Sicamous, British Columbia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = District of Sicamous
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settlement_type = District
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map_caption = Location of Sicamous in British Columbia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = BC
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Kootenays
subdivision_type3 = Regional district
subdivision_name3 = Columbia-Shuswap
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leader_title = Governing body
leader_name = Sicamous Council
leader_title1 = Mayor
leader_name1 = Lorriane March
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established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1989
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area_total_km2 = 14.39
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 3,192
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
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latd= 50 |latm= 50 |lats= 0 |latNS=N
longd= 118|longm= 58|longs= 52|longEW=W
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elevation_m = 360
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blank_name = Highways
blank_info = 1, 97A
blank1_name = Waterways
blank1_info = Shuswap Lake
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footnotes = Sicamous, British Columbia is a town in British Columbia located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 97A junction of Mara Lake and the Shuswap Lake system. It is known as a popular all season tourist destination attracting visitors from throughout Canada and the United States as well as worldwide. It has a population of 3,192 which nearly doubles during the summer months.

History

In the 1800s Sicamous and area was inhabited by a semi-nomadic Indigenous nation called the Secwepemc or Shuswaps. They crossed the Rocky Mountains to hunt buffalo on the plains. In this area they were called the "Schickamoos". In 1871, a Provincial Map shows Schickamoos Narrows which in early history was known as a "meeting place of Indians".

In 1864 gold was discovered on the Columbia. Seymour Arm became a supply centre in the Big Bend gold rush.

In 1885 permanent settlers arrived after the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie which linked Canada sea to sea. Among the first settlers in Sicamous were the families from Finland. Old Town, or Eagle Pass Landing as it now known, became an almost instant town in 1871. It was the central supply centre for railway construction. Today it is used primarily for recreational purposes such as sledding, houseboating, hiking, swimming, and biking.

Later in the early 1900s CPR hill became a residential development. Finlayson's store and a jail was built in 1892 adding a post office in 1904. Also, the first school was opened around the years of 1908 and 1910. In 1949 the bridge was built across the channel, having previously been just a ferry crossing. Several hotels were opened over the years. In the early 1900s the well known Sicamous Hotel was built. The hotel was Tudor style with 75 rooms and a large elegant dining room. The numerous dances were locally popular and well attended events. The hotel was demolished in 1964.

Eagle Valley, in Sicamous, became the home of many settlers. They came and farmed the land putting up with forests, deep snow and hordes of mosquitoes. Then the well known D Dutchmen Dairy was built. The first newspaper in Sicamous was the Eagle Valley News, printed for the first time on October 22, 1958 and it continues to print today.

Sicamous was incorporated in 1989.

Hometown of NHL Player Shea Weber as well as fellow Nashville Predators draftee Cody Franson. [http://stats.theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=1964] Sicamous is well known for starting numerous NCAA hockey careers. Most notable are Kelowna minor hockey products, Matt Crowell and brothers Tyler and John Mazzei.