic meat products, preserves, crafted goods and much more. Markets run Thursdays from June to September.
Vanderhoof International Air show: Taking place biennially in August - showcasing many skilled pilots and their aircraft, as well as several static displays.
Nechako Valley Exhibition: held the third weekend in August. A true country fair that is fun for the whole family.
Recreation/Leisure Fair: held in early September to introduce clubs and recreational opportunities to the community.
The Great Pumpkin Walk: Held annually, October 31 - With hand-carved pumpkins and "trick-or-treating" in the park, attended by thousands of residents—a safe and convenient place for families to spend Halloween night. Followed by a fireworks display that lights up the entire Nechako River Valley.
Parade of Lights and Midnight Madness: Held the first Saturday in December, this kicks off the Christmas time retail season with the light parade and crazy sales at many retail stores.
^Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
References
^"British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
^District of Vanderhoof. Mayor and Councillors
^"Vanderhoof". Official Travel Website of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2006.
^"Census Profile, 2016 Census - Vanderhoof [Population centre], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]". 8 February 2017.
^Carla Funk (2 November 2019). "The small towns that make Canadian literature unique". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 28 August 2020. The town took its name from Herbert Vanderhoof, who envisioned the place as a colony for artists and writers. His dream never took quite took shape, but the town grew and the name stuck.
^"Vanderhoof". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^"Grand Trunk Pacific Development Company Limited". memorybc.ca. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
^"Vanderhoof". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
^"Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
^ a bGovernment of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (4 June 2019). "Electronic Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "Canada's aboriginal population by census subdivisions from the 1986 Census of Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 May 2020). "Data tables, 1981 Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1981 Census - Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 May 2020). "Data tables, 1981 Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1981 Census - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
^"Mural". Good Neighbours Committee.
^"Diversity Mural". Annerose Georgeson.
^"Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data". Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
^"Vanderhoof". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
^"Vanderhoof Braeside Rd". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
^"Vanderhoof BC". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanderhoof, British Columbia.