Nelson, British Columbia
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Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains, on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The city is known for its collection of restored heritage buildings that date back to a regional silver rush in 1886. Nelson is one of the three cities forming the commercial and population core of the West Kootenay region, the others being Castlegar and Trail. The city is the seat of the Regional District of Central Kootenay. It is represented in the provincial legislature by the riding of Nelson-Creston, and in the Parliament of Canada by the riding of Kootenay—Columbia.
History
Founding
The city of Nelson is located in the western Kootenay region of British Columbia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gold and silver were discovered in the area in 1867. The subsequent discovery of silver at Toad Mountain in 1886 led to a rapid expansion of the town's population, resulting in incorporation in 1897.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
To support the growing community, two railways were constructed to pass through Nelson, positioning the town as a transportation and distribution hub. Due to its proximity to major transportation corridors, Nelson developed into a supply center for local mining activities and soon became the region's primary transportation and distribution center.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nelson was named in 1888 after Hugh Nelson, who was the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia at the time.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A dock for steamboats was built in 1892.<ref>Harper, T. (2024, September 16). Four years after it was announced, nelson's hall street pier finally opens. Nelson Star. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.nelsonstar.com/local-news/four-years-after-it-was-announced-nelsons-hall-street-pier-finally-opens-7537940</ref>
Early 20th century
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Francis Rattenbury, an architect most noted in British Columbia for the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, the Vancouver Provincial Courthouse, and the second Hotel Vancouver, designed chateau-style civic buildings made of granite, which stand today. By the 1900s, Nelson boasted several fine hotels, a Hudson's Bay Company store and an electric streetcar system. The local forestry and mining industries were well established.Template:Citation needed
The town built its own hydroelectric generating system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> English immigrants planted lakeside orchards, and Doukhobors from Russia, sponsored by Tolstoy and the Quakers, tilled the valley benchlands. The Doukhobor museum is located nearby, close to the neighbouring town of Castlegar.
From 1917 to 1920, Nelson used Single Transferable Vote (STV), a form of proportional representation, to elect its councillors. Councillors were elected in one at-large district. Each voter casts just a single vote using a ranked transferable ballot.Template:Citation needed
During the Vietnam War, many U.S. draft evaders settled in Nelson and the surrounding area. This influx of liberal young people, most of whom had high levels of education, significantly changed the area's cultural and political demographics.Template:Citation needed The town took on the nickname "Resisterville". This is chronicled in the 2014 book Resisterville by Kathleen Rodgers. Those U.S. resisters started, or helped lead, several intentional communities in the Nelson area—Harmony's Gate; The Reds and the Blues; and New Family.<ref>The Edmonton Journal, July 12, 2025, p. B3</ref> As a successor to those intentional communities, in 1996 the Middle Road Community commune was founded in Nelson.<ref>"Foundation for Intentional Community", https://www.ic.org/directory/middle-road-community-the/?srsltid=AfmBOopgkpSjKn-ougHS2vJe2Oo_w04xBu3PCR-TLy2EmZUCrLlf1h-T</ref>
Nelson's mountainous geography kept growth confined to the narrow valley bottom, except for specific hillside structures such as the local High School and the former Notre Dame University College (NDU) campus. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, when more prosperous cities were tearing down and rebuilding their downtowns to the design of the time, Nelson merchants 'modernized' their buildings with aluminum siding.Template:Citation needed
Baker Street
In the early 1980s, Nelson suffered a devastating economic downturn when the local Kootenay Forest Products sawmill was closed. Downtown merchants were already suffering from the opening of a large, regional shopping centre on Nelson's central waterfront, the Chahko Mika Mall. At the time, Victoria and Vancouver were experimenting with historical restorations of their oldest areas, with some success.Template:Citation needed To save downtown and Baker Street from blight, Nelson quickly followed suit, stripping aluminum facades and restoring the buildings to their original brilliance. Local designer Bob Inwood, one of Nelson's many American immigrants, played a significant role as a consultant. By 1985, Baker Street was completely transformed. Affirmation of the street's success came in 1986 when Steve Martin chose to produce his feature film, Roxanne, primarily in Nelson, using the local fire hall as a primary set and many historic locations for others. More broadly, the transformation marked the beginning of Nelson's ongoing transition from a resource-based town to an arts and tourism town. A walk down Baker Street through the Historic District is now one of Nelson's promoted visitor activities.Template:Citation needed
Geography
Climate
Nelson has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are warm and drier, with cool temperatures during the night.Template:Citation needed Template:Weather box
