The city has now received its $100,000 prize money which it is using to renovate the sportsplex in order to host a pre-season NHL game this September 14, between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Islanders.

Although Terrace is celebrating its 1,923,456 votes to victory, there were five months of strong determination to bring it to reality.

Back in November of last year, Carol Fielding responded to an ad put out by Tom Harwood – who had spearheaded an earlier Smithers bid for Hockeyville – seeing if anyone was interested in going for it in Terrace.

After sending out a few e-mails to some key stakeholders, Fielding had herself a committee, and by mid-November the community was catching on and feeling the spirit.

The first task for Terrace was to submit stories as to why Terrace is and should be Hockeyville. The Terrace is Hockeyville committee pushed for stories, and by December 6 the community had sent in 716 – the most in B.C.

Along the journey a giant Terrace is Hockeyville hockey stick made its debut at the Hockeyville-themed Parade of Lights in December, jerseys were ordered, businesses and homes were decorated as Terrace embraced the challenge as a community.

On January 14 people gathered in the Terrace sportsplex as CBC announced the Top 10 communities – with Terrace making the cut.

Next the community played host to CBC, broadcasting live from Terrace during Hockey Night in Canada on Jan. 31. CBC-TV broadcaster and Canadian hockey Olympian Cassie Campbell came for the event as well as NHL alumnus and former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean.

After a push for votes, Terrace was announced as the first community in the Top Five, then the real campaigning began.

Terrace began the what’s your number campaign, getting everyone to pledge their number of votes before voting time arrived. The city was plastered with posters and people proudly wore buttons showcasing their number of votes, and Fielding camped out at the 24/hr voting centre in the Skeena Mall.

All the hard work and commitment paid off as Terrace was announced as Hockeyville 2009 on live television March 7, with a CBC crew arriving minutes later with the Hockeyville trophy.

The event is hosted by the Nisga’a Nation Elders from the Terrace Nisga’a local and the four villages in the Nass Valley, Gingolx, Laxgalts’ap, Gitwinksihlkw and New Aiyansh.

New Aiyansh residents Melvin & Rosie Robinson – Sim’oogit Gook gans Sigidimnak Yool’ – were chosen to be the King & Queen for the BC Elders for 2008/2009 at last year’s gathering in Prince Rupert, which was good news for the community.

The Elder King and Queen host the next year’s gathering, but their community was deemed too small to accommodate the influx of visitors. The decision was then made to have the gathering in Terrace by the Nisga’a Nation Elders.

The gathering will take place at Terrace’s new and upgraded sportsplex that officially opened last fall.

The first day will start out with a Welcome Banquet hosted by Nisga’a Lisims Government featuring the community’s famous Nisga’a Stew. The elders will then be treated to some local dancing – dancers and drummers from Gitlaxdamix, Gitwinkshilkw, Laxgalts’ap, Gingolx, Terrace Nisga’a Society, Prince Rupert/Port Edward Nisga’a Society and Vancouver Nisga’a Society will be performing.

The next day elders will experience a tribal picnic, featuring all the traditional food of the Nisga’a Nation. Night entertainment will consist of a “Nisga’a Idol Talent Night,” showcasing the talents of the Nisga’a people.

There will be a number of presenters, workshops and tours of the surrounding area throughout the three days.

The will also be arts and crafts vendors and information booths at the gathering. The new King and Queen will be crowned in the closing ceremony on the last day.

There are approximately 3,000 elders and 500 support workers and families of the elders from around the province expected to participate in the gathering in addition members of the Nisga’a Nation.

All those who are aged 55 and over must register by June 15, 2009. Registration is $30.

Please call (250) 633-2242, fax (250) 633-2265 or email kathleenc@nisgaa.net or margaretn@nisgaa.net for more information. ;

But he wanted a reminder of how the world once was so he made every tenth bear white and declared they would forever live in peace.

The scientific explanation for the white Kermode bear’s colouring is a little different – two black bears with recessive white genes pass them to their offspring. Kermode bears, otherwise known as Spirit Bears, do exist, however.

The bears are unique to the rainforests of northern British Columbia and are the official mark of the City of Terrace, and more recently the province as well.

Many tourists are drawn here in hopes of catching a glimpse of one of these magnificent creatures. But sightings are rare – until now.

