NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 601

Misty River Books (4710 Lazelle Ave., 250/635-4428, 9am-6pm Mon.-Thurs., 9am-8pm
Fri., 9am-6pm Sat., 11am-4pm Sun.).
KITIMAT
The planned industrial community of Kitimat (pop. 9,000), at the northern end of Douglas
Channel 62 kilometers (39 miles) south of Terrace, was founded by the aluminum giant
Alcan (Aluminum Company of Canada) in the 1950s. Described at the time by National
Geographic as “the most expensive project ever attempted by private industry,” the project
included one of the world's largest aluminum smelters, a company town to serve the work-
ers, and a massive hydroelectric scheme 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of Kitimat.
Sights
In Radley Park, along the Kitimat River on the southwest side of downtown, stands the
province's largest living tree, a 50-meter-high (164-foot-high), 500-year-old Sitka spruce.
It's behind the Riverlodge Recreation Centre. Also in Radley Park, but on the other side
of the Kitimat River, is Kitimat River Fish Hatchery (off Haisla Blvd. 250/639-9888,
8am-4pm Mon.-Fri., free), which releases 11 million steelhead and salmon fingerlings an-
nually.
Kitimat Museum (293 City Centre, 250/632-8950, 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat. June-Aug.,
10am-4pm Mon.-Fri. and noon-4pm Sat. the rest of the year, donation) tells the story of
the planned town and displays historic and First Nations artifacts; a gallery features locally
produced artwork.
Practicalities
Kitimat's premier accommodation is Minette Bay Lodge (2255 Kitimat Village Rd., 250/
632-2907, www.minettebaylodge.com , $250 s, $300 d, or $350 pp with meals), a grand
estate that looks like it has been transported from the English countryside to the Kitimat
waterfront. Guests enjoy activities such as heli-hiking, jet boat tours, and fishing charters
through the day, then kick back in the lap of luxury. The guest rooms are spacious and
feature a pinky pastel color scheme; most have water views. Radley Park Campground
(signposted from Haisla Blvd., mid-June-mid-Sept., $20-24) has a riverside setting, coin-
operated showers, 24 sites with electrical hookups, and a kitchen shelter.
Kitimat Visitor Centre (2109 Forest Ave., 250/632-6294 or 800/664-6554,
www.kitimattourism.ca , 8:30am-5:30pm daily June-Aug., 9am-4:30pm Mon.-Fri. Sept.-
May) is at the entrance to town.