By J. Gordon WilsonGeorge Goodrich operated a trap line starting at Commotion Creek where his homestead on the Pine River was located. In 1939 he noticed a coal outcropping at a cut bank around nine miles up Hasler Creek from its junction with the Pine River. When the British Columbia Government started a test well… Read More

In 1903 Neil Gething, after prospecting in the Cariboo area, drifted down the Peace River to Hudson’s Hope. On arriving he walked down into the canyon below the landing and discovered coal seams. He went back ‘outside’, then returned in 1905 accompanied by Steele Johnson. They staked the coal and went out and registered it…. Read More

Many and varied were the types of gold washing outfits used on the Peace and her tributaries. Water wheels, gas driven pumps, hand operated pumps and the old reliable bailing bucket. This consisted of a ten pound lard pail attached to the end of a long pole and was the hardest method of water supply… Read More

Alene Peck cogently explained to the Site C Panel of the BC Utilities Commission on July 16th, in Vancouver, why the Peace River valley should be preserved. Evidence prepared with counsel Greg Cranston, who grew up in the Peace, was filed with the Site C Commission. In addition, Mrs. Peck made the following oral submission… Read More

Told by Bob OlingerIn 1919 “Pete” Olinger purchased his first sawmill in “Mill Valley” which is now located south of Bessborough. The mill burnt down in the summer of 1921. By the summer of 1924, he was operating a sawmill on Peace Island at Taylor but there again memories escape me except for a name… Read More

THE NEWS, Dawson Creek, B.C., Wednesday, March 12, 1969The North Peace is definitely getting a $2 million sawmill. This was announced Tuesday afternoon by Malvinder Grewall, President and managing director of Commonwealth Papermills of Manitoba Ltd. and Commonwealth Lumber and Paper Mills of BC Ltd. Grewall said in an interview with the Alaska Highway News… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyA forerunner to the building of the Alaska Highway was the freighting of 1500 tons of materials for the construction of the Fort Nelson airport. History was made with the arrival of the first wheeled vehicle at Fort Nelson on Thursday, January 22, 1942. The truck was driven by E. J. Spinney of… Read More

By Nona Stauffer Warren Nelson began his truck driving at the age of sixteen in Kellington, Saskatchewan. He was hauling gas out of Regina for $20.00 a month and he slept in his truck. He was on this gas haul from 1937 to 1942, and it was all done on Saskatchewan’s high gravel grades which… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyBefore March 1942 the old Dawson Creek to Fort St. John road had become accustomed to the growl of trucks. After E.J. Spinney had build the winter road to Fort Nelson ahead of the convoys taking airstrip supplies north, local people had bought motor-driven transport for grain or livestock or whatever else they… Read More

By Nona Stauffer, May 1973Information from Bob Rowe, Terminal Manager Fred Loucks of Vancouver saw the potential of a trucking service from Vancouver, into Dawson Creek and the surrounding area. In January 1961 he purchased Derban Transport from Charlie and Daryl Derban. The senior partner, Charlie Derban agreed to work for Fred and together they… Read More