As of last year, nine Spirit Bears can be found in various locations around the city, although they are very different than those in the wild.

These bears are colourful pieces of art – life-size Kermode replicas, made of fiberglass and weighing about 120 pounds.

Each one was uniquely designed and painted by a local artist.

The statues were part of a B.C. Lions society campaign to raise money for disabled children and were auctioned off last fall.

Various organizations and individuals sponsored each bear.

While driving around town, keep your eye out for the eleven new friends.

The Spirit Bears in Terrace are located at the airport, City Hall, the Northern Motor Inn, the Coast Inn of the West, Terrace Chrysler, Boston Pizza, in front of Scotia Bank, and at the medical building at 4634 Park Ave.

One is also on the Grand Trunk Millenium Pathway on Hwy 16. And don’t worry – these bears are friendly.

The centre, which is run by the city’s tourism body Kermodei Tourism, has traditionally been rated as one of the best in the province for providing friendly and knowledgeable service.

Summer hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day. Drop by or call 250-635-4944.

2 The Skeena Valley Farmers’ Market is a Terrace tradition.

With up to 70 local vendors selling everything from homebaked pies and luscious produce to handmade soaps, handcrafted knives and ethnic food, the market is a must-see. You can also enjoy horse and buggy rides around town and live music by local musicians.

Now more than 20 years old, the market is the largest of its kind north of Kamloops.

Get there early, before all the goodies are gone. The market is open every Saturday, from May to the end of October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drive north on Kalum St. and turn left on Davis Ave. The market’s kitty-corner from the library, across from George Little Park.

3 For a gentle walk on the edge of town, check out the Howe Creek Trail. The trail is about three kilometres and runs through quiet local woods that follow the bottom of the Terrace neighbourhood referred to as the Bench. It leads past a small hatchery and a meandering, salmon-bearing stream that was restored through local volunteer efforts.

You can join the Howe Creek Trail from any number of residential streets. One trailhead is adjacent to the Terrace Youth Soccer fieldhouse in Christy Park at the end of Sparks St.

4 Visit a miniature church – a place of worship, rest and history. Drive 22 km east of Terrace and explore the Usk Chapel, tucked along the right hand side of the highway. A favourite for small weddings, it was built in 1967 by Terrace’s Christian Reform Church to celebrate Canada’s centennial birthday.

This tiny building is one-third the size of a church that was on the other side of the Skeena River in the days when a thriving settlement was there. The original church was ruined in 1936 during a massive flood. Locals wanted to move the original across to the highway side of Usk but couldn’t because its beams were too rotten. The replica was constructed instead.

5 Inviting hiking opportunities are all around us in the Northwest! Choosing where to hike among all the enticing peaks can be a bit daunting but that is made simple with a pamphlet detailing trips all within close driving distance to the trailhead.

Kermodei Tourism has compiled different hikes ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate to difficult. The pamphlet, available at the Visitor Info Centre on Keith Ave., also details what other activities can be enjoyed on each trip, such as fishing, camping and swimming.

6 Walk through the mossy, green woods of Ferry Island Park and enjoy close-up views of the mighty Skeena River. Ferry Island is a municipal campground with a network of nature trails that circle the island, winding between giant cottonwood trees and the riverbank. They are flat and easy to walk or run.

While cruising the woods, see if you can spot the eyes in the trees. A local artist spent hours carving unique faces into the island’s tree trunks and it’s a favourite activity among locals walking the trails to count the number of faces they can find in the trunks. Some say there are as many as 53 faces.

Getting there, take Hwy 16 east for two kilometres from downtown. Drive along the newest of the two bridges that span the Skeena River and take a turnoff on the south side of the highway. Follow it and park just past the campground.

7 Get in touch with Terrace’s creative side by taking in the work of local artists at various local businesses.

Call the Art Gallery at 638-8884 for more information.

There’s also a wide variety of eye-catching mural art in and around the downtown core of the city that’s worth a few minutes of reflection.

8 The pioneer past comes alive at Heritage Park Museum, located atop Kalum hill on the corner of Sparks St. and Kerby St. This outdoor museum is home to a historic collection of authentic pioneer log buildings.

