Castlegar, British Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castlegar
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| City of Castlegar | |
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| Motto(s): | |
 Castlegar
Location in British Columbia
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | West Kootenay |
| Regional district | Central Kootenay |
| Incorporated | 1946 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Elected city council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.58 km2 (7.56 sq mi) |
| Elevation
At airport
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495.6 m (1,626.0 ft) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 8,338 |
| • Density | 408.6/km2 (1,058/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (PST) |
| Forward sortation area |
V1N
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| Area code(s) | 250 / 778 / 236 / 672 |
Castlegar is a lively city in the West Kootenay area of British Columbia, Canada. It sits where the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers meet, surrounded by the Selkirk Mountains. Castlegar is a hub for trade and travel, with jobs in forestry (cutting trees), mining, and tourism.
This city has Selkirk College, a local airport, and factories that make paper and wood products. About 8,338 people live here. Many residents are Doukhobors, a religious group who helped build and grow the town a lot in its early days.
The land where Castlegar now stands was once an important place for the Sinixt (Lakes) Peoples. Around Castlegar, you'll find smaller communities like Ootischenia, Brilliant, and Robson. These nearby areas add about 8,000 more people to the region.
Contents
Castlegar's History
On September 5, 1811, explorer David Thompson visited the area where Castlegar is today. He camped near the mouth of the Kootenay River. You can find a special plaque dedicated to him on the east bank of the Columbia River, looking over the city.
The first settlement here was called West Waterloo, which is now South Castlegar. In the late 1800s, many people came to British Columbia looking for gold. By 1895, West Waterloo had 40 houses. The town grew quickly until the local mines became less popular.
Castlegar got its name from the "Castlegar Estate" in Ireland. This was the family home of Edward Mahon, who planned the town in 1897. Around 1902, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) built a bridge and railway tracks here. They set up a small train station called Kinnaird Station, named after a CPR shareholder, Lord Kinnaird.
Not much was in Castlegar until the CPR bridge was finished. The first store, which also held the post office and town hall, was built by a Mr. Farmer. The Castlegar Hotel was built in 1908 by William Gage, but it burned down in 1982. The first schoolhouse was also built in 1908 by local people. By 1925, the town had a dance hall, a garage, tourist cabins, and a place to prepare meat.
Castlegar officially became a village on October 30, 1946. In 1966, it became a town. On January 1, 1974, Castlegar joined with the nearby community of Kinnaird, which doubled its population. Later, in 2004, the city's boundary grew to include the Blueberry Creek Irrigation District.
First Peoples of Castlegar
Castlegar is located in an area where the Sinixt and Ktunaxa Indigenous groups lived. Experts are not sure exactly where one group's land ended and the other's began, as they often shared cultural activities and hunting grounds. Most information suggests that the Sinixt were the first people in this area. The Kootenai arrived several hundred years ago from central Canada.
There was an Indigenous village called Kp'itl'els on the north side of the Kootenay River, near where it meets the Columbia River. Tools like arrowheads have been found along the nearby Arrow Lakes. On Zuckerberg Island, where the Kootenay and Columbia rivers meet, a reconstructed traditional dwelling called a kekuli was found.
Doukhobor Community History
The Doukhobors operated a ferry near Brilliant on the Kootenay River in 1910. Their group, the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB), asked the CPR for a railway station there. Brilliant became a key place for the CCUB's businesses. These included the Brilliant Jam Factory, a grain storage building, and a flax mill.
Castlegar's Population
In 2021, Castlegar had a population of 8,338 people. This was a small increase from 8,039 people in 2016. The city covers about 19.87 square kilometers of land.
- Population (2016): 9,023
- Population (2011): 7,816
- Population (2006): 7,259
- Growth Rate (2006-2016): +7.7%
- Total Homes: 3,349
- Population Density: 399.3 people per square kilometer
- Area: 19.8 square kilometers
- Average Age: 46.1 years old
- Number of Immigrants: 725
Languages Spoken
Most people in Castlegar speak English as their first language.
