The village is known for its rich First Nations heritage, and for its network of mountain biking trails, which have received acclaim by becoming Canada's first IMBA Ride Centre.[6] In winter, cross country skiing trails and snowmobile wilderness trails are created.[7] Burns Lake is located in the midst of a large networks of lakes called the Lakes District, with fishing and hunting year round, and water activities in the summer months.
The town serves as a hub for the local logging, saw-milling, mining and tourist industries. It also serves as the main commercial centre for the surrounding area including François Lake, Colleymount, Grassy Plains, Rose Lake, Topley, and Granisle. There are three pubs, several cafes and restaurants a selection of stores, hotels and motels, and services including a library and a hospital. It is also the location of the head offices of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako.
History
Burns Lake's first inhabitants were the Carrier First Nations communities that spanned much of the Lakes District and beyond.
Burns Lake itself began as a small rest stop for travellers on their way to the Yukon Gold Rush. Many of these travellers spotted opportunity in the rich forestry, fur, and mining opportunities in Burns Lake and the surrounding area.
Burns Lake acquired its name after Michael Byrnes, who was an explorer for the Collins Overland Telegraph scheme. Byrnes passed Burns lake in about 1866 while surveying a route from Fort Fraser to Hagwilget.[8]: 33 Recent research indicates that Byrnes was also a miner during the Cariboo Gold Rush and had staked a claim on William's Creek earlier, in 1861. On the 1866 trail map of the area, the name 'Byrnes' Lake appears; after 1876 however, the maps indicate it as Burns Lake.[9]
Bob Gerow, one of the main founders of Burns Lake, entered into partnership with Jack Seely and Howard Laidlaw to create Burns Lake Trading Company. Together, they built a store/hotel and a sawmill on Gerow Island, which would become the hub of trade for the surrounding area.[10] The Village was incorporated on December 6, 1923. The first Mayor was G. M Gerow.
The first newspaper in Burns Lake was called the Observer, published and edited by Sidney Godwin. In the late 1950s, another newspaper, also called the Observer, was operated by Ralph Vipond. It closed in 1961.
The town continued to grow throughout the 20th century. Its current industries have become forestry and tourism, though many workers commute to jobs in the mining industry.
Burns Lake received nationwide attention on January 20, 2012, when an explosion destroyed Babine Forest Products, a wood mill which was one of the town's primary employers.[11]
The village of Burns Lake is infamous within the trucking and commercial transportation industries for its narrow, twisting main road which makes the transportation of large loads to adjacent communities difficult and sometimes impossible. Despite numerous unanswered complaints and appeals, the British Columbia Highway 16 remains throttled.
A number of historic buildings still stand including:
The Old Hospital
First built in 1931 by the Women's Missionary Society of the United Church of Canada. Once the largest and finest public buildings between Prince George and Prince Rupert, it was famous for its fine gardens. It was later occupied by a senior citizens apartment complex, then declared a heritage building in 1982 and redeveloped as an office building by its owner, the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation.
The Bucket of Blood
Located adjacent to the Lakes District Museum, this square-cut log building is a former fur trade post which later became a gambling den. Due to the nature of gambling, fights broke out in the building, earning its name. It now contains a display of historical artifacts from the life of Barney Mulvaney, one of the founders of Burns Lake.
Bucket of BloodEarly morning mist on Burns Lake
Geography
Climate
Burns Lake has a subarctic climate (Dfc,) although it is on the borderline of a humid continental climate. It has short warm summers and cold winters. Average winter snowfall is approximately 190 cm (74.8 in).
In June 1982 Burns Lake recorded 376.5 hours of sunshine. This is most sunshine ever recorded in British Columbia during the month of June.[12][citation needed]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Burns Lake had a population of 1,659 living in 689 of its 765 total private dwellings, a change of -6.7% from its 2016 population of 1,779. With a land area of 6.54 km2 (2.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 253.7/km2 (657.0/sq mi) in 2021.[14]
Religion
According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Burns Lake included:[15]
Burns Lake is located on Highway 16. Major commercial airlines fly into Smithers Airport, which is approximately 150 km (93 mi) west of Burns Lake, as well as Prince George Airport which is approximately 230 km (140 mi) east of Burns Lake.
BC Bus has the bus service through the area twice a week. Alternatively, there is a BC Transit bus which operated between Prince George and Smithers throughout the week.
A free ferry is available to cross Francois Lake which is directly south of Burns Lake. The ferry is used frequently to get to Grassy Plains.
The Lakes District Arts Council[21] holds several arts events every year, bringing in acts from all over the globe with a variety of different types of performances including, music, theatre, and a variety of other performances.
Burns Lake hosts annual Performing Arts and Alternative Arts Festivals, drawing talent and audiences from across the region. Burns Lake also hosts an annual Aboriginal Day Celebration (the second largest in the province) which draws people from around the region and an annual Canada Day Celebration, each of which have celebratory parades.[22]
Recreation
Free exercise equipment in Spirit SquareOne of the many trails in Burns Lake
Burns Lake has gained world renown from the International Mountain Biking Association for its network of trails on Boer Mountain. The trails, maintained by a volunteer group called the Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association,[23] includes 23 km (14 mi) of downhill and 40 km (25 mi) of cross country trails. The trails continue to draw mountain bikers from all over the world and are expanding every season.
In the winter months cross country skiing is popular at the Omineca Ski Club. Its facilities have hosted several national championships.[citation needed] The facilities include 25 km of groomed trails, four km of which are lit for nighttime skiing. There is also a facility for biathlon skiing.
In 2014 The Village of Burns Lake completed work on the Lakeside Multiplex and renovations to the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena. This facility includes a hockey rink, curling rink, rock climbing gym, a squash/racquetball court, a fitness facility, and multi-use rooms. The facility is located on Spirit Square, a large outdoor park with a playground, a beach, a walking path, outdoor fitness equipment, two tennis courts, and a skateboard park.
The 1.9 kilometre Opal Bed Trail leads to an active rock hounding destination, where users can look for precious minerals.[24]
Burns Lake is considered to be the gateway to Tweedsmuir North Provincial Park and Protected Area. (The North Park is a wilderness area with no services or supplies; it cannot be accessed by road.[25]) Fly-in tours for sightseeing, hunting and fishing are offered by local outfitters.[26]
^"Welcome to Burns Lake". The Village of Burns Lake. The Village of Burns Lake. 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017. During the winter, Olympic quality cross-country skiing trails and facilities draw in competitors and recreational skiers from across the province. Snowshoe enthusiasts can follow in their tracks too. Additionally, Burns Lake is a snowmobiler's paradise, with vast wilderness trails near town.
^Guenter, Kerry (November 23, 2011). "The life and times of gold miner; Michael Byrnes". BC Local News. Blackpress. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved January 27, 2017. Lohn Clayton White was the cartographer and artist for the Collins Overland Telegraph and would have applied the names to his 1866 map of the trail. Byrnes Lake, which appeared on maps after 1876 as Burns Lake, was the third feature named after Byrnes.
^Burns Lake Historical Society, "Burns Lake & District" D.W. Friesen and Sons Ltd, Calgary Alberta, 1973.
^"Burns Lake". Super.Natural British Columbia. Destination BC Corp. 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved January 27, 2017. The community hosts numerous festivals and events
^"British Columbia Travel Guide - Burns Lake". BC Travel & Tourism. BC Travel & Tourism. 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017. Burns Lake lays at the bottom of the Bulkley Basin next to the largest Provincial Park in British Columbia - Tweedsmuir Park and the smallest - Deadman's Island Provincial Park
