Smithers

Smithers is an alpine town in the North Coast-Nechako region of British Columbia. With a population of 5,350 residents (2016), Smithers is the perfect base for exploring the surrounding wilderness.

Understand
Smithers has adopted an alpine theme, which is drawn from the geography of the area. A town bylaw requires businesses in the downtown area centred on Main Street to construct their buildings in an alpine style. A fibreglass statue of a man blowing an alpine horn, commonly referred to as the Alpenman or Alpine Al, is located at the entrance to the main street and has become the town symbol. Similarly, the Smithers chamber of commerce displays an Alpine Al costume at community events and in television advertisements for the town's businesses.

Residents of Smithers are called "Smithereens" which remains a more popularly accepted demonym than the sometimes used "Smitherite".

History
The Bulkley Valley in which Smithers is situated was inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers.

Climate
Winters are cold and cloudy but highly variable with a January average of −8.9 °C (16.0 °F). Snow is the main type of precipitation during winter. Warm spells can push temperatures above freezing during the winter months, while cold weather systems can reduce the temperature to less than −30 °C (−22 °F). The average annual snowfall is 204 cm (80.3 in) with maximum accumulations of snow tending to happen in February when the snow depth is around 36 centimetres (14.2 in) and there are many months when the snow depth reaches or surpasses 20 cm (7.9 in). Summers are warm with a normal highs of just below 30 °C (86 °F) and an extreme high of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F). Nighttime temperatures are often cool with normal nighttime lows under 10 °C (50 °F). Depending on the year there may be very little or a lot of precipitation. Spring and fall are short transition seasons. Smithers receives an average of 513 mm (20 in) of precipitation a year with February through April being the driest months. Smithers receives 1651 hours of bright sunshine a year, ranging from a minimum of 13% of possible sunshine in December to a maximum of 48% of possible sunshine in August.

By car
Smithers is approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. The town is 68 km (42 mi) east of New Hazelton, on Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway), and 370 km (229 mi) west of Prince George.

Airlines

 * Operates flights to Smithers from Vancouver (1.5 hours).

Get around
The only taxi service in Smithers ceased operating on January 31, 2020.

Do



 * Spearfishing along the Bulkley River or the nearby lakes
 * Spearfishing along the Bulkley River or the nearby lakes

Eat




Go next

 * Prince George, 4 hour and 15 minutes east on Highway 16
 * Terrace, 2 hour and 20 minutes west on Highway 16