Facts About Sparwood
LOCATION
Sparwood is located in the centre or Heart of the Elk Valley, in the region known as the East Kootenays in the Southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada.
COORDINATES: 49°43′56″N 114°53′13″W
ELEVATION: 1138.965m (3,800 ft) above sea level in the Rocky Mountains.
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, is located 35 km to the East on Highway #3.
Fernie is located 32 km Southwest on Highway #3. Elkford is 35 km North on Highway #43.
Calgary is 250km to the Northeast. Cranbrook is 125km to the Southwest.
Sparwood is located within Area "A" of the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK).
POPULATION & DWELLINGS
2007 BC Stats estimates - 3,863 persons and 1555 Dwellings.
BC STATS, (This is a 2 page PDF document) Income, Labor etc.
STATS-CANADA (Multiple pages - 2006 Census) 2001
Number of electors on 2005 voters list - 1,905 (1,811 in 2002, 1,676 in 1996)
Additional Community Profile Information may be found at the Chamber of Commerce site
HISTORY
Prior to 1900, there was a railroad stop known as Sparwood which was so named because of the trees from this area being shipped to the Coast for manufacturing SPARS for ocean vessels.
In late 1800's and early 1900's coal development in this area, resulted in small communities known as Michel, Natal and Sparwood (respectively). The former two communities, were in the immediate area of the coal mines and the latter, Sparwood, was a few miles removed and thus not affected by the coal dust.
Further afield, at the Alberta/B.C. border there was (and still is) a small CPR settlement known as Crowsnest. In addition, there was (and still is) a rural area extending northward along the Elk River Valley. In 1960 the Natal settlement incorporated as a Village. By 1966, the Village of Natal and the settlement of Michel became devastated by coal dust pollution. There was no regulatory legislation to protect the public. The Village of Natal in cooperation with the Provincial and Federal Governments entered into an Urban Renewal and Land Assembly program which eventually resulted in the total elimination of Natal and Michel and the expansion of Sparwood community.
In order to afford the local portion of costs, a District Municipality was formed in 1966 which took in the communities of Michel, Natal, Sparwood, Elk Valley (in part only) and Crowsnest.
The Logo bears a tree depicting the areas early attribute which was wood for ship spars. The five stars depict the five settlements which lost their own official identity when incorporated into the District of Sparwood.
BODIES OF WATER
Cummings (Wilson) Creek and Michel Creek are tributaries that flow into the Elk River at Sparwood. The Elk River is well known for its trout fishing. The Elk Lakes and Grave Lake are to the North, Crowsnest Lakes to the East and Lake Koocanusa (Libby Dam reservoir) to the South.
AREA/SIZE
The District of Sparwood covers 18,280 hectares (40,234 acres or 70.58 square miles) of which 142 ha is water Includes the main area and two satellites (Corbin and Line Creek).
TRANSPORTATION
Crowsnest Hwy #3 (The Southern Trans-Canada Highway)
Highway #43 North to Elkford.
Canadian Pacific Railway Main line (Cranbrook Subdivision) and the Elk Valley (Fording Subdivision) spur-line up the Valley.
Greyhound bus lines, Crowsnest Helicopter Service (private), Elk Valley Air Services(private)
Distance of roads and streets under municipal responsibility: 37 km. Most roads are paved, all unpaved (gravel) with dust suppression except for outlying trails.
Trucking Depots and Hot Shot Services
Couriers with delivery services:
(Loomis, Purolator, Greyhound, Cranbrook Parcel, UPS, Canada Post, FedEx)
AIRPORTS
The Elk Valley Airport (paved 4,000-ft. runway) is located 8km North of Sparwood. It is owned and operated by the Regional District of East Kootenay. Other closest Airports - Calgary 250 km, Cranbrook 125 km.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Chamber of Commerce - Business Services - Visitor Information Services
The Sparwood & District Chamber of Commerce provides Business Services and manages the Visitor Information Center. It is located beside the World's Largest Tandem Dump Truck.
Water
Wells (3) - 2 at Mackenzie Springs & 1 Sparwood Proper. > 2,000, 000 impg/day
Treatment - fluoridation added to natural amount to achieve 0.7 mg/l.
Storage capacity 500,000 gallons at two locations, Sparwood Heights and Sparwood Proper.
Sanitary Sewer
Collection system is gravity with 4 lift stations (1 private).
Secondary Treatment: Extended aeration with R.A.S., Ultraviolet Disinfection, outfall to Elk River.
Sewer & Water Main combined lengths = 54 km +-.
Storm Sewers
Gravity out-falls to Elk River.
Garbage
Garbage - Residential weekly pick-up. Higher frequency in commercial areas where necessary.
Recycling
3 Drop-off depots and high volume commercial pick-ups.
Recreation Facilities (Including Municipal)
Nine hole Golf course - Driving Range, Clubhouse, and Cart Path to Campground
All-Season Indoor Pool (handicapped- accessible), whirlpool, sauna, Two Racquetball - Wallyball and Squash courts, physical fitness room, child-play room, climbing wall, weight training centre, arts room, children's programs, swim club
Restaurant in the Leisure Centre.
Banquet Hall
Curling Rink, Four sheets
Arena, Hockey, Figure skating.
Seating Capacities
| Community Hall | 248 |
| Arena Ice Surface | 1,264 |
| Arena Bleachers | 617 |
| Combined Ice Surface/Bleachers | 1,881 |
| Pool | 300 |
| Curling Rink | 836 |
| Curling Lounge | 82 |
POINTS OF INTEREST
Largest off highway haul truck in the world. The Terex Titan.
Historic Murals - (some by Dan Sawatzky of Chemainus, others by local artists).
The ARCH, made from the historical brick from the Michel Powerhouse, honouring the Coal
Miner.
Mine Artefacts Tours.
Miner's Memorial in Centennial Square
Coal mining tours (July & August) Contact the Chamber of Commerce
Nature trails
Undeveloped mineral springs
Mountain climbing
Local Celebration - Coal Miner Days (Last weekend in June).
Mountain Shadows Campground (>60 spacious sites (Full services), showers, firewood, playground, picnic shelters, trails and cart path to golf course).
Elk Lakes Provincial Park
Grave Lake
Flathead Valley
Fernie Alpine Resort (30 minutes)
Cross-Country Skiing
Hunting
World Class Fishing
River rafting
PowerChutes
INTERNET SERVICES
Titanlink.com Sparwood operated by Cintek -Cranbrook
K.B.S Elkvalley.net AKA (Fernie e-street)}
Cyberlink - Cranbrook
RADIO RECEPTION
The Drive {(99.1 FM - Sparwood),102.9 Cranbrook,
CBC 105.7 FM CBYS-FM (FM) CBC-AM from Vancouver.
TV RECEPTION: CBC, CTV- (CFCN) Lethbridge CISA.
Monarch Cable: More than 50 channels available plus FM �^
MAJOR INDUSTRY
Coal Mining for export to national and international markets.
Logging for the production of lumber, veneer, and pulp and paper products.� Recreation, Tourism Education and Services are becoming important factors. ^
LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
Elk Valley Miner