Charming Nelson

ABC Wednesday
October 14, 2015

The Letter is N for Nelson, British Columbia

Said by the New York Times to be the prettiest city in Canada, and

chosen for the site of numerous movies

(Roxanne, Housekeeping, Snow Falling on Cedars 

 Gold Diggers and The Secret of Bear Mountain)

Nelson, with its three hundred and fifty restored heritage buildings nestled on tree-lined streets 'creates a warm and welcoming ambiance'

The West Kootenay region of British Columbia where Nelson is situated is part of

the traditional territories of the Lakes and Kutenai peoples.

Archeology information suggests occupation of this territory for some four to five

thousand years - thousands of years of use by indigenous 

hunter-gatherers 

Gold and silver were found in the area in 1867, and then again silver was discovered at nearby Toad Mountain in 1886.  The town boomed - two railways were built to pass through Nelson. and

it soon became a transportation and distribution centre for the region.

It morphed from a false fronted boom town to a sophisticated city, and many of the granite buildings

were designed by Francis Rattenbury, an architect most noted in British Columbia for the

Parliament buildings in Victoria.

However, in the sixties and seventies Nelson's merchants, wanting to be more modern,

sheeted many of their buildings with aluminum siding!!

In the eighties, suffering a devastating economic downturn when the local

Forest Products sawmill was closed, merchants of downtown Nelson

were drawn to observe the historical restorations of the oldest areas in Vancouver

and Victoria, with great success.

Nelson quickly stripped its aluminum siding, restoring

their buildings to their original brilliance, and in the process creating the

most charming of places to live and tourist to visit,  AND in which they have

 discouraged big box stores and crowded malls.

The Courthouse

Many artists and writers make their home in Nelson and the city is highlighted as

"Number One Small Town Arts Community in Canada' by the publisher of  The 100

Best Small Arts Towns in America.

There are many festivals, exhibits, displays of artwork around town, and several outdoor markets where artisans and farmers can be found selling everything  from

local produce, poultry and eggs to handcrafted jewelry,

pottery and clothes.

Two local hiking trails are popular.  Skiing and snowboarding are primary

winter outdoor activities, and mountain biking is 

part of the local culture.  Rock climbing is also a popular

summer activity on many of the surrounding bluffs and cliffs.

During the summer months it is possible to take a ride on a piece of Nelson's heritage

that spends time moving back and forth along the waterfront.

Streetcar #23, which plied the streets of Nelson until the streetcar system

was replaced by buses in 1949,is now fully restored and carries passengers

along to the Lakeside Park.

Located on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake Nelson is popular

for boating and fishing.

How to get there?  The city is approached from the west across a quite elegant bridge

and here is a map of its location.....

Many more Ns here at ABC Wednesday.

Thanks to Denise and Roger and notable helpers!!!