Several totem poles stand mighty and tall in Prince Rupert's downtown. These impressive pieces of art signify the strong First Nations culture in the area.
The Tsimshian First Nations have lived in Prince Rupert and surrounding area for thousands of years. Their culture has always focused on the land and its animals.
Trading History
Traders, attracted first by sea otter pelts then trade, arrived in the early 19th century. Europeans quickly saw the potential for wealth in salmon and soon, approximately two hundred canneries were built and running along the Northwest coast. A diverse mix of foreigners – Europeans and Asians – as well as local First Nations laboured in the canneries during the summers. They travelled far distances with their entire families and almost no possessions for employment.
In the early 1900s, Prince Rupert was chosen as the last stop on the Grand Trunk Railway, a railway that followed the rivers between Winnipeg and Prince Rupert and eventually spanned close to 5,000km/3,100mi.
This is what made Prince Rupert the centre it is today; the railroad brought life and jobs to the region.
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The Grand Trunk Railway
Though the Grand Trunk Railway went bankrupt shortly after the first train arrived in Prince Rupert on April 9, 1914, the federal government formed Canadian National (CN) to take it and another rail line over. By that point, its users had enthusiastically adopted the system so the trains kept running.
The railway is still key to the region's economy. Millions of dollars of goods are shipped yearly through Prince Rupert, from all over Canada to the rest of the world and back. In recent years, the city's port has undergone a major expansion which the city hopes will flow even more products through the area, in turn strengthening the local economy.
In more recent history, Prince Rupert became a commercial and recreational fishing town. In the last decade, however, fish numbers have decreased so the commercial fishing industry is struggling. However, visitors can still expect some excellent saltwater fishing opportunities here.
Modern Prince Rupert and Cruise Stop
The city is now a stop on many of the cruise lines travelling north and south between British Columbia and Alaska. The arrival of these lines have boosted the city's tourism industry and it is now the city's second most important industry after trade by ship and rail.
The last decade in Prince Rupert has been tough economically. The town's population is now smaller and nightlife is quiet. But locals are still friendly and eager to enjoy their home's incredible beauty including ocean sports – always fishing – which are part of their lives. Visitors will still find much to enjoy in this small marine town.
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