The diverse cultural mixture stems from a rich history of immigrants to the area in the communities earliest years. There are Russian, Portuguese and other European influences found in Castlegar's family trees.
Castlegar is only 600 kilometers from Vancouver and Calgary, as well as only 233 kilometres north of Spokane, Washington USA. Castlegar is connected by three major highways; Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway), Highway 3A and Highway 22.
The surrounding area, Greater Castlegar, is home to over 16,000 residents in the additional communities of; Brilliant, Genelle, Ootischenia, Pass Creek, Robson, Shoreacres, Tarrys and Thrums.
Population: 7,600+
Highlights:
Doukhobor Village Museum - suspension bridge
Red Mountain - kilometers to Rossland, BC, voted Canada's best ski town by Ski Canada Magazine.
Zinio Park - tennis courts available.
Whitewater - Ski Canada rated Whitewater to have the Best Deeps, Best Bowls and Best Glades.
Canadian Pacific Railway Heritage Station & Museum
Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park
Castlegar Nordic Ski Club.
Castlegar and District Heritage Society
History:
The area surrounding the border, of the area we know today as Castlegar, was once divided between the Kutenai and the Interior Sailish Indian bands. Much of the land of the two bands overlapped - both culturally and with territorial activity.
The region of the lower Arrow Lakes, including Castlegar, was inhabited by the Lakes Indian people, a branch of the Interior Salishan linguistic and cultural group. "Quepitles", a site to the north side of the Kootenay River, was a popular trading place of fishing gear during fall and early winter. Smoking salmon was traditional method of preserving the meat for seasonal storage. It was Alexander Ross, in 1825, who first recorded having observed the site of major fishing and trapping methods of the Lake Indians. These bands continued to lived in the area until the late days of the fur trading period in British Columbia's history.
However, there was little settlement by white explorers in this area until after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, in 1902, which built a bridge on the way through to Trail.
The name 'Castlegar' very likely comes from the Celtic Irish 'An Caeslean Gearr', meaning a small castle.
Climate:
Summer average 18 degrees Celsius
Winter average 4 degrees Celsius
For more information please visit www.castlegar.com