Highlights include the Kalum Lake Hotel and several homes and cabins once belonging to northwest miners, trappers and homesteaders.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday in May and June. In July and August, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. All summer, staff in old-fashioned costumes will offer guided tours at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Call the museum at 635-4546 for more information and to check for times and other events.

9 Scores of fish canneries once dotted the northcoast, but they’re all gone except one – the North Pacific Cannery, near Port Edward. The cannery village has now been preserved as a museum with food, special weekend events and tours throughout the week.

Take Hwy 16 west toward Prince Rupert until you come to the turn off to Port Edward. Then follow the signs to the cannery. The trip from Terrace should take about an hour and a half.

The cannery is open Tuesday through Sunday May 1 – June 30, daily July and August, and Tuesday to Sunday Sept. 1 – 27. There is an admission charge but children under six are admitted free.

10  Treat yourself to some tasty ice cream while experiencing a historical sight.

The old Kwinitsa rail station foreman’s house was brought to Terrace in 1972 but turned into a classic but modern ice cream parlour in 2008.

The building is located at the east end of the Millenium trail, on Hwy 16, at the bottom of Eby Street.

As one of the only surviving rail buildings in the region, it is a significant artifact from the Northwest’s past.

Half of the house is taken up by the ice cream parlour. The other half contains offices of the Nisga’a Commercial Group which organizes tours of the Nass Valley.

11 Play an 18-hole round of golf at the Skeena Valley Golf Course. The course stretches out at the base of spectacular Thornhill Mountain and has full pro-shop facilities, a coffee shop and a licensed lounge.

To get there, drive along Old Lakelse Lake Rd., then turn left on Thornhill St. Call 635-2542 beforehand to book a tee time. Beware – non-members can’t book more than three days in advance. Also check out the driving range just west of town on Hwy 16 at New Remo. The range is open seven days a week from noon until 8 p.m..

12 Learn more about First Nations culture and enjoy performances by numerous talented First Nations people on National Aboriginal Day. National Aboriginal Day is a way for First Nations people to get together and enjoy cultural activities in one surrounding. The event is open to everyone in the community and surrounding areas. There will be many activities and all kinds of vendors in George Little Park in downtown Terrace June 20. The day starts out with an opening prayer at 9 a.m.

13 Count how many bears you can see in one day. From mid May to early June, berries flourish on the side of the Nisga’a highway. And where there’s berries, there’s bears. Black bears are most common but sometimes, visitors can see brown bears, grizzlies and even Kermodes. The white spirit bears are rare, however.

Head west on Hwy 16 and turn right on Kalum Lake Rd. Drive along the highway and keep your eyes peeled to the side of the road. Be very careful, though. Do not get out of your car and at no time, try to feed the bears. Take photos from your car.

14 Go for a hike. Overlooking downtown and the Skeena River, Terrace Mountain rewards hikers with a stunning view of the city and valley.

This is an easy to moderate hike and the trailhead is close to downtown. To reach the start, drive east on Park Ave. from its intersection with Kalum at the library. Continue up a hill and follow Park Ave. as it turns into Johnstone. Look for a large trail sign and park here.

The trail climbs steeply before levelling off, then risies and falls amid rock bluffs, ravines and mossy forest. Average hikers take around 45 minutes to reach the bench and viewpoint at the top. Retrace your steps, or continue on the trail down the backside of the mountain. This way, you’ll end up at Yeo St., just off of North Sparks Ave. Walk back to the library along Kalum St.

15 Enjoy a picnic lunch on a bench overlooking the city on Lanfear Hill.

Drive west along Hwy 16 and turn right on Kenney St. Park in the gravel area at the top of the hill on your right. Have a seat and dig in.

After lunch, if you are feeling adventurous, look for the trailhead close to the bench and climb down the hill.

16 Visit the Terrace Art Gallery, the hub of the local artistic community. It hosts exhibits from across B.C. and Canada.

The gallery is downstairs in the Terrace Public Library on the corner of Lazelle Ave. and Kalum St. It’s open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m., Fridays noon to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 to 4 p.m. In July and August, it’s closed Sundays. For information, call 638-8884 or check out the website at www.terraceartgallery.com.

