Armstrong, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
The City of Armstrong is located in the North Okanagan of the Canadian
province
of British Columbia
, between Vernon
and Enderby
. It overlooks the Spallumcheen Valley, which forms a broad pass between the Okanagan Valley to the south and the Shuswap Country
to the north, and is about 300 mi (482.8 km) from each of Vancouver
, B.C., Calgary
, Alberta
, Spokane
and Seattle, Washington.
word with disputed meaning "beautiful valley","flat meadow,""meeting of the waters" and "prairie-banked river, is a small community and commercial center, with agriculture, in particular alfalfa
and
wheat
, and ranching being its traditional economic venture.
Armstrong was named after E.C. Heaton Armstrong, a London banker who helped finance the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway in 1892 and local development at the turn of the century.
The influence of Dutch immigrants settling in the valley after the Second World War is represented by their cheese-making knowledge, and Armstrong is well known today for the cheese it produces.
The city is also well-known for hosting the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede, which has been running now for 111 years. This exhibition is very much a country fair, with contests being held to judge animals, cooking, sewing, hobbies and other items. Additionally, the exhibition offers a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts to clown shows.
Armstrong is run by a six-member Council headed by the Mayor
, with meetings being held the second and fourth Mondays of every month. The current Mayor for 2010 is Chris Pieper, who is in his first term as mayor.
There are two elementary school, a middle school and a high school. There is also a store front alternative school.
http://www.encyclopediecanadienne.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000310
courses, water sports, snow sports including skiing
and snowmobile
riding, boating
, fishing
and hiking trails
.
is well-known throughout Canada and in parts of the United States, and originated in Armstrong. Dairyworld purchased Armstrong Cheese in 1997. Saputo Inc. purchased Dairyworld in 2003, and in February 2004, after being in operation for more than 100 years, closed the Armstrong Cheese site down, laying off 73 workers. However, one of the main tourist attractions continues to be the Village Cheese Factory. At the Village Cheese Factory, one can watch master cheesemakers at their craft. Among the cheeses available are cheddar
, Monterey Jack
and "squeaky curds".
, headquartered in nearby Salmon Arm
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, between Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
and Enderby
Enderby, British Columbia
The City of Enderby is in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Armstrong and Salmon Arm. It is approximately 80 km north of Kelowna and 130 km east of Kamloops...
. It overlooks the Spallumcheen Valley, which forms a broad pass between the Okanagan Valley to the south and the Shuswap Country
Shuswap Country
The Shuswap Country, or simply "the Shuswap" is a term used in the Canadian province of British Columbia to refer to the environs of Shuswap Lake. The upper reaches of the Shuswap basin, southeast of Shuswap Lake and northeast of the Okanagan, are generally considered to be part of Okanagan or of...
to the north, and is about 300 mi (482.8 km) from each of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, B.C., Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
and Seattle, Washington.
Location and history
Armstrong, which sits above the dairy and ranch land of the Spallumcheen Valley, a name derived from a Shuswap languageShuswap language
The Shuswap language, known to its speakers as Secwepemctsín , is the traditional language of the Shuswap people of British Columbia. An endangered language, Shuswap is spoken mainly in the Central and Southern interior of British Columbia between the Fraser River and the Rocky Mountains...
word with disputed meaning "beautiful valley","flat meadow,""meeting of the waters" and "prairie-banked river, is a small community and commercial center, with agriculture, in particular alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
and
wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, and ranching being its traditional economic venture.
Armstrong was named after E.C. Heaton Armstrong, a London banker who helped finance the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway in 1892 and local development at the turn of the century.
The influence of Dutch immigrants settling in the valley after the Second World War is represented by their cheese-making knowledge, and Armstrong is well known today for the cheese it produces.
The city is also well-known for hosting the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede, which has been running now for 111 years. This exhibition is very much a country fair, with contests being held to judge animals, cooking, sewing, hobbies and other items. Additionally, the exhibition offers a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts to clown shows.
Armstrong is run by a six-member Council headed by the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, with meetings being held the second and fourth Mondays of every month. The current Mayor for 2010 is Chris Pieper, who is in his first term as mayor.
There are two elementary school, a middle school and a high school. There is also a store front alternative school.
http://www.encyclopediecanadienne.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000310
Economy, tourist attractions, and activities
While agriculture and ranching is a large portion of the economy of Armstrong and the Spallumcheen Valley, tourism also plays a significant role in the financial security of the region.Museums and places of interest
Armstrong and the surrounding area feature many attractions including museums, golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses, water sports, snow sports including skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
riding, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and hiking trails
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
.
- The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery, which is the site of the old Armstrong Machine Shop, has over thirty historical displays, replicas of the railways, a schoolhouse, a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, and a comprehensive archive of photographs, newspapers and maps.
