Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland is in the West Kootenay region of south central British Columbia. High in the Monashee Mountains, the city lies immediately east of the intersections of BC highways 3B and 22. The facilities provide a winter base for the nearby multi-peak ski hills of the Red Mountain Resort. In the non-winter months Rossland is frequented by mountain bikers, with golf and fishing options nearby as well.

Name origin

The Sinixt First Nation called the Rossland area ''kEluwi'sst'' or ''kmarkn''. As to the word meanings, suggestions have included an "important temporary camp" or "up in the hills" for the former, and "smooth top" for the latter, referring to Red Mountain. Once mining claims were staked, the area became known as Trail Creek camp, the creek name derived from the Dewdney Trail.

The final naming acknowledged Ross Thompson, who preempted 160 acres in 1892. He subdivided the land into lots in 1894 to become the townsite of Thompson. A few months later, the name changed to Rossland. The postal authorities may have requested the amendment to avoid confusion with similarly named places.

First claims

In July 1890, partners Joe Bourjouis and Joe Morris staked claims on Red Mountain, but the assays were disappointing. Since an individual could register only two claims, the pair paid the $2.50 per claim to register the Center Star, War Eagle, Idaho and Virginia. For $10, they gave their Le Wise claim to the Deputy Recorder of Mines, "Colonel" Eugene Sayre Topping, to register for himself as Le Roi. Leaving government service, Topping joined a Spokane syndicate that purchased 53 per cent of the property from him for $16,000 that November. The following spring, several tons of ore went by mule down the mountain and along the Dewdney Trail to Trail Creek Landing at the creek mouth. Following boat transport to Little Dalles, Washington, the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway (SF&N), and connecting lines, railed the product to the Colorado Smelting and Mining Company Works at Butte, Montana.

Wagon roads & deals

During 1891, a patchwork of mines operated on the mountain, Le Roi Mining and Smelting Company was incorporated, and Topping sold his remaining interest for $30,000. Late the next year, a ferry across the river from the SF&N station at Northport, Washington connected with Oliver Durant's new wagon road from Red Mountain. A fleet of 40 wagons to Northport largely replaced the mule trains to Trail. That year, Bourjouis and Morris sold their Center Star and War Eagle mines, which with the Le Roi, produced 96 per cent of the mountain's 1,500,000 tons of ore to 1903. In 1893, an wide wagon road was graded along Trail Creek, to win back traffic for Trail. The mountain output of 18,500 tons in 1894 increased ten-fold the next year.

Early railways & consolidation

In June 1896, the first loaded ore train ran along the initial section of Heinze's Columbia and Western Railway (C&W) from Red Mountain to the Trail smelter. After a delay over a US right-of-way, Corbin's Red Mountain–Northport railway, comprising the Red Mountain Railway (RMR) (BC section) and Columbia & Red Mountain Railway (C&RM) (WA section), opened in December 1896. The next year, Le Roi's contract to exclusively supply the Trail smelter expired. When Le Roi owners opened the Northport smelter in January 1898, competition further intensified. That March, Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the C&W and Trail smelter. That July, the Northern Pacific Railway (NP) acquired the RMR, C&RM, and Northport smelter. That August, British America Corporation completed its purchase of Le Roi holdings.

Early community

Since miners did not own the land upon which their tents or shacks stood, many acquired freehold lots in town for permanent residences. In February 1895, the first edition of the Rossland Record listed a blacksmith, a tinsmith, a cobbler, a customs agent, a baker, a land surveyor, a lawyer, two sawyers, two barbers, three doctors, four bartenders, four hoteliers, and a justice of the peace. Months later, strict John (Jack) Kirkup became the constable. A ten-passenger coach ran to Trail Creek Landing. Presbyterian, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches, and a school, were soon established. In January 1896, a small electricity generator came on line, and was later upgraded. In 1898, West Kootenay Power became the supplier from Bonnington Falls dam.

In March 1897, Rossland became a city. The eight doctors, 17 legal firms, and 42 saloons served an estimated 7,000 residents. This peak aligned with the 1901 census count of 6,000. A string of newspapers followed, the Rossland Miner being the most enduring. The fire of August 1902 consumed both sides of upper Spokane Street, leaving only the old International Hotel standing. A December 1905 explosion wrecked roofs and shattered windows. The fires of January 1927, and March 1929, levelled the wooden buildings of Columbia Street. Depleting mines, World War I, and the Great Depression shrank the population.

Early Map

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Mining diminishes

Industrial disputes, strikes and lockouts plagued the mines. Whenever possible, mine owners substituted non-union labour. Militant unions achieved an 8-hour workday in 1899, and protection of unions and their members in subsequent years. Collapsing copper prices, making mine operations unviable, compelled workers to trade job security for wage rollbacks in 1907.

