Hope, British Columbia

Hope's First Nations settlement period starts with the first traces of people living in the Fraser Valley. These First Nations origins date from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, when the Sto:lo First Nations were in the area. In late 1782, a smallpox epidemic among the Stó:lō killed thousands – an estimated two-thirds of the population.

The European settlement period of Hope history begins in 1808. Explorer Simon Fraser arrived in what is now Hope in 1808, and the Hudson's Bay Company created the Fort Hope trading post in 1848. The area was transformed by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, beginning in 1858. The following year Governor James Douglas laid out the Fort Hope town site. Hope became part of the Colony of British Columbia when the new British colony was created on 2 August 1858. Along with the rest of British Columbia, Hope became part of Canada in 1871. Late in 1859, Reverend Alexander St. David Francis Pringle arrived in Hope. On 1 December of that year, he founded the first library on the British Columbia mainland. Within two years, he founded Christ Church (Anglican). Today, Christ Church is the oldest church on the British Columbia mainland still holding services on its original site and is a National Historic Site of Canada.[8][9] Hope incorporated as a village on 6 April 1929, became a town on 1 January 1965, and was reincorporated as a District Municipality named the District of Hope on 7 December 1992.[10]

Fort Hope was built in 1848–49 by Henry Newsham Peers. He had discovered a route through the mountains that did not dip below the 49th parallel which had become the American border. Thus, the hope that his route would be workable was fulfilled.[11]^:115

During World War II an internment camp for Japanese Canadians was set up near Hope at Tashme (today's Sunshine Valley) just beyond the 100-mile exclusion zone from the coast.

In 2011, the metal Kawkawa Bridge was demolished, previously it was featured in the 1982 First Blood Rambo film.[12][13] In 2020, a wood carved statue of Sylvester Stallone character John Rambo was erected in Hope.[14]

Hope has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) with warm summers and moderately cold winters.

Hope's economic development planning is rooted in the community's strategic location, telecommunications infrastructure (high-speed internet), and strong support for new development and redevelopment. The 2014 Economic Profile identifies several sectors as significant areas of opportunity within the local economy.[19]

• Tourism: including development of tourism products attractive to the primary market coming from the west.
• Virtual commuters: professionals able to serve their clientele from off-site locations, such as consultants, photographers, graphic designers, and software developers.
• Natural resources: sustainable and responsible development of natural resource industries.
• Lifestyle manufacturing or services: such as coffee roasters, sustainable agriculture, micro-brewery, and other clean water-based industries.
• "Gap" retailers: independent, entrepreneurial retailers who can deliver niche services for local customers and travellers.

In addition, the Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw, adopted by the Hope District Council in 2013,[19] encourages property owners who develop or redevelop their properties to apply for financial incentives in the form of tax relief.

Hope holds chainsaw wood carving competitions and exhibitions. From 4 to 7 September 2008 the Second Annual Hope Chainsaw Carving Competition took place.[8]^:24 Chainsaw wood carvings are displayed and exhibited throughout the downtown core of Hope. Memorial Park in downtown Hope has a display of chainsaw wood carvings. Hope is home to a notable widely known carver named Pete Ryan who has carved a number of the chainsaw wood carvings exhibited in downtown Hope.[8]^:25

The Hope Arts Gallery exhibits and sells a variety of art by local artists.[20] The Hope Arts Gallery is located in downtown Hope and has several rooms displaying sculpture, pottery, paintings and drawings, jewellery, fabric arts, basketry, cards and gifts, and photography. The Hope Arts Gallery is run by volunteers from the Hope Arts Guild. The Hope Arts Gallery presents ART WALK, a self-guided tour to art and chainsaw wood carvings in Hope.

One of Hope's largest events of the year is Hope Brigade Days. Brigade Days weekend occurs the weekend after Labour Day every September. Events include a parade, fireworks display, midway, chainsaw carving competition, demolition derby, kids' carnival, and 4x4 racing.[21]

The Hope Museum shows the history, culture and heritage of Hope. In downtown Hope, together with the Hope Visitor Centre, the Hope Museum is open year-round. Exhibits include First Nations culture, early Fort Hope, the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, the Kettle Valley Railway, pioneer life, logging, and mining.[8]^:9[22]

The Hope Recreation Complex includes a library, pool, arena, and fitness centre. The Hope and District Recreation Complex is run by the Fraser Valley Regional District.[23]

The Hope Slide was one of the largest landslides ever recorded in Canada. It occurred in the morning hours of 9 January 1965, near Hope, killing four people. A viewing site showing the Hope Slide is approximately a 15-minute drive east of Hope on Highway 3.[8]^:41[24]

Friendship Garden

Immediately adjacent to the District Hall in Hope is a Japanese garden called the Friendship Garden, dedicated to the Japanese-Canadians who were interned nearby at Tashme during World War II.[8]^:26 It was built by local Japanese-Canadians, and presented to Hope on 27 July 1991.[25] Men from that camp were employed during the war building the Hope-Princeton Highway.

