Come one, come all to the Yahk Kingsgate Hall for Bingo!!!
Mar 8 & 22
Apr 5 & 19
May 3 & 17 & 31
Break:
Sept ???
At the Yahk Kingsgate Rec Society Hall in Yahk, BC
For more information call Don Russett at
250-424-5378
Halloween Party
We had another Halloween party Bonfire at the Fire Hall on October 31st. There was hotdogs and kid's activities too.
This event was a smashing success!! Thank you to all who helped put it together. There were ghosts and goblins of every shape and size. Who knew there were so many "kids" in Yahk!!! Enjoy the photos taken by Rod Yaremkiwich!
The Witches of Eastport!
Businesses in our community
Area Code: (250)
Community Hall ———————–------------- ---424-5462
Big Dog Gas Services —————–--------------424-5244
Canada Customs, Kingsgate ———------------424-5391
Coffee Cup Cafe, Kingsgate---------------------No Phone
Cranbrook - - - - - - - 77 km Kingsgate Border - - 13 km
Creston - - - - - - - - 43 km Spokane - - - - - - 255 km
Calgary - - - - - - - - 467 km Missoula - - - - - - 468 km
Vancouver - - - - - - 781 km Seattle - - - - - - - 703 km
History of Yahk
In 1898 the Canadian Pacific Railway ran their rail line through here and in 1904 daily passenger service was
running both to East and West, soon after, a water tower, coal chute, and station were built. By 1917 the CPR was well established and purchased the saw mill. Before long log flumes and narrow-gauge rail lines were built up Hawkins Creek. In all there were 50 miles of main and branch lines and 40 camps.
As the CPR, logging, and the mill expanded Yahk
developed hotels, restaurants, stores, hall, police station, churches, liquor store , post office, and a school were built, The 1920’s were the peak times for Yahk and the population exploded to 2500. The depression years of the 1930’s began it’s decline.
The CPR mill closed in 1931 and around 1953 steam engines were replaced by diesel locomotives. Passenger service was cut in 1958. Lumber camps began closing, by the 1950’s out-side logging contractors were hauling the timber to Creston. As the jobs ended the families moved and high school students were bused to Creston. The present school was built in 1956 and in 2003 had only 13 students. Recent events see the area as a destination! Our population is increasing and the school is the only one in the district that has an increase in enrollment! 2007 promises to be a hopeful 29 students which will warrant another teacher.
Yahk has suffered it’s fair share of disasters and hard times. Employment declined, fire destroyed homes, hotels, businesses, and the community halls. Flooding tore out bridges and roads. Today only a few of the original buildings remain standing as reminders of the boom-years and a few businesses still provide service for the 350 residents. Activities are organized by volunteers that proudly call Yahk Kingsgate their home.
Kingsgate
The town of Kingsgate was built around the Canadian Customs in the early 1900’s. Rail passenger service from Spokane came through this port into Canada. Bus service was soon established and the Canadian bus met the one from Spokane and exchanged
passengers. As this point of entry became busier the hours were extended from 7 am to 11 pm to a 24 hr port.
Originally Kingsgate had a hotel, garage, roundhouse and its own school. Today this remains a 24 hr Boarder Crossing. C.P. Rail freight still passes through to the USA and vice-versa. There are 3
brokerage’s and a Duty Free Store.
Glenlily
Some of the first settlers chose this fertile flat-land along the Moyie river for farming. The CPR built a depot there to drop off supplies, groceries, and mail. This was a whistle-stop so the train only stopped if
need-be. A school was built in 1913 and serviced the whole area until the Yahk School was built in 1918. The Glenlily School closed about 1936.
Curzon
Was located where the “Baker City Trail” from the USA met the “Dewdney Trail” near what is now the junction of highway 3 and 95. The first train station was built there for the CPR and Spokane International Railroad to meet. Only a few people lived here and in 1912 the station was built in Yahk resulting in closing Curzon station.
TIME never changes in YAHK
That’s right folks, When the rest of the Provinces are changing their clocks ahead for daylight saving time the work crew are unbolting the Time-Line sign at the top of the Creston –Selmo pass and moving it 14 km East of Yahk . In the fall it is moved back. During the summer Cranbrook is one hour ahead of Yahk . In the winter we are both on the same time, but now Vancouver and Eastport Idaho, who were on the same time as Yahk in the summer, are now a hour behind us.
Our community hall is an excellent, well maintained full service facility. Perfect for hosting your community event, family reunion, training seminar, company dinner, horseshoe tournament, pancake breakfast, flea market . . . you name it. Wheelchair accessible ramp & washroom. Fully equipped indoor kitchen, meeting rooms, main hall with stage ~ outdoor concession kitchen with lots of picnic tables, Ball Field, Bocci and horseshoe pits , and pavilion for performances . .
