Invermere

ABC Wednesday
September 10th, 2015

The letter is I - for Invermere.

Continuing with the cities and towns of British Columbia, let me introduce you to Invermere - an appealing mountain village located part way down the Columbia Valley and close to the Alberta border. And on the edge of beautiful Lake Windermere.  It grew originally as a logging and fur trading economy, but for the last hundred years it has leaned more and more to tourism....

The Columbia Vallely was as traditional hunting and fishing ground used by First Nations people, the Akisqnuk, whose land covers over 8,000- acres of some of the most pictureque land between Fairmont and Windermere.

Rich in resources the First Nation owns and operates two capable water systems and is home to a leased residential subdivision, the Indian Beach Estates, a large Campground, a Forest Compay, a sustainable housing construction program and a Montessori curriculum based Learning Program.

The village of Invermere has grown along with it.  In 1807 David Thompson was the first European to explore this territory when he established a trading post known as Kutenae House.  The first real settlement was known as Copper City, established in 1900, then changed to Canterbury, and once again in 1909 to Invermere (gaelic for mouth of the lake)

Today Invermere is the commercial hub of the Columbia Valley, a thriving community of boutique retail stores, two stunning beaches and a vibrant arts community.

It is situated within the Columbia River Wetlands, North America's largest intact wetland,  and near the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy.

With a temperate semi-arid climate (much like the Similkameen) it has warm summers and cool winters, - well, sometimes cold winters.  Spring arrives earlier here than on the prairies to the east of the Rocky Mountains, which protect Invermere to the west, where Mt. Nelson towers over the community.  It has attracted many Calgarians from adjacent Alberta, who maintain second homes in this lovely spot.

Many things to do in this beautiful village!

The Lake Windermere Whiteway is located along the Columbia Valley and recently won the world record for the longest skating trail |(30 km) .  It has three access points, two of them in Invermere, and is accompanied on the side by a groomed skiing trail.

Hiking in the westlands

Cottaging on the beach

A winter scene which speaks of good skiing in the mountains..

golfing and boating and water skiing

and just a lovely pastoral place to relax

I visited Invermere in April, while staying at Fairmont just down the way.  It was a great experience

and we also travelled to nearby Panorama, a world class skiing resort

high up in the mountains above Invermere which left me quite wide-eyed.....

A few old pictures of Invermere as it was.....

How to get there!

Lots more 'I's here at ABC Wednesday, 

with thanks to Denise and Roger and their intrepid helpers.