Gold River, British Columbia

Gold River
Village
Village of Gold River[1]

The Blossoming Boot by Chainsaw Carver Lee Yateman. Made for the Great Walk.
Gold River

Location of Gold River in British Columbia

Coordinates: 49°46′37″N 126°3′5″W / 49.77694°N 126.05139°W / 49.77694; -126.05139Coordinates: 49°46′37″N 126°3′5″W / 49.77694°N 126.05139°W / 49.77694; -126.05139
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Vancouver Island
Regional district Strathcona
Incorporated 1965
Government
 • Mayor Brad Unger
 • Governing body Gold River Village Council
Area
 • Total 10.78 km2 (4.16 sq mi)
Elevation 160 m (520 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,267
 • Density 117.5/km2 (304/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Highways 28
Climate Cfb
Website www.goldriver.ca

Gold River is a village municipality located close to the geographic centre of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. In terms of the Island's human geography it is considered to be part of the "North Island", even though it technically is on the Island's west coast.

History

Taking advantage of its deep water and abundant forests, Gold River developed in 1967 as a prototypical logging and pulp and paper industry community. Gold River quickly sprang into prosperity and established excellent community facilities. When shifting world markets brought the mill closure in 1998, many of Gold River's inhabitants were forced to relocate. Since then, the village has attempted to capitalize on its idealistic setting among picturesque mountains, lakes, rivers, ocean, and forests to develop tourism and sport fishing as its main economic supports.

Currently, Gold River serves as a base for such famous activities as the Nootka Island trek, hiking the Elk Lake trail and mountain climbing Golden Hinde (Vancouver Island's highest peak), Crest Creek climbing crags, MV Uchuck III, and the Great Walk.

Gold River also serves as a historic point, being the closest village to the famous Yuquot, or "Friendly Cove", where British explorer Captain James Cook first set ashore. There Cook met the Mowachaht native band's chief, Chief Maquinna.

Climate

Gold River has a Marine west coast climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). With warm dry summers and mild rainy winters, during the winter constant Low Pressure Systems moving off of the Pacific Ocean causes winter to be the wettest season. Most precipitation falls as rain year round but snow is not uncommon in the winter months averaging 118 cm (46.5 in) but does not usually stay long. Summers are warm with an average summer temperate of 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) in July. The summer months are the driest of the year with only 55.4 mm (2.2 in) of rain in July compared to 481.9 mm (19.0 in) in November. The average rain fall all year is 2,846.7 mm (112.1 in) making the west coast of Vancouver Island the wettest place in Canada. The record high recorded for the village was 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) recorded on July 28, 2009. The record low was −19 °C (−2.2 °F) recorded on January 28, 1980.

Climate data for Gold River
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16
(61)		 19
(66)		 24
(75)		 31.5
(88.7)		 37
(99)		 37
(99)		 41.5
(106.7)		 39
(102)		 37
(99)		 27
(81)		 17
(63)		 12.8
(55)		 41.5
(106.7)
Average high °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)		 6.8
(44.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 14.1
(57.4)		 18
(64)		 21
(70)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.8
(76.6)		 21.6
(70.9)		 13.9
(57)		 7.1
(44.8)		 3.9
(39)		 14.2
(57.6)
Average low °C (°F) −1.4
(29.5)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 0.4
(32.7)		 2.5
(36.5)		 5.6
(42.1)		 8.6
(47.5)		 10.6
(51.1)		 10.5
(50.9)		 7.7
(45.9)		 4.8
(40.6)		 1.5
(34.7)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 4.1
(39.4)
Record low °C (°F) −19
(−2)		 −14
(7)		 −11
(12)		 −5
(23)		 −2
(28)		 1
(34)		 2.5
(36.5)		 4
(39)		 −2
(28)		 −8
(18)		 −17
(1)		 −17
(1)		 −19
(−2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 374.7
(14.752)		 331.4
(13.047)		 255.4
(10.055)		 174.8
(6.882)		 118.9
(4.681)		 91.1
(3.587)		 55.4
(2.181)		 77.3
(3.043)		 126
(4.96)		 357.2
(14.063)		 481.9
(18.972)		 402.8
(15.858)		 2,846.7
(112.075)
Source: Environment Canada[2]

References

  1. ↑ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 March 2010
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