Kimberley, British Columbia

Kimberley
Motto: "Recordamur Omnium"  (Latin) "We Are Mindful Of All"
Kimberley Location of Kimberley in British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°40′11″N 115°58′39″W / 49.66972°N 115.9775°W / 49.66972; -115.9775Coordinates: 49°40′11″N 115°58′39″W / 49.66972°N 115.9775°W / 49.66972; -115.9775
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	East Kootenay
Incorporated	1944
Government
– Mayor	James E. Ogilvie
Area
– Total	58.31 km2 (22.5 sq mi)
Elevation	1,120 m (3,675 ft)
Population (2006)
– Total	6,139
– Density	105.3/km2 (272.7/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Area code(s)	250
Website	http://www.city.kimberley.bc.ca

Kimberley is a small city in southeast British Columbia, Canada along Highway 95A between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains. Kimberley was named in 1896 after the Kimberley mine in South Africa. From 1917 to 2001, it was the home to the world's largest lead-zinc mine, the Sullivan Mine. Now it is mainly a tourist destination and home to the Kimberley Alpine Resort, a ski area and the Kimberley Underground Mining Railway that features a 750-foot-long (230 m) underground mining interpretive centre. Recreational pursuits include world-class skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, biking, hiking and golfing on championship golf courses. The city has the largest urban park in British Columbia.^{[citation needed]} At 1977 acres (800 ha), the Kimberley Nature Park is the largest incorporated park in Canada and the paved, non-motorized Rail-Trail linking the cities of Kimberley and Cranbrook make Kimberley a unique four-season resort. Kimberley is also home to a thriving Arts and Cultural scene.

History

Kimberley was incorporated as a city in 1944. Following the routing of Highway 95 away from the city, in 1972 Kimberley transformed into the Bavarian City of the Rockies to entice motorists passing through the region to visit. Kimberley's Mine was the Sullivan Mine, and it was the largest lead-zinc mine in the world. The mine ceased operation in 2001.

Tourism and transportation

Kimberley Bavarian cuckoo clock.

The city has the "largest freestanding cuckoo clock in Canada".

Kimberley is also home to a non-equity summer theatre which typically produces a mainstage musical at the local theatre and a free outdoor vaudeville show in the town square. Past productions include:You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Where's Charley?; By Jeeves and several original scripts featuring local material. Kimberley Summer Theatre's mandate is to produce affordable but professional theatre for all ages. Productions are housed at the 125-seat "Centre 64".

Kimberley is served by the Canadian Rockies International Airport that has been expanded, and is expected by many to have a positive impact on commerce and tourism in the Kimberley area. The airport expansion will accommodate large charter and scheduled flights, opening up the area to more vacationers from across the country and abroad.

Schools

Schools in Kimberley are part of School District 6 Rocky Mountain which also serves Invermere and Golden. Five of the district schools are in Kimberley.

• Blarchmont Elementary School (closed as of September, 2006) and now home of the Kimberley Campus of the College of the Rockies
• Selkirk Secondary School
• McKim Elementary School (changed from a Middle School to a 4 to 7 school as of September, 2006)
• Marysville Elementary School
• Lindsay Park Elementary School
• Continuing Education School
• Kimberley Alternate School

Other Schools accredited by the government:

• Kimberley Independent School - Pre-K to 8th Grade

Sports

The Kimberley Dynamiters Junior B Ice Hockey team play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Dynamiters have produced many pro hockey players including Jason Wiemer, who last played with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Kimberley Alpine Resort regularly hosts ski races on the IPC Disabled Alpine World Cup.

There are five major golf courses to play, Trickle Creek Golf Resort, which, along with Trickle Creek Lodge and Kimberley Alpine Resort, is owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc., Bootleg Gap Golf Course, Kimberley Golf Club, and just 15 – 20 minutes away are the St Eugene Golf Resort and Shadow Mountain Golf Course, both of which have received rave reviews for their quality and incredible scenery. Additionally, new investment in the area is producing another golf course known as Wild Stone. The areas around Kimberley also have premiere golf courses, making Kimberley and the surrounding area a golf tourism destination.

Club	League	Sport	Venue	Established	Championships
Kimberley Dynamiters	KIJHL	Ice Hockey	Kimberley Civic Centre	1972	3

Notable residents

Scott Adams Len Barrie Margaret Bridgman Bob Cox

Stanley Hayer Frank Howard Don Martineau

Jason McBain Mike McBain Judy Rogers

Gerry Sorensen Danny Sullivan Jason Wiemer

External links

• Kimberley Chamber of Commerce
• Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre
• City of Kimberley
• Discover Kimberley
• Kimberley Summer Theatre
• Mark Creek POST