New Denver
Set on the shores of Slocan Lake, New Denver (population: 512) is a former mining town cradled by the Selkirk Mountains.
Established in 1892, the town was built on the riches of the area’s major mining boom. The experiences of early prospectors and pioneers to the area are preserved in museums throughout the region, including the ghost town of Sandon.
When the mining industry faltered, the logging industry flourished amid New Denver’s thickly forested landscape.
Looking across Slocan Lake, you'll see the dense forests of spectacular Valhalla Provincial Park. Two other wilderness parks, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park and Goat Range Provincial Park, are also natural wonders to explore.
During World War II, over 20,000 Canadians of Japanese ancestry were forcibly moved from BC's coast to internment camps in the province's interior. Many were settled in makeshift dwellings in New Denver and other Slocan Valley communities. The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre and the Kohan Reflection Garden in town honour their experiences and memories.