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History

The pioneer roots of the area’s history date back to the fur trade, with the establishment in 1806 of a fur-trading post by Simon Fraser, at Fort Fraser near the east end of Fraser Lake. The modern day town was established in 1914, during the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway, and was incorporated as a village in 1966.

The east end of Fraser Lake is recorded as the site of the first cultivated land in British Columbia, while Fort Fraser is the site of the last spike of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, now the Winnipeg-Prince Rupert line of Canadian National (CN).

From its humble beginnings in the early 1900’s, Fraser Lake Sawmill (owned and operated by West Fraser Timber Company Ltd.) has evolved into one of the world’s most modem sawmills, producing enough board feet each day to build 100 homes. Thompson Creek Molybdenum Mines, which is a large employer of Fraser Lake residents was at one time the second largest Molybdenum Mine in the world, processing between 29 – 30 thousand tons per day.

The book “Deeper Roots and Greener Valleys” is a history book about the Fraser Lake area, located in the heart of what is now known as the Omineca District of British Columbia, a province of Canada.

Fort Fraser, Fraser Lake and Endako are situated along a thirty-two kilometer stretch of Highway 16, approximately one hundred and thirty-five kilometers west of the city of Prince George.

Fraser Lake is the largest of the three settlements, having attained village status in 1966. It was not always so, however. During the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, Fort Fraser was well on its way to becoming a city with a population upwards of three thousand.

Endako which was a divisional point for the railroad, had a population estimated at one thousand.

The writings and memories of many people are contained in the pages of this volume. The underlying theme in each story is the deep love that the pioneer felt for this barely accessible wilderness which they called home.

Please contact the Fraser Lake Historical Society for more information.

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