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Nelson had a population of 11,106 living in 4,948 of its 5,314 total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2016 population of 10,572. With a land area of Template:Cvt, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.<ref name=2021census>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nelson's poverty rate has been ascertained to be more than twice the provincial and national averages.<ref>"Nelson’s Poverty Rate Nearly Double" Nelson Star, 2021/08/06</ref>
Ethnicity
Religion
According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Nelson included:<ref name="2021censusB">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Irreligion (7,415 persons or 69.1%)
- Christianity (2,675 persons or 24.9%)
- Buddhism (150 persons or 1.4%)
- Judaism (115 persons or 1.1%)
- Sikhism (70 persons or 0.7%)
- Hinduism (65 persons or 0.6%)
- Islam (20 persons or 0.2%)
- Indigenous Spirituality (10 persons or 0.1%)
Economy
The economy of Nelson and the surrounding area has historically been heavily based on forestry and other extractive industries. Though less relevant in recent years this sector still represents a significant portion of the local economy. Nelson is also a provincial administrative center for the Kootenays, with several regional and district offices of the provincial, and federal governments located in Nelson. Tourism has been of growing importance to the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Many craftspeople live in the Nelson region, and as such the city's retail sector includes outlets for sales of local crafts.Template:Citation needed
In recent decades, Nelson and its region had been noted for illegal marijuana production, with The Guardian reporting in 2010 that: Template:Blockquote
Nelson has several retail outlets for natural foods, including a year-round market specializing in these products. A local news source claimed the Kootenay Country Co-op is "the largest independent member-owned natural food store in Canada and a respected player nationally in organic retail circles."<ref>Metcalfe, Bill "Local Food Co-p Becomes Big Time Developer" The Tyee, 2013/07/31.</ref> The Save-On-Foods in Nelson is known for its organic and natural foods.<ref>Johnson, Will January 4, 2017 Nelson Star, vol. 9, issue 51, pp. A2-A3</ref>
The Nelson Brewing Company is a microbrewery in Nelson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Arts and culture
Nelson is noted as a cultural centre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nelson has benefited from art education opportunities for many decades. High-school-level art classes had always existed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Then, in 1957-58 an independent Nelson School of Art began to offer two-week programs in a provisional fashion. NSA progressed to offering diploma programs in 1960; with an expanded program in 1961, its name was changed to Kootenay School of Art. It was recognized as British Columbia's first art school. In 1969, the School's studio training was relocated into the city's Notre Dame University campus. In 1972, direct support from the province for its programs having ended, the School was steered into a trial merger with Selkirk College. In 1974 the School, at that point fully merged into Selkirk College, affiliated with Eastern Washington State College as well, to offer graduate internships.<ref name="timeline">Template:Cite web</ref>
Notre Dame University closed in 1977, and the Kootenay School of Art with it.<ref name="timeline"/> It was succeeded in 1979 by offerings of the University of Victoria-sponsored David Thompson University Centre in buildings formerly accommodating Notre Dame. In 1991, an independent institution with an emphasis on fine crafts, Kootenay School of the Arts, was founded. In a few years, the School secured possession of a spacious stone heritage building. In 2006, remaining in its own building, the School was absorbed by the region's Selkirk College as a department, renamed Kootenay Studio Arts. In addition, Selkirk College offers another respected department, its School of Music & Media, in the former Notre Dame buildings.Template:Citation needed
The independent artists-run Oxygen Art Centre was developed by the Nelson Fine Art Centre Society (founded in 2002) by former writing and visual art faculty from the Kootenay School of the Arts. In 2005, the Society opened the Oxygen Art Centre in downtown Nelson, offering classes, exhibitions, and residencies. The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery provides gallery space for travelling exhibitions, and work by some of the region's artists.Template:Citation needed
Attractions
In 1998, Nelson was highlighted as the "Number One Small Town Arts Community in Canada" by the publisher of The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America,<ref name="ReferenceA">Villani, John 1998 100 Best Small Art Towns In America. Emeryville, Calif: Avalon Travel Publishers.</ref> and is home to a large and diverse artisan community.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
The annual Artwalk,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a display of artwork at various venues around town, features local talent where trippers and artwalkers (as the locals call them) can get an up close and personal look at the studios and creative processes of local artisans. July, August, and September mark three months of exhibitions throughout the downtown core in a variety of galleries and local businesses. Each month has a separate grand opening (usually the first Friday evening of the month), which includes refreshments, musicians, panhandlers, and artwork for locals and visitors to enjoy as they stroll through downtown Nelson.