- English: 6,500 people
- French: 65 people
- Other languages: 1,010 people
Religions in Castlegar
Based on the 2021 census, here are the main religious groups in Castlegar:
- No religion: 4,875 people (60.5%)
- Christianity: 2,855 people (35.4%)
- Sikhism: 115 people (1.4%)
- Hinduism: 65 people (0.8%)
- Buddhism: 40 people (0.5%)
- Islam: 30 people (0.4%)
- Judaism: 10 people (0.1%)
- Other religions: 70 people (0.9%)
Castlegar's Climate
Castlegar has a climate with warm, sunny summers and cool, often wet winters. It gets more rain and snow than many other places in British Columbia's Southern Interior, like Kelowna. This is because Castlegar is in the Kootenay region, which is wetter.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Castlegar was 43.9°C on June 30, 2021. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -30.6°C on December 30, 1968.
| Climate data for Castlegar (West Kootenay Regional Airport) Climate ID: 1141455; coordinates 49°17′47″N 117°37′57″W / 49.29639°N 117.63250°W; elevation: 495.6 m (1,626 ft); 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1916–present |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 9.0 | 14.1 | 22.6 | 27.7 | 35.9 | 46.9 | 53.4 | 42.8 | 37.9 | 28.2 | 19.2 | 10.6 | 53.4 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
23.1 (73.6) |
32.2 (90.0) |
34.5 (94.1) |
43.9 (111.0) |
41.1 (106.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
36.8 (98.2) |
27.2 (81.0) |
19.4 (66.9) |
11.7 (53.1) |
43.9 (111.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.5 (32.9) |
3.2 (37.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
23.6 (74.5) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.2 (82.8) |
22.0 (71.6) |
12.9 (55.2) |
4.7 (40.5) |
0.0 (32.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.6 (29.1) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
4.4 (39.9) |
8.8 (47.8) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
8.7 (47.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.7 (25.3) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
2.3 (36.1) |
6.5 (43.7) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
7.3 (45.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25.7 (−14.3) |
−25.0 (−13.0) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
−30.6 (−23.1) |
−30.6 (−23.1) |
| Record low wind chill | −32 | −33 | −28 | −9 | −4 | −7 | 0 | 0 | −5 | −19 | −30 | −42 | −42 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 75.5 (2.97) |
51.2 (2.02) |
62.9 (2.48) |
59.3 (2.33) |
70.3 (2.77) |
72.3 (2.85) |
48.1 (1.89) |
30.4 (1.20) |
42.4 (1.67) |
51.3 (2.02) |
96.7 (3.81) |
90.3 (3.56) |
750.9 (29.56) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 26.2 (1.03) |
28.1 (1.11) |
50.1 (1.97) |
57.1 (2.25) |
70.1 (2.76) |
72.3 (2.85) |
48.1 (1.89) |
30.4 (1.20) |
42.4 (1.67) |
49.4 (1.94) |
58.7 (2.31) |
31.3 (1.23) |
564.3 (22.22) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 55.4 (21.8) |
25.7 (10.1) |
13.2 (5.2) |
2.0 (0.8) |
0.2 (0.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.9 (0.7) |
37.5 (14.8) |
64.8 (25.5) |
200.6 (79.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 16.5 | 13.4 | 14.5 | 14.4 | 15.5 | 14.4 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 12.1 | 17.4 | 16.6 | 160.3 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 7.8 | 8.1 | 12.4 | 14.2 | 15.5 | 14.4 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 5.7 | 128.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.6 | 8.6 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 8.2 | 14.5 | 50.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 3pm) | 76.0 | 66.6 | 52.5 | 42.8 | 43.7 | 45.7 | 37.3 | 35.0 | 42.6 | 58.1 | 74.6 | 77.7 | 54.4 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 38.9 | 76.1 | 128.8 | 173.8 | 226.7 | 233.0 | 291.9 | 276.3 | 204.0 | 123.2 | 48.2 | 33.4 | 1,854.2 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 14.4 | 26.7 | 35.0 | 42.3 | 47.8 | 48.0 | 59.6 | 61.9 | 53.8 | 36.8 | 17.5 | 13.0 | 38.1 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada | |||||||||||||
Castlegar Airport
The West Kootenay Regional Airport is owned and run by the City of Castlegar. It offers regular flights to Vancouver International Airport. Another nearby airport is Trail Airport, about 40 kilometers south.
