Elk Valley (British Columbia)
The Elk Valley is a valley in the southeastern Kootenay region of the Canadian province of British Columbia that runs via the basin of the Elk River from the southeastern Alberta border near Kananaskis to the Rocky Mountain Trench. Communities in the valley, from uppermost to lowermost, are Elkford, Sparwood, Hosmer, Fernie, Morrissey, and Elko.
Wedged into the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Elk Valley is approximately 60 kilometres from the Alberta and Montana borders.
History and economy
The valley played an important part in the coal mining history of British Columbia for over 100 years, and was a hotbed of labour activism, regularly returning socialist independents to the legislature. The Elk Valley is the largest producing coal field in the province, producing millions of tons of coal that is shipped to steel mills around the world. It is now owned by Teck Resources.
The dedication to returning the land to a state equal or better than it was before the mining began plays a vital role in protecting the Elk and Fording River Valleys for future generations of man and wildlife to use and enjoy.
Tourism
Today, tourism is becoming more important in the area which sees increasing numbers of weekend snowmobilers, skiers, hikers, anglers, golfers, and other outdoor adventurers.
Towns and localities in the Elk Valley
- Elko, British Columbia
- Fernie, British Columbia
- Sparwood, British Columbia (includes Michel and Natal, which were formerly separate communities.)
- Elkford, British Columbia
Notable Scholars
Stephen Fred Dumas (SFD) University of Calgary Professor of Sociology
See also
Coordinates: 49°32′46″N 115°00′18″W / 49.546°N 115.005°W