- The Old School House is one of the original educational institutions in British Columbia.
- The Caravan Farm TheatreCaravan Farm TheatreCaravan Farm Theatre is a professional outdoor theatre company operated by the Bill Miner Society for Cultural Advancement. The theatre is based on an farm, 11 kilometres northwest of Armstrong, British Columbia. Caravan Farm Theatre productions are always mounted outdoors in site-specific...
is where professional actors who have long provided entertainment throughout the Okanagan produce a number of annual events and festivals. - The Okanagan Valley Wine Train, which uses vintage automobiles that toured across Canada in the 1950s and 1960s, travels through the Okanagan ValleyOkanagan Valley (wine region)The Okanagan Valley is a Canadian wine region located in the British Columbia region of the Okanagan. Along with the nearby Similkameen Valley, the approximately 4000 hectares of vineyards planted in the Okanagan account for more than 90% of all wine produced in British Columbia and after the...
, where tourists can view the lakes, hillsides and orchards between Kelowna and Armstrong. This trip also includes a visit to Vernon's 1911 railway station en route. - Skiing and snowboardingSnowboardingSnowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
: the Silver Star Provincial Recreation Area is the most northerly winter attraction in the Okanagan Valley. Skiers and snowboarders take advantage of Silver Star Mountain where they have 2,491 feet (760 m) of vertical drop in which to defy gravity. Cross-country skiers also have a venue at Silver Star with 37 kilometers of tracked and groomed trails. In addition, there are 50 km of groomed trails that pass through the adjacent Sovereign Lake area. - The Armstrong Farmer's Market, which runs weekly April to December, is a key attraction at the IPE Fairgrounds on Saturday mornings.
- The Okanagan and BC Rockies Circle Tour, takes tourists through the interior of British Columbia, north through the Okanagan to Sicamous, following Highway 1 into the mountains of the BC Rockies.
- The Armstrong skateboard park is a large attraction in the city of Armstrong. Holding company jams and demos and bringing many people from all over B.C.
Armstrong Cheese
Armstrong CheeseCheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
is well-known throughout Canada and in parts of the United States, and originated in Armstrong. Dairyworld purchased Armstrong Cheese in 1997. Saputo Inc. purchased Dairyworld in 2003, and in February 2004, after being in operation for more than 100 years, closed the Armstrong Cheese site down, laying off 73 workers. However, one of the main tourist attractions continues to be the Village Cheese Factory. At the Village Cheese Factory, one can watch master cheesemakers at their craft. Among the cheeses available are cheddar
Cheddar
Cheddar is a large village and civil parish in the Sedgemoor district of the English county of Somerset. It is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, north-west of Wells. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Nyland and Bradley Cross...
, Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack is an American semihard cheese made using cow's milk. It is commonly sold by itself, or mixed with Colby to make a marbled cheese known as Colby-Jack . Cheddar-Jack varieties are also available....
and "squeaky curds".
Climate
Education
The public schools system is administered by School District 83 North Okanagan-ShuswapSchool District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap
School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap is a school district in British Columbia. This includes the major center of Salmon Arm and the area around Shuswap Lake as well as the northern Okanagan communities of Armstrong and Enderby.-History:...
, headquartered in nearby Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
-Climate:- Education :Public schools in Salmon Arm are part of School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap; within the city limits, there are currently five elementary schools , one middle school , and a secondary school with two campuses...
.
Sports
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Okanagan Knights North Okanagan Knights The North Okanagan Knights are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Doug Birks Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League... |
Kootenay International Junior Hockey League The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the KIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League... |
Ice hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... |
Canlan Sports Center | |
|
| Armstrong Shamrocks | Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League The Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the British Columbia Lacrosse Association in British Columbia, Canada. The TOJLL's Kamloops Venom became the leagues first Provincial Champions in 2010... |
Lacrosse Lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh... |
|
|
Notable residents
- Cold DrivenCold DrivenCold Driven is a Canadian rock band formed in 2005 in Armstrong, British Columbia. Cold Driven was founded by vocalist Billy Nickell, bassist Dennis Nickell, and guitarists Shane and Ben Bouthillier. The band expressed passion for creating unique and original music...
, Canadian rock band formed in 2005 founded by vocalist Billy Nickell, bassist Dennis Nickell, and guitarists Shane and Ben Bouthillier. - Theobald Butler BarrettTheobald Butler BarrettTheobald Butler Barrett was a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1945 as a Member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to represent the riding of Norfolk. He was defeated in the 1949 election...
, Canadian politician. - Shyla StylezShyla StylezShyla Stylez is the stage name of Amanda Friedland, a Canadian pornographic actress....
, pornographic actress.
External links
- City of Armstrong - Official site
- Armstrong, BC