In 1906, the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada (CM&S), a consortium comprising the smelter and several Red Mountain mines at Rossland, was formed. CP had a 54 per cent holding. In 1911, CM&S bought Le Roi mine, gaining a virtual monopoly over mountain ore. Under new owners, the Northport smelter worked part-time during World War I, permanently closing in 1921. Service frequency on the railway line to Northport diminished during this period, with the last run in July 1921, and abandonment the next year.

Later facilities

When Le Roi mine closed in 1929, big ore trains ceased on the CP Rossland–Trail section. About 60 independent properties remained in operation on the mountain. In 1933, 10,000 tons were extracted, reducing to 335 tons in 1937. World War II ended mining on the mountain. By then, Rossland had become a bedroom community for Trail. Highway improvements ended rail passenger service with Trail in 1936. However, the three times a week freight train continued. Frequency progressively reduced until the line was lifted in 1966. In 1951, CP rebuilt the original station, but this replacement was demolished in 1973.

Formerly the only access was Highway 22, with Trail northeastward, and the US border southward. In 1964, Highway 3A opened northward, with paving the following year.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Rossland had a population of 4,140 living in 1,803 of its 2,075 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 3,729. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Rossland included:
*Irreligion (2,930 persons or 70.9%)
*Christianity (1,085 persons or 26.2%)
*Judaism (35 persons or 0.8%)
*Buddhism (10 persons or 0.2%)
*Other (60 persons or 1.5%)

Attractions

Various historic buildings and facilities exist. These include:

*Miners’ Union Hall (1898) is one of the first union halls built in the province.
*Court House (1901) was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
*Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre, on five acres of the old plant site, displays former workings and mining equipment.

Notable people

* Dallas Drake, retired NHL Hockey player, Stanley Cup champion (Detroit Red Wings)
*Nancy Greene, alpine ski racer, two-time overall World Cup champion (1967, 1968), Olympic Gold medalist
*George Grey, Cross country skier, Olympian
*Kerrin Lee-Gartner, downhill ski racer, Olympic Gold Medalist
* Seth Martin, former hockey player (St.Louis Blues, Trail Smoke Eaters)
* John Stark, stage actor
* Donald Stevens, retired downhill skier
*John Turner, 17th Canadian Prime Minister, grew up in Rossland after moving to Canada from England as an infant with his family
* Joe Zanussi, retired NHL hockey player (St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets)

Media

Rossland was home to CHLI-FM, Rossland Radio Co-op, an internet-based community radio station which was granted, a low-power FM license with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) at 101.1 FM but went off the air in 2013.

Rossland is served by two newspapers. One is ''The Rossland Telegraph'', an online-only paper, founded in August 2008. In July 2010 the "Rossland News" was opened and is both online and currently distributes 1,200 papers throughout the town.

Education

School District 20 Kootenay-Columbia operates public schools in Rossland.

The ''Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique'' operates one Francophone school: ''école des Sept-sommets'' primary school.

Seven Summits Centre for Learning
opened in Fall 2013, a high school option for education grades 8–12 in Rossland. As innovative educators, Seven Summits Centre for Learning blends the best of the online digital world with the traditional to make an exceptional, blended, learner-centered high school alternative, which is academically robust, technically advanced, and empowers youth. Highly qualified BC-certified teachers who love their subjects share their knowledge face-to-face in small groups. One-on-one time is given to those that need the extra boost. Experts run authentically engaging workshops and talks. At Seven Summits Centre for Learning students pursue adventure, fitness, and personal growth in nature’s playground and learn by doing on exciting field trips. Seven Summits Centre for Learning blends all this with supervised access to a full range of courses delivered in virtual online classrooms provided by Navigate NIDES (School District 71). Imagine mapping a journey about courses that really interest students, and at their own pace. Motivated learners really can have it all. They become the co-author of their own learning, an architect of their own destiny. Seven Summits Centre for Learning's motto is: Creating Adventures in Learning. Not-for-Profit Educational Centre in Rossland, the Kootenays, British Columbia , Seven Summits Centre for Learning https://sevensummitslearning.com/

Climate

Rossland features a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb) experiencing all four seasons. Summer days are usually warm with cool nights, while winters are cold with lows in the teens.

Freedom of the City

The following people have received the Freedom of the City of Rossland.

Individuals

* John A. McLeod: 1955.
* Nancy Greene Raine : 1967.
* Harry Levefre: 1984.

References

External links

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Cities in British Columbia
Populated places in the West Kootenay