Did you know that it's currently Mining Week in British Columbia? Yep. The Legislature declared that April 28 to May 4, 2013 is BC Mining Week, with these seven days meant to shine a light on one of BC’s largest and oldest industries. It's "an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the importance of the modern industry to British Columbians", and there are activities planned for Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and other communities around the province.
I first caught wind of it when I realized that they're holding their Community Fair a block from my house in , at Creekside Community Centre (). While mining seems to be one of the largest industries in our province, it's also one of the most hidden, and one of the most misunderstood (often by me), so on a whim yesterday I decided to take my son Arlo for an adventure to the for a crash course. You've seen this big structure on your way to Whistler, right? That's the old (newly renovated on the outside) mine, and around it are a bunch of old and new buildings telling its story and the stories of the history of mining in our province.
You've likely also seen this thing on your way by (toddler giving two thumbs up near the wheel for size reference in case you haven't).
Here's what it looks like inside the mine!
Beyond guided tours of the place are a bunch of self-serve stations like the gold panning troughs. We worked for a few minutes before Arlo got bored and walked away with a couple of gold flakes and a coloured rock I like to think is a ruby.
One of the displays shows a bunch of different types of precious rock from the area, and as you step into it this oldschool pan is on display with what looks like about $3,000 worth of gold nuggets. It's protected behind glass, of course.
At the back of the property is a huge structure that houses hundreds of thousands of core samples. Here is a very small section of them.
It's definitely worth stopping in next time you're on the Sea To Sky. Learn more at .
