March 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
View a larger image on flickr.com
We take our seasons seriously here in Dawson Creek. Summer is Summer, Fall is Fall, Winter is Winter and here comes Spring!
We love spring! It is so obvious here. We can almost feel the earth warm up. We hope for a gradual melt so that the earth absorbs as much moisture as it can for the upcoming yearly crops.
I keep a journal of the heralds of spring. The first Canada Geese, the first robins, pussy willows, the first bright green blades of grass and of course the first green leaves and the first tractor working up a field for planting.
If you come to Dawson Creek in the spring months, you will see us cleaning up the debris from winter, sweeping our streets and planting flowers in our beautiful city baskets. And you'll see a lot of smiles.
I love the way the city shakes off our winter coat. Friends who visit often comment on what an attractive place this is. Even as a resident, I appreciate how clean and welcoming it is.
I never get tired of the huge flocks of geese flying overhead, or the newborn animals kicking up their heels in the fields.
Spring has sprung in the Peace River Country.
February 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
View a larger image on flickr.com
Ask anyone who lives in the Mighty Peace River Country and you'll hear that we've always had plenty of wind.
We decided to do something worthy with all that power...The next time you are driving into Dawson Creek on the Hart Highway, from Prince George, Vancouver and all points south, you'll know you are getting really close when you see our Bear Mountain with its
34 brand new wind turbines... turning... turning... producing clean, renewable energy. You can't miss them!
Our city has watched the installation with fascination and amazement. The turbines are very impressive to say the least. They stand like bright sentinels on our ridge and you can see them from practically everywhere around.
Each one stands 78 meters (256 feet) to the hub with a rotor diameter of 82 meters (269 feet). The equivalent of 50 loads of concrete was poured for each foundation.
The land they sit on has been used for hikers, cross country skiers and other recreational users for years as well as providing both private and community cattle grazing as well.
Great care was taken to respect the environment and leave as little impact as possible. Cattle still graze there, and restoration of the habitat is ongoing and the public is very welcome to visit.
Make sure you plan a picnic on Bear Mountain... feel the wind on your face and enjoy the presence of our wind towers.
"Rolling out the red carpet..."
July 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
It all started off innocently enough with a lovely sunny morning stroll through peaceful streets to indulge my senses at the weekly Farmer's Market. For those of you who are wondering, the market is held Saturdays at 8am to 12:30pm from May to October at the Co-Op Mall on 103 Ave and 8th St, a short distance to drive or walk from the well equipped and very friendly NAR Visitor Centre.
The Market was every bit as eclectic as I had hoped and as I approached I was excited to see a variety of locally made goodies including everything from tie-die shirts and dresses to fresh rhubarb to hand tied fishing flies. The selection in the additional covered area was equally as eclectic and I managed to have some great chats with some of the vendors, even convincing a few to just maybe come and visit my home turf of the Yukon. Just an added bonus.
After I had spent all my hard earned cash on such irresistible items such as locally homemade Bumbleberry Jam, Black Current Syrup and some funky one of a kind jewelry that can only be bought at a street market, I decided to wend my way to points beyond.
I walked through the serene streets lined with the most beautiful hanging baskets I have ever seen over to the Alaska House on the corner of 102 Ave and 10th St - the intersection containing the historic Mile Zero monument, I spent well over an hour in the Alaska House including watching a captivating film about the awe inspiring construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942. The film was above and beyond anything I have seen until now and I surprisingly learned a few things that I had not realized even after living for 20 years on the Alaska Highway in the Yukon Territory myself.
This is almost when I became a star - albeit a temporary one!
The missing link right now for this entry is the fact the 15th Annual Summer Cruise-Show and Shine Event for original, restored classic and will-be classic cars from all over BC and Alberta is happening this weekend. There are some very proud owners and sweet looking rides circulating through town all shined up and in immaculate condition. The weekend event is a must-do for everyone whether one considers themselves an enthusiast or not. The town of Dawson Creek and the Mile Zero Cruisers have definitely created an event that will last for years to come.
The Summer Cruise folks were having a scavenger hunt throughout town for what I'm assuming must be great fun due to the enthusiasm and smiles on the faces of everyone I saw participating. This is when my modeling career began!
One task for teams was to find tourists, get their names, hometowns, give a pin to and take a picture with said tourist - each team needing to find four tourists each to participate! Well, I decided to jump head first into the persona of volunteer-tourist-for-pose. I had a large stash of Yukon logo pins handily in my bag and as the pics snapped, appropriate scavenger hunt forms filled out - the pins were flying back and forth between us and I'm wondering honestly who had more fun - the great folks I met or myself - I'm thinking me!
I'm out of alloted words - so hang on for the rest of my adventures in beautiful, friendly Dawson Creek!!!
July 10, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
The Mile 0 post in Dawson Creek is the one thing that tourists must have a picture of. I was quite intriqued to learn about the history of the post as it is not the orginal. The first post was located in the traffic circle as was foolishly run over by a drunk driver. The city felt that this post was important and decided to design a new one to honour all the hard work of building the Alaska Highway. Since then, this post has made its way to Vancouver when the engineering students stole it from UBC, been set on fire and has had endless men and women tied to it the night before their wedding. Due to all its adventures, the post is now metal and bolted to the cement. Make sure you look both ways though before you get your picture taken with post as you are jaywalking.
July 10, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
The Dawson Creek train station was built in 1931 and was used mostly for the American soldiers to come to Canada and build the Alaska HWY. Now it's been converted into an interesting museum...
March 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
Located in the traffic circle, near the historic Mile 0 Post and Cairn is a statue which is a portrayal of a surveyor that worked on the building of the Alaska Highway. His clothing and survey equipment are true to the 1942 time period and he pointing the way to Alaska. Karl Mattson, a local artist, created this amazing statue by welding and shaping scrap metal that he found discarded on farms in the region
May 07, 2008 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
Hello BC!
i was in Dawson Creek for awhile and i loved it there and going back and so looking forward this time around! just like my friend says to me once you drink Dawson water you always wanting to come back! i believe him! im missing Dawson Creek!
Rodger Browning!
June 15, 2007 | Tips from Us >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
Hi, my name is Leah. I have lived in Dawson Creek my entire life, well the 22 years that I have been alive anyway. I go to university in Edmonton for 8 months of the year and I’m always glad to come home to Dawson in the summer. There is just something about a small town that is endearing. Dawson Creek may be small by some standards but we are a population of about 12,000 people and growing all the time. Dawson Creek is famous because it is Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway but there is lots to see and do that is separate from the highway. And there is always something to do if you want to get out and participate. Our online community calendar is a brilliant place to find upcoming events. This is my third year working at the Dawson Creek Visitor Centre and I hope to share some my experiences with you readers.
If anyone was interested in that community calendar link I’ve included it below:
http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com/events/calendar.php?type=month&calendar=1&category=0&month=06&year=2007
June 13, 2007 | Tips from Us >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
Hello
My name is Becky and I have lived in Dawson Creek for 22 years. Even though I have lived here for such a long time, I don't really know the area. So when I started my new summer job as a tourist counsellor I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to go on a few road trips and learn about my area. I used to tell people that you could ask me anything about the Philippines and Mexico and I would know the answer just don't ask me about my own area. Thankfully this statement is changing as I am learning more and more everyday about the place I call home. I have made a promise to myself that every day off I am going to go on a little tour so I will be able to not only experience the attraction myself but also to tell others about it so they can enjoy it just as much as I did. I hope you enjoy my blogs and feel free to ask questions about a particular area I have visited...Talk about being a tourist in your own town!!