Hope Memorial Park, adjacent to the District Hall and Friendship Garden, is the site of a concert series on Sunday afternoons in July and August.[8]^:27

Memorial Park was granted to the then-village of Hope in 1932 by the province of British Columbia. It occupies roughly 7 acres (28,000 m²) in the heart of the town.

Othello Tunnels is the popular name for the main human-made features of Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, east of Hope along the canyon of the Coquihalla River and a decommissioned railway grade, now a walking trail, leading eventually to Coquihalla Pass. Originally part of the Kettle Valley Railway, five tunnels and a series of bridges give views of the Coquihalla River as it passes through the river's narrow gorge.[8]^:37[26]

If you are an active hiker, there are two main options to explore Othello Tunnels. The first option is Othello Tunnels portion of Kettle Valley Trail - 4 km to-and-back, which is stroller-friendly and wheelchair-accessible. The second option is Hope-Nicola Valley Trail Loop - 5.5 km loop hiking trail, relatively well-maintained but not accessible, nor recommended for people with special needs.[27]

The Hope Curling Club is near the Hope Recreation Complex. The club sponsors bonspiels such as the Men's Bonspiel annually in January as well as the Mixed Curling Bonspiel.[28]

Hope has a golf course and club on the banks of the Coquihalla River.

The Hope Icebreakers were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team. They played in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the town of Hope from the 2003-2008 seasons, after which they were approved by BC hockey to move to Mission, British Columbia. They subsequently changed their name to the Mission Icebreakers. The Icebreakers have a Sasquatch logo.

The Mayor of Hope is Peter Robb.[29]

The mayor of Hope also serves as a director on the board of the Fraser Valley Regional District.[30] In addition to regional planning, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) works in collaboration with the District of Hope to provide recreational and cultural programs, ice arena and swimming pool, regional parks, mapping, air quality, mosquito control, weed control, E911 dispatch fire service, and search and rescue.[31]

Hope is in the Fraser-Nicola riding [32](electoral district) provincially. The current MLA for Fraser-Nicola is Jackie Tegart. Prior to the 2017 election, Hope was in the Chilliwack-Hope riding provincially, and represented by MLA Laurie Throness, who was elected in 2013.[33]

Hope is in the electoral district of Chilliwack—Hope,[34][35] which is represented in the House of Commons of Canada by Mark Strahl.[36]

The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) passes through Hope. Hope is the southern terminus of the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5), the western terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, locally known as the Hope-Princeton highway (Highway 3), and the eastern terminus of Highway 7.

Hope Aerodrome (IATA: YHE, ICAO: CYHE) is 2.6 NM (4.8 km; 3.0 mi) west of the Hope Townsite[2](the previous Town of Hope) within the municipal District of Hope, British Columbia. The aerodrome is operated by the Fraser Valley Regional District. There is one turf runway 3,960 ft (1,210 m) long. The airfield is home to the Vancouver Soaring Association, a gliding club owning and operating school and recreational sailplanes and tow planes. Hope Aerodrome lies within the community of Flood in the District of Hope.[6][7]

Both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways pass through Hope. The Canadian, a Canadian transcontinental passenger train currently operated by Via Rail Canada, passes through Hope, calling at the Hope railway station.

Hope heliport is a private heliport at Fraser Canyon Hospital.

Hope has charter helicopter service available that provides service for the natural resource industry, including forestry and mining exploration, as well as other industries including film, tourism, and public service.

Fraser Canyon Hospital is a 10-bed hospital and provides services including: 24/7 emergency care stabilization and triage and hospice beds and services. Emergency care stabilization and triage 24/7 is unique to Fraser Canyon Hospital due to its geographic isolation and emergency service requirements in an area where major highways converge.[37] Fraser Canyon Hospital officially opened on 10 January 1959, and began as a 20-bed hospital, complete with delivery and operating rooms.[38]