The Nelson Farmers Market located at Cottonwood Falls Park takes place every Saturday from May through October. The Downtown Farmers Market happens on Baker Street every Wednesday from June through September. Market Night, a lively nighttime street market in the heart of Nelson's downtown, happens twice each summer. The markets all offer regional farm produce, delicious foods, and a variety of locally hand-crafted products.Template:Citation needed
Two local hiking trails are popular. The Pulpit Rock Trail offers a short but somewhat challenging hike that ends with a view of the city. After Pulpit Rock, the trail continues up the spine of Elephant Mountain (an informal local name for Mount Nelson) to more postcard views and eventually to the radio towers visible everywhere in the city. Hikers venturing beyond Pulpit Rock should have essential wilderness gear and exercise common sense. Public access to the Pulpit Rock trail has been restored with the opening, in the spring of 2009, of a new access point several hundred metres west of the old trailhead, which was on private land. Template:Citation needed
In the winter, skiing and snowboarding are Nelson's primary outdoor activities. Thirty minutes south of town is the Whitewater Ski Resort, which provides access (via one triple chairlift, one double chairlift, one quad chairlift, and a handle tow) to Template:Convert of beginner to advanced terrain. The resort also provides access to hundreds of kilometres of off-piste skiing and back-country touring. In 2012, Nelson and Rossland, a small city southwest of Nelson, were jointly voted the best ski locales in North America by the readers of California-based Powder magazine.Template:Citation needed
Mountain biking is part of the local culture, and Nelson offers mountain bike-oriented trails for a variety of experience levels.Template:Citation needed
Rock climbing is also a popular summer activity. Kootenay Crag, Hall Siding, Grohman Narrows, and CIC Bluffs are popular city crags. Slocan Bluffs and Kinnaird are in nearby Slocan City and Castlegar. The year 2003 saw bouldering take off in Nelson, with extensive new development of bouldering areas in Grohman Narrows and nearby Robson.Template:Citation needed
Nelson is also located close to Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.Template:Citation needed
On January 13, 2007, Nelson was the broadcast location for the annual Hockey Day in Canada special.Template:Citation needed
Sports
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Leafs | KIJHL | Ice Hockey | Nelson Community Complex | 1932 | 5 |
Infrastructure
Transportation
Highways 3A and 6 pass through Nelson, while a scheduled commercial airline service is available at the West Kootenay Regional Airport in Castlegar, approximately Template:Convert southwest of the city. Trail Airport is another nearby airport, while Nelson Airport is several blocks away from downtown Nelson. Public transit in Nelson is provided by the West Kootenay Transit System, which runs several routes within the city and to neighbouring communities.Template:Citation needed
Both Level 2 and Level 3 (DC fast-charging) electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in the city. A carsharing service is available in the town through the Kootenay Carshare Co-operative.Template:Citation needed
Nelson Pier is a lake pier designed by Matthew Stanley in Nelson. The pier symbolizes the connection between the city and the lake.<ref>Harper, T. (2024, September 16). Four years after it was announced, nelson’s hall street pier finally opens. Nelson Star. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.nelsonstar.com/local-news/four-years-after-it-was-announced-nelsons-hall-street-pier-finally-opens-7537940</ref>
Nelson is served by the freight-only Kootenay Valley Railway, an internal business unit of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Nelson is the historic headquarters of the CPR Kootenay Division, serving as the meeting point of the CPR Boundary subdivision running towards Castlegar, British Columbia, and the CPR Nelson subdivision running towards Cranbrook.Template:Citation needed
Education
School District 8 Kootenay Lake operates public schools in Nelson and surrounding communities.
