 Silvery Slocan Museum, Tourism BC/David Gluns photo
Silvery Slocan ValleyThe town of Sandon was the epicenter of the silver boom, becoming one of the largest population centres in the West. At its height, the town boasted a population of more than 5000, a hospital, school, railway station, 29 hotels, three breweries, three churches, an opera house and, well, a number of brothels. New Denver, at the mouth of Carpenter Creek, emerged in 1892 as a valley service centre for Sandon and the area’s burgeoning mining industry. By 1910, the Silvery Slocan mining boom went bust, and Sandon fell into decline. However, New Denver survived the end of mining, and life carried on quietly until World War II.
DoukhouborsBetween 1908 and 1938, the Doukhobors, Russian immigrants fleeing religious persecution, cleared and farmed land bordering the Slocan River south of Slocan City. The history of these hard-working people is documented near New Denver, at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Castlegar.
Nikkei  In 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, thousands of Nikkei, Canadians of Japanese descent, were moved to "relocation camps" in remote locations of British Columbia and the Prairies. Many were sent to camps in Sandon, Lemon Creek, and New Denver. After the war, the Nikkei were not permitted to return to the coast, where many had been farmers and fishermen. Some remained in the Kootenay Rockies region, while others were moved east to Ontario. The poignant story of the Nikkei is chronicled at the Nikkei Memorial Interment Centre on Josephine St. in New Denver.
New Denver Then and Now The next wave of migrants to the Slocan Valley arrived via Volkswagen van in the late-1960s and 1970s. These included Vietnam War draft dodgers, hippies, and those getting back to the land. In time, these newcomers became a key thread in the fabric of community life here. Rusting Volkswagens can still be seen in backyards throughout the Slocan Valley. Today, people who live in New Denver and Silverton continue to enjoy the tranquility, beauty, and unique character of the area. Winters tend to be quiet, with vacation properties closed up for the season and Slocan Valley snowbirds taking off for warmer climates. For more information on the culture and history of New Denver and the Slocan Valley, contact the Visitor Centre.
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