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375 NIMPKISH DR |
British Columbia Tourism Region : Vancouver Island
Description From Owner:
- Strathcona Provincial Park - Established in 1911, this, the first of British Columbia's provincial parks, was named in honour of Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal (1820-1914).
- Born in Scotland (a nephew of John Stuart of Stuart Lake fame), Smith entered the service of the HBC in 1838. While still one of the company's traders in Labrador, he began to buy stock in both the HBC itself and in the Bank of Montreal.
- In 1869 Smith became head of the HBC'S Montreal department and in 1871 a Member of Parliament. His financial interests widening, he became a railway magnate and one of the men chiefly responsible for the building of the CPR. He was knighted in 1886.
- Three years later he became Governor of the IIBC, a post that he held until his death. In 1896 he was appointed Canada's high commissioner in England, and the next year he acquired his magnificent title of Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.
- An extremely wealthy man, Lord Strathcona was a generous contributor to various charities. At his own expense, he raised a regiment, Lord Strathcona's Horse, for service in the Boer War.
- Opinion today is still divided about Smith. Some see him as a hard, self-centred man always interested chiefly in the wealth and renown of Lord Strathcona. To others he is a great builder of empire and a noble philanthropist.
- With permission from G.P.V and Helen B. Akrigg 1997 British Columbia Place Names. UBC Press.
Address of this page: http://bc.ruralroutes.com/StrathconaProvincialPark