Community

The E-Growth Community Project was located in the Kiwanis Enterprise Centre in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada.

Dawson Creek is located in northeastern British Columbia. Click on any of the maps below to have them open in a larger format in a new window.

Map of Canada - Click on image to enlarge	Map of British Columbia - Click to enlarge
Map of theCity of Dawson Creek - Click to Enlarge	Detail map with directions to the Kiwanis Enterprise Centre - Click to enlarge.
In 1942 Dawson Creek became "Mile Zero" on the Alaska/Canada Hiway (Alcan Highway, now referred to as the 'Alaska Highway' - Highway 97 north)Photo: Chad Anderson/New Harvest Media

A Brief History of Dawson Creek

It’s difficult to date when the city of Dawson Creek, or what was to eventually become the city of Dawson Creek, first came into being. Alexander McKenzie was here in 1793 on his famous overland expedition to the Pacific. In 1805, Simon Fraser established two trading posts in the Peace River area.

George Mercer Dawson documented the area in 1879 while conducting a survey for the Dominion Government to ascertain whether the natural resources could support the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. During the preparation of his report, one of his colleagues named a small watercourse ‘Dawson’s Brook’.

1898 saw Klondike gold seekers traversing the area; some stayed and settled. More settlers came to the area in 1912 and many more arrived after World War One. Dawson Creek emerged to service these settlers.

In 1931 the hamlet of Dawson Creek shifted a mile or so, relocating to its present position, as the first passenger train rolled through town and the population was 250.

In 1942 Dawson Creek became ‘Mile Zero’ on the Alaska/Canada highway (Alcan Highway, now the Alaska Highway - Highway 97 North). The building of the highway saw a huge influx of American military personnel; the population shot up to 15,000.

In 1943 an explosion levelled the better part of two city blocks. The cause was said to have been a building fire that spread to a stockpile of dynamite, stored by the US Army for use on the highway. To this day there are those who believe it was set by spies, but nothing was ever proven.

Dawson Creek today combines the amenities of a fully modern city with the easier pace of the agricultural centre. Recent growth in the oil and gas sector has prompted an economic upswing and tourism is a major industry. More information on the city of Dawson Creek and the Peace Country can be found at:

http://www.dawsoncreek.ca

http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com

http://www.calverley.ca/