Terrace

Terrace is an inland city in the North Coast of British Columbia. The largest city in the region, it has a population of about 12,500 people (2015), a significant portion of which are the Kitselas people, who have lived in the area for thousands of years.

Understand
The community is the regional retail and service hub for the northwestern portion of British Columbia.

Terrace was once the cedar pole capital of the world. Over 50,000 poles were manufactured annually to supply many parts of North America with telephone and electric power poles. The world's tallest pole, 50 metres (160 ft) long, was cut in Terrace and stands in New York City. For many years, logging was the region's major industry, but Terrace's economy has been forced to diversify since nearly all wood mills not operated by First Nations groups have closed down. Terrace's largest employers are in the public sector, but there are still some large private employers. Many people in Terrace commute to Kitimat to work at Alcan. The city has continually tried to reinvent itself as a service hub for northwestern British Columbia.

In 2001, the community was significantly affected by problems with and the closure of the largest local employer, the former Skeena Cellulose Inc. sawmill. The mill was bought by Terrace Lumber Co., a group of local owners, and reopened in late August 2005, but did not prosper and closed in mid-2006. By the end of 2006, the remaining equipment was auctioned off and the mill was torn down. The mill's former site is now a vacant lot with its footings covered in graffiti.

The city's economic prospects are linked to tourism, mineral developments to the north and northwest, construction of a power line towards Iskut and energy-related developments in Kitimat. The Prince Rupert container port expansion has resulted in increased rail traffic by CN Rail.

History
The region is one of the oldest continuously occupied regions of the world and, long before European contact, was one of the most densely populated areas north of Mexico. The flat mountain ranges surrounding Terrace are traditionally called Ganeeks Laxha, which in the Tsimshian language means the "Stairway to Heaven". The Skeena River was known as the K'shian River, meaning "where the mist comes out" — ksi, to come out from; yeen (hian-mist), clouds. The Tsimshian Nation's traditional economy was based on hunting, fishing and social gatherings, for domestic consumption or trade, on their traditional lands. For the Aboriginal people, the Skeena River was used for transportation, communication, war, trade, as a source of food, and at times for protection.

In 1866 the steamer Mumford made it as far as Kitsumkalum with supplies for the Collins Overland Telegraph line. It took an average of three days to travel from Port Essington (at the mouth of the Skeena River, near Prince Rupert) to Hazelton. In 1891 the Hudson's Bay Company sternwheeler Caledonia negotiated the Kitselas Canyon and reached Hazelton. A number of other steamers were built around the turn of the century, in part due to the growing fishing industry and the Klondike Gold Rush. In honour of its steamboat heritage, Terrace celebrates a festival called Riverboat Days each summer.

The riverboats operated on the Skeena for only 22 years; the last boat, the Inlander, finished up in September 1912, when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway took over its function.

During World War II, military units composed primarily of conscripts from central and eastern Canada were stationed in Terrace. Morale was low due to the poor relationship between the soldiers and the local populace, the isolation, the damp weather, lack of recreation, crowded facilities, and the distance from home. In late 1944, because of declining enlistment and heavy casualties, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was forced to reconsider his promise to not deploy conscripts overseas. Mackenzie King decided to a one-time assignment of conscripts for overseas service. On November 24, 1944, news that conscripts might be sent overseas triggered a mutiny amongst the men stationed in Terrace. It took until November 29 for officers to restore order to the troops. The Terrace Mutiny was the most serious breach of discipline in Canadian military history.

Climate
Being close to the Pacific Coast, Terrace has a humid continental climate with wet, cold winters (though much milder than inland places) and drier, warm summers, with an annual normal mean temperature of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) varying between average temperature in January of −4.3 °C (24.3 °F) and in July 16.4 °C (61.5 °F).

Terrace receives an average annual rainfall of 970.1 mm (38.19 in) and snowfall of 375.4 cm (147.80 in); totalling 1,322 mm (52.05 in) of precipitation, which is enough to sustain the lush vegetation of the area. October to February are the wettest months.

Destinations
There are several flights that fly to Terrace. Central Mountain Air runs flights from Prince George (1.25 hours), and Air Canada and Westjet offer operate flights daily from Vancouver (1.5 hours).

Airlines
Canadian airlines that operate to Terrace:

By car
Terrace sits at the intersection of Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 37. The city is 2 hours east of Prince Rupert, 1½ hours north of Kitimat, 1 hour west of Kitwanga (southern terminus of Highway 37, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway), and 8 hours west of Prince George. As this is northern mountains, driving in this area is not recommended in the winter if you are not familiar with travel in such conditions.

Get around
Terrace is small enough to walk around downtown,

By public transit

 * Bus route # 11 operates between Terrace and Kitimat (1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes) from Monday to Saturday. Some of these trips stop at Northwest Regional Airport.
 * Bus route # 11 operates between Terrace and Kitimat (1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes) from Monday to Saturday. Some of these trips stop at Northwest Regional Airport.

See

 * The Kermodei Bear: This all white relative of a black bear is the town mascot of Terrace. It is not an albino, but one with a recessive gene inherited from both parents. Sacred to the First Nations people of the area, sightings are exceedingly rare, and few locals have seen one.

Do

 * Fish: There are many lodges, guides, and tour companies to help you catch steelhead, salmon and trout, and the Skeena is well known for its good fishing.
 * During the summer, Terrace offers many outdoor activities, such as fishing for a wide range of freshwater fish, mountain biking, hiking, kiting and hunting in the surrounding areas.
 * In the fall, many of Terrace's inhabitants go out to search for pine mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare), and pick berries.
 * There is a variety of winter sports available in Terrace and the surrounding region such as snowmobiling, ice fishing, curling, and ice skating.