McGillivray Creek (British Columbia) facts for kids
McGillivray Creek is a stream found in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It flows through a region known as the Lillooet Country.
This creek starts high up in the Cadwallader Range, near some tall mountains called Prospector Peaks. It then flows southeast, eventually emptying into Anderson Lake. This lake is located close to a small community called D'Arcy. D'Arcy is about halfway between the towns of Pemberton and Lillooet, along the old rail line.
The creek begins at a high elevation of about 2,100 m (6,900 ft) (around 6,890 feet). It ends its journey at a much lower elevation of about 270 m (890 ft) (around 886 feet) where it meets Anderson Lake. A beautiful waterfall called McGillivray Falls can be found on the lower part of the creek. This waterfall gave its name to a former railway and lakeside resort, also called McGillivray Falls, which was right by the railway tracks near the creek's mouth. During World War II, this area was one of four places in the Lillooet Country where many Japanese-Canadian families lived after being moved from the coast.
History of McGillivray Creek
Who was McGillivray?
McGillivray Creek was named after a man named Archie McGillivray. He was born in 1829. Archie McGillivray became a rancher near Campbell Creek, close to Kamloops, in the early 1900s. He was also very involved in horse racing.
Mining and Discoveries
In the 1890s, a place called the Brett Group Mine was very important. It was located near McGillivray Falls. This mine was a big project and produced a lot of valuable minerals during the years it was active. Higher up the creek, near its source at McGillivray Pass, a woman named Delina Noel found something special. She discovered a prospect for jade and silver. Her discovery was so exciting that she didn't even take the time to travel to town to accept a provincial award!