17 If it’s a serious alpine adventure you’re looking for, lace up your hiking boots or hop on your bike and head for Thornhill Mountain. The high peak on the ridge immediately southeast of town looks forbidding. But there’s actually a very good trail, the Vicki Kryklywyj Memorial Trail, which leads to the summit on a route originally built for prospectors with pack horses. The panoramic view from the summit is spectacular.

If you go before late June, expect to wade through some large snowfields in the high alpine.

Drive east just past the junction of Hwy 16 and 37. Make the first right turn onto Old Lakelse Lake Dr., and drive straight for about 6 km. About 800 metres after passing a garbage dump, make the next left at the bottom of a hill into a dirt parking lot. Drive straight along the dirt road for 2.3 kilometres until you see a sign for the trailhead on the right, just after a switchback to the left. Park here. The road is rough but 4WD is not necessary. It’s 4.8 kilometres from that point to the alpine. The trail crosses a creek and then ascends a set of steps.

18 Nature lovers who want alpine scenery but don’t want to hike can drive to the top of nearby Copper Mountain.

Follow the directions for Thornhill Mountain (17), but continue all the way until the road forks at a saddle near the top. The left branch goes to a forestry lookout. The right branch climbs higher to where telecommunications towers are perched atop the mountain. Go either way.

Ensure your vehicle is in good condition, particularly the brakes. Proceed slowly, with your lights on and honk your horn while rounding blind corners. Four-wheel drive is recommended.

19 Have a picnic against the backdrop of water roaring through the box canyon at Kleanza Creek Provincial Park. A short trail takes visitors to a viewpoint overlooking the 24-metre canyon. Or you can sit on picnic tables at the bottom end and marvel at the rushing rapids and deep, swirling pools.

Drive about 15 minutes east of Terrace on Hwy 16. This is a favourite spot for rock climbers who climb the walls inside the canyon. The park also has a campground with 21 spots.

20 It’s a little bit of Ireland in Terrace, B.C. Come see Yaughal (pronounced YAWL), a miniature village that’s a replica of the real one in County Cork. When it comes to labours of love, then this is one. Jim and Jo Allen have now assembled 19 buildings based on the real ones in the village where Jim spent his first 20 years. In the Allen household it’s now called Tiny Town. Brand new this year is a replica of the Queen Mary, built by friend Ted Adams. You’ll find Tiny Town at 5134 Agar, located on the southside of Terrace.

21 Red Sand Lake Demonstration Forest is a B.C. Forest Service recreation site that features beautiful campsites and an outstanding series of trails.

Head west from Terrace on Hwy 16 and turn right immediately after the Tempo gas station. Follow the road for 26 kilometres. Be warned, though. This is a rough, rutted logging road, so go slow.

There are three main trails at the lake. The shortest one is a 1.6-kilometre wheelchair accessible loop. The second is 2 km long and leads to a lookout that’s worth the climb. The other is 3.8 km long, and meanders around the scenic Kalum River and Kalum Lake.

The campsites are free and have pit toilets.

22 Visit the Terrace Public Library at the corner of Park Ave. and Kalum St. next to George Little Memorial Park.

People in Terrace love their library, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a comfortable, friendly place to pass a few hours – one of the best of its size.

The catalogue boasts some 73,000 titles, including a well-stocked DVD collection. There’s also a periodical section with the latest magazines and newspapers, and a full reference library, in addition to a boardroom that’s used for meetings and used book sales. You can also find out about upcoming community events such as the latest foreign films or performers coming to town by checking out the notice board on the wall near the entrance and washrooms.

Curl up with a good book in quiet corner, or surf the Internet at one of the computer terminals. Regular programs continue and special events also happen throughout the summer.

The library is open every day except for Sunday during the summer. Call 638-8177 for more information.

23 Relax on the beach or go for a swim at Lakelse Lake.

The lake is crisp and clean, with water flowing in and out at several points from the Lakelse River. Because it’s not a tremendously deep lake, Lakelse warms up nicely in the summer and is good for swimming. The beaches are also soft with yellow sand.

The two parts of Lakelse Lake Provincial Park that have car access are Lakelse Lake picnic site, and Furlong Bay campground. Drive about 20 minutes south of Terrace toward Kitimat on Hwy 16 and watch for the signs on the right.

