Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland is a city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. Tucked high in the Monashee Mountains, Rossland is at an elevation of 1023 metres (3356 feet). Its population is 3729, though it fluctuates from season to season. The population is at its peak during the winter. Rossland has been known as the 'Mountain Bike Capital of Canada' since 1993 when it was awarded this title, with an extensive trail system radiating from the outskirts of the town. Also nearby is the multi-peak ski hill, Red Mountain Resort.[3]

Rossland
City
The Corporation of the City of Rossland
Rossland's main street
Nickname(s): 
The Golden City[1]
Rossland
Location of Rossland in British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°04′43″N 117°47′57″W
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
RegionWest Kootenay
Regional districtKootenay Boundary
Incorporated1897
Government
 • TypeElected city council
 • Governing bodyRossland City Council
 • MayorKathy Moore
Area
 • Total59.79 km2 (23.09 sq mi)
Elevation
1,023 m (3,356 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total3,729
 • Density62.4/km2 (162/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
Postal code
V0G 1Y0
Area code(s)250
Highways3B
22
WaterwaysColumbia River nearby
Websitewww.rossland.ca

Toponym
Welcome for Rossland, British Columbia

The origin of the toponym Rossland comes from the name of a miner, Ross Thompson, who staked a claim in 1890.[4] He had tried to call the city Thompson, but he was advised that there was already a town with that name.

History

In 1897, as a result of a gold rush, Rossland for a time was one of Western Canada's largest cities.[1] A number of historic buildings survive from this time.

By 1907, Rossland was home to a local branch of the Western Federation of Miners.[5]

In 1929 Doukhobor firefighters were sent from Rossland to Gold Creek Basin in Washington State to fight a forest fire. Two of the men discovered a Lost Mine called the Lost Doukhobor Ledge.[6]

The Rossland Court House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980.[7]

Notable people
  • Dallas Drake, retired NHL Hockey player, Stanley Cup champion (Detroit Red wings)
  • Nancy Greene, alpine ski racer, two time overall World Cup champion (1967, 1968), Olympic Gold medalist
  • George Grey, Cross country skier, Olympian
  • Kerrin Lee-Gartner, downhill ski racer, Olympic Gold Medalist
  • Seth Martin, former hockey player (St.Louis Blues, Trail Smoke Eaters)
  • John Stark, stage actor
  • Donald Stevens, retired downhill skier
  • John Turner, 17th Canadian Prime Minister, grew up in Rossland after moving to Canada from England as an infant with his family
  • Joe Zanussi, retired NHL hockey player (St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets)
  • Joe Boland, retired Hamiltonian (TriOS)

Media

Rossland is home to CHLI-FM, Rossland Radio Co-op, an internet-based community radio station which has currently applied for, and was granted, a low-power FM license with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) at 101.1 FM.

Rossland is served by two newspapers. One is The Rossland Telegraph, an online only full-service paper, founded in August 2008. In July 2010 the "Rossland News" was opened and is both online and currently distributes 1,200 papers throughout the town.

Education

School District 20 Kootenay-Columbia operates public schools in Rossland.

The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique operates one Francophone school: école des Sept-sommets primary school.[8]

Climate

Rossland features a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb) experiencing all four seasons. Summer days are usually warm with cool nights, while winters are cold with lows in the teens.[9]

Climate data for Rossland
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.5
(45.5)		 13.3
(55.9)		 16
(61)		 27.2
(81.0)		 30.5
(86.9)		 31
(88)		 35
(95)		 35
(95)		 32.8
(91.0)		 25
(77)		 15
(59)		 9
(48)		 35
(95)
Average high °C (°F) −3
(27)		 0
(32)		 4.9
(40.8)		 10.3
(50.5)		 15.4
(59.7)		 19.6
(67.3)		 23.4
(74.1)		 23.4
(74.1)		 17.3
(63.1)		 10.6
(51.1)		 1
(34)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 10
(50)
Average low °C (°F) −8.6
(16.5)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 0
(32)		 4.1
(39.4)		 8
(46)		 10.5
(50.9)		 10.6
(51.1)		 5.6
(42.1)		 0.9
(33.6)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −7.7
(18.1)		 0.8
(33.4)
Record low °C (°F) −25.5
(−13.9)		 −25
(−13)		 −17.8
(0.0)		 −9.4
(15.1)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 0
(32)		 2
(36)		 2.2
(36.0)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −18
(0)		 −25
(−13)		 −33.3
(−27.9)		 −33.3
(−27.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 98.5
(3.88)		 95
(3.7)		 77
(3.0)		 60.2
(2.37)		 74.9
(2.95)		 68
(2.7)		 46.6
(1.83)		 48.7
(1.92)		 50.7
(2.00)		 55
(2.2)		 119.7
(4.71)		 122.9
(4.84)		 917.2
(36.11)
Source: Environment Canada[10]

References
  1. History of Rossland on the official website of Rossland
  2. Meet Your Council | City of Rossland
  3. Scott, Gord (16 February 2011). "Pioneering spirit lives at Red Mountain". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  4. Reference on toponym "Rossland" in the official database of the Integrated Land Management Bureau Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine in British Columbia
  5. "Portland Strike Fund Report". Industrial Union Bulletin. 1 (8). 20 April 1907. p. 3.
  6. N.L. Barlee, Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns of Northeastern Washington, Hancock House Publishers., 2004
  7. Rossland Court House. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  8. "Carte des écoles." Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique. Retrieved on 22 January 2015.
  9. Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2011-01-19). "Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 Station Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada". climate.weather.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  10. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 11 July 2009
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