Schools include Nelson Christian Community School (NCCS), K-Gr.8 and St. Joseph's Catholic School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique operates one French-language school: école des Sentiers-alpins.<ref>"Carte des écoles Template:Webarchive." Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britanique. Retrieved on 22 January 2015.</ref>
Nelson is home to the Tenth Street and Silver King campuses of Selkirk College, which absorbed Kootenay School of the Arts as a department and was renamed Kootenay Studio Arts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kootenay Columbia College of Integrative Health Sciences has three campuses on Baker Street in Nelson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Media
Radio
- CJLY-FM 93.5 (Kootenay Co-op Radio)
- CBYN-FM 98.7 (CBC Radio One; repeats CBTK-FM Kelowna)
- CHNV-FM 103.5 ("The Bridge")
- CKKC-FM 106.9 ("EZ Rock")
The Nelson Daily News was a local newspaper that began publishing in 1902. In 2010, it was announced the paper would cease publication, with the final edition of the newspaper published on July 16, 2010.<ref name="ndn12July2010">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> The closure occurred shortly after the Nelson Daily News' acquisition by Black Press, which purchased the paper from Glacier Media Inc.<ref name="Sun 2010">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ndn_6July2010">Template:Cite news</ref>
Black Press prioritized the publication and circulation of the Nelson Star, which is published twice-weekly, on Wednesdays and Fridays. It started being published twice-weekly in 2010. The Nelson Star now circulates to over 9,000 recipients.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Greg Adams — former professional hockey player
- Sarah Allen — actress
- Edward Applewhaite — politician
- Nancy Argenta — soprano singer
- Beth – drag queen
- Selwyn G. Blaylock — mining official
- Robbie Bourdon — freeride mountain biker
- Margaret Catley-Carlson — civil servant
- Anne DeGrace — writer and illustrator
- Alana DeLong — politician
- Syd Desireau — hockey player
- Benno Friesen — politician, professor
- Danny Gare — former professional hockey player and coach
- James E. Gill — geologist, engineer
- Ona Grauer — actress
- Robert Hampton Gray — naval officer and pilot
- John Greyson — director and writer
- Ted Hargreaves — professional hockey player and coach
- Lillian Hickey — All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- John Houston — newspaper editor and politician
- Levi William Humphrey — politician
- Tim Hus — country and folk singer
- Martin Michael Johnson — bishop
- Lionel Kearns — poet and teacher
- Geoff Kinrade — professional hockey player
- Laurelee Kopeck — field hockey player
- Patrick Lane — poet
- Mike Laughton — professional hockey player
- Edna Malone — dancer
- Thomas Middleditch — actor, writer
- Kliph Nesteroff - writer
- John Newlove — poet
- Frederick Niven - writer
- Bri Price — musician
- Pat Price — professional hockey player
- Sandy Santori — politician
- Adham Shaikh — composer, sound designer
- Kurt Sorge — freeride mountain biker
- Norman Symonds — musician
- Daniel C. Van Norman — educator, clergyman, school founder
- Tom Velisek — snowboarder
- Padma Viswanathan — playwright
- Jack Wright — tennis player
See also
- Nelson City (provincial electoral district)
- Kootenay Central, a provincial electoral district, formerly Nelson-Creston
- List of electoral districts in the Kootenays
- List of francophone communities in British Columbia