Bulkley – Nechako
Distinct seasons with long summer days for the growing of gardens, plenty of snow to satisfy the most enthusiastic snowmobiler, signs of nature every way you turn and a colourful history all describe the Bulkley-Nechako region of B.C. very well.
Winding its way through the communities of Fort Fraser and Vanderhoof, the Nechako River is an important element to this region and provides opportunities for excellent fishing, paddling and boating activities. The year-round outdoor recreational options include hiking and biking, golf, fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, snowmobiling and even dog sledding.
“What is really special and unique about our area is that this part of the province still has a very low population density,” said Fort Fraser author Janet Romain. “It feels very spacious and there are so many places a person can go and be totally surrounded by nature.”
Growing up in Bulkley-Nechako, Romain had a wonderful chance to experience what the area has to offer and learn its history.
“The changes that have happened here in the last 100 years are just amazing,” said Romain. “The Bulkley-Nechako region was one of the last areas to have its native residents exposed to the new settlers from the outside world.”
This history galvanized her into writing Grandpere, a fictional story based on a person who remembered those changes.
“All you have to do is ask,” said Jane Stevenson, an author from Telkwa, a town of approximately 1300 residents. “The history of the north is very well documented and it is all available for anyone who is interested in the local history.”
The museums along Highway 16 have amazing collections of old photos and historical documentation and Stevenson recommends that anyone traveling through the area should go off the main highway and see some of the little collections along the way.
“There are so many stories to be told about this area” said Stevenson. Her book The Railroaders Wife is a true documentation of letters written by the wife of a railroader with the Grand Trunk Railway. Travelling with her husband between 1912 and 1914, she wrote letters home to her family describing the construction and her life in great detail as the railroad was being built between Prince Rupert and Decker Lake.
The Bulkley–Nechako region has something for everyone no matter the season. The Tyhee Lake Provincial Park is just one of many beautiful and accessible provincial parks to enjoy. For the historians, visiting the public library and the K’san Museum in Hazelton or the small Telkwa museum, open seasonally, are great places to start your explorations.
Both authors have had their books published by Caitlin Press. For more information on Janet Romain, see her bio on Caitlin Press.
For more information on Jane Stevenson, see her bio on Caitlin Press.