Schools in Castlegar
Castlegar is part of School District 20 Kootenay-Columbia. There are four elementary schools in the city:
- Castlegar Primary School
- Kinnaird Elementary School
- Robson Community School
- Twin Rivers Elementary School
There is one high school, Stanley Humphries Secondary School.
Selkirk College also has its main campus in Castlegar, offering college-level courses.
Fun and Recreation
The Castlegar Parks and Trails Society takes care of many walking trails in and around Castlegar. The area is popular with retirees and tourists who enjoy summer and winter sports.
The Columbia River flows through Castlegar. Along the river to the west, you'll find Scotties Marina and Syringa Provincial Park. Both offer great places for boating and camping.
Sports in Castlegar
Castlegar has a college hockey team called the Selkirk College Saints. They play in the BCIHL and have won many championships.
The Castlegar Rebels are the city's Junior "B" level hockey team, playing in the KIJHL.
Many other sports activities are available in Castlegar, including:
- Castlegar Baseball Association
- Castlegar Skating Club
- Dancing at Turning Pointe Dance Studio and Scottie School of Highland Dance
- Castlegar Aquanauts (swimming)
- Castlegar Minor Soccer Association
- Selkirk Challengers Gymnastics Club
- Castlegar Minor Hockey
- West Kootenay Minor Football Association
- Castlegar Sentinels Football Club
- Kootenay Jiu Jitsu Academy
You can also find local programs for lacrosse, golf, curling, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. The Castlegar Community Complex offers many fitness programs, including yoga.
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlegar Rebels | KIJHL | Ice Hockey | Castlegar Community Complex | 1976 | 3 |
Castlegar's Geography
Columbia Avenue is Castlegar's main business street. It runs through the entire city. At its south end, it becomes Highway 22. At its north end, it leads to the Robson Bridge. Most of Castlegar's local shops and businesses are on Columbia Avenue.
Castlegar has several neighborhoods, including Downtown, Southridge, Woodland Park, and Kinnaird. The areas just outside the city include Robson, Brilliant, and Ootischenia.
Getting Around Castlegar
Castlegar is a major transportation hub for its region. Besides its airport, it's where highways 3A, 3, and 22 meet. Highway 22, also known as Columbia Avenue, runs through the city. At its north end, Columbia Avenue connects to the Robson Bridge, which takes traffic to the rural area of Robson.
There's a small highway interchange where the Robson Access Road meets Highway 3A, heading towards Nelson. Highway 3 cuts through Castlegar, providing access to the Grovesnor area. It also crosses the Columbia River at the Kinnaird Bridge, leading to Ootischenia. Highways 3 and 3A offer routes through Ootischenia, and Highway 22 connects to Blueberry. To the north, Highway 3A goes to Nelson. To the south, Highway 22 leads to Trail. To the east, Highway 3 goes to Salmo, and to Grand Forks to the west.
Famous People from Castlegar
Many talented people have come from Castlegar, including:
- Felix Belczyk, a former alpine skier
- Earle Connor, a Paralympic amputee sprinter
- Travis Green, a retired ice hockey player and former coach for the Vancouver Canucks
- Shawn Hook, a Canadian singer and songwriter
- Shawn Horcoff, a retired ice hockey player who used to be captain of the Edmonton Oilers
- Dane Jackson, a retired ice hockey player
- Steve Junker, a retired ice hockey player
- Doug Kostynski, a retired ice hockey player
- Darcy Martini, a retired ice hockey player
- Gordie Walker, a retired ice hockey player
- Luke Walker, a retired ice hockey player
Sister Cities
Castlegar has sister cities, which are towns that form special bonds to promote cultural exchange. They are:
- Enbetsu, Japan
- Yueyang, China
- Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
