Mesachie Lake facts for kids

Mesachie Lake is a small, friendly community located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It sits right on the south shore of Cowichan Lake. The name "Mesachie" comes from an old language called Chinook Jargon, and it means "bad," "evil," or "naughty." Don't worry, the community isn't naughty! This unique name tells a bit about its history.

Discovering Mesachie Lake's History

A New Home for Lumber Workers

Mesachie Lake was founded in 1942. It was created by a company called the Hillcrest Lumber Company. They built houses for their workers and their families here. Many of these original homes are still standing today! The company also planted special fruit and shade trees. These trees are now considered important historical plants.

Some of the first houses in Mesachie Lake were moved from another town called Sahtlam. Workers carefully cut these houses into pieces. Then, they shipped them on trains to Mesachie Lake. Once they arrived, the houses were put back together. This means many homes in Mesachie Lake today still have parts of those original buildings.

The Amazing Mill and Powerhouse

The lumber mill built in Mesachie Lake was very modern for its time. It had new, efficient equipment. There was also a special building called a powerhouse. This powerhouse had generators that made electricity. It produced enough power for the mill and the entire community. Sometimes, it even helped supply power to the nearby village of Lake Cowichan if their own power plant had problems.

Mesachie Lake Today

Mesachie Lake is still a lively community. While the school and church have moved to Lake Cowichan, the town remains active. The Mesachie Skydome is a popular spot. Many exciting ball tournaments are held there. The community hall hosts different events throughout the year.

The town also has its own post office. There is a public boat launch for people who enjoy the lake. The old Hillcrest Lumber Company office is now a private home. All the houses that once belonged to the mill workers are now private residences too.

A Rich Cultural Past

Mesachie Lake is one of several towns in the Cowichan Valley with a special history. For over 130 years, many South Asian Canadian families have lived here. Most of them were Sikh-Canadian. They played a big part in the forestry industry. They worked in local sawmills from the early 1900s until the 1980s.

In 1982, a group called Camp Imadene bought the old Hillcrest site. About ten years later, they moved their camp to Mesachie Lake.