Vavenby, British Columbia

Vavenby is a small village of approximately 700 residents located in the province of British Columbia, Canada [ [http://ntvalley.com/vavenby/ Vavenby ] ] . Economy in the region centres primarily on forestry, logging, agriculture, and tourism. Adjacent to the community lies the North Thompson River, the Yellowhead Highway (#5) and the Canadian National Railway.

History

Franklin Allingham was the first European resident in the upper North Thompson valley before the railway arrived. He homesteaded a four hundred acre (162 hectare) piece of land around 1886 on the north side of the North Thompson River. This location is approximately two kilometres from the present day township.

Lumber Industry Dynamics

The economy in the community continues to heavily reflect that of the lumber industry. The two mills Weyerhaeuser and Slocan-Canfor were positioned side by side on the north side of the river until, in 2002, Weyerhaeuser shut down its Vavenby operation choosing to focus on other locations in western Canada. This resulted in a significant depletion of employment in the region and a rapid population reduction. Weyerhaeuser retained logging rights in the area, keeping the local loggers and foresters employed. In 2004, a finger jointing mill proposed purchase of the Weyerhaeuser, Vavenby mill property and was scheduled to begin production, but the company went bankrupt before the plant became fully operational.

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