24 Walk amid tall trees and spiky Devil’s Club beside a fast-flowing creek to Gruchy’s Beach.

This is a beautiful and short 20-minute trail at the north end of Lakelse Lake. The trees are huge, the vegetation is lush, and the sound of Williams Creek is music to the soul. In the early fall, this can be a good spot to observe spawning salmon.

Head south of Terrace on the highway towards Kitimat and watch for the turnoff on the right just before the Williams Creek bridge.

25 Take a day trip east on Hwy 16 to visit historic Gitwangak Battle Hill. On the top once stood a fort manned by the Gitwangak people who, from this strategic point, controlled the lucrative trade on the grease trail coming south from the Nass Valley past the fort.

The grease trail, so named for the calorie-rich grease from the oolichan fish that dripped from the packs of those who used the route, was a key commerce route for native people.

At Battle Hill, you’ll find new interpretative panels and the story of ‘Nekt, a Gitwangak warrior who died in a fire that destroyed the fort.

From Terrace, go east on Hwy 16, then turn left at Kitwanga where the highway intersects with Hwy 37 North. Drive across the bridge spanning the Skeena River and continue north. Look for the signs. The parking area for Battle Hill is on your left.

The drive from Terrace should take about an hour.

26 Kick back, relax and soak in the warm Mount Layton Hot Springs. The springs are fully equipped with a swimming pool, kiddie pool, water slides, cafeteria, dining room and 7-room hotel. Drive about 20 minutes south of Terrace on Hwy 37 and look for the sign on the right.

27 Experience the small rural community of Rosswood, about 30 minutes north of Terrace past Kalum Lake.

Rosswood is a collection of old homesteads, cabins and more contemporary dwellings. Check out the community grounds and don’t miss the general store. Also look for the infamous “Peeing Tree” on the right side of the highway as you approach the small community.

Head west on Hwy 16 and turn right on Kalum Lake Drive. The road will turn into the Nisga’a highway and Rosswood is 42 km away.

28 Visit the Happy Gang Centre for Seniors at 3226 Kalum St. Every first Saturday of the month the centre offers a pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Weekday lunches are the best deal in town; Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., for just $5, you can enjoy a bowl of soup, a sandwich, a dessert and a beverage. Other menu items are sold separately and all the food is homemade.

The Happy Gang Centre also offers crib Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., whist on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. and glee club, a singing group, at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. There are many other activities offered as well, or just come in and meet the gang for coffee at any time of the day.

The Happy Gang holds regular meetings every second Thursday of every month at 2 p. m.

29 Locals call it “the millennium trail,” probably because it opened in 2000. Officially it is the Grand Trunk Pathway, taken from the name of the first railroad to forge across the north.

Opened with due pomp and circumstance in August 2000, the 1.6 km walking, jogging and biking trail runs parallel of Hwy 16 as it passes through town. It has fast become a popular spot for outdoor enjoyment.

Ten storyboards that mark the route describe the history of the area, starting with the First Nations people who were here more than 5,000 years ago to the more recent arrival of European settlers. There are also benches, a few picnic tables and a small gazebo near Eby St.

This project was the dream of the Terrace Beautification Society and came together when the city purchased land from CN. The main parking area for the pathway is at the east end, near the corner of Hwy 16 and Eby, across from the ambulance station.

30 Visit historic Kitselas Canyon to learn more about the history and cultlure of the Kitselas people. For updated information on tour availability and events, contact Web Bennett at the Kitselas First Nation, Ph. 635-8882, Ext. 231. Email is canyon@kitselas.com. The Visitor’s Information Centre is another source of information.

31 The Skeena area boasts a number of provincial campgrounds, most of which are located on lakes or rivers. The parks provide a number of recreation opportunities, including boating, fishing, walking, hiking, wildlife viewing and photography.

Large Lakelse Provincial Park is only 25 km south of Terrace on Hwy 37. Prudhomme Lake is only 20 km east of Prince Rupert on Hwy 16.

Diana Lake Provincial Park is just 1 km southwest of Prudhomme Lake. It offers a variety of water-oriented day activities.

Kleanza Creek Provincial Park covers 269 ha on the Skeena River and on both sides of Kleanza Creek.

Gitnadoix River Recreation Area offers some real wilderness fishing. At least 13 species of fish, including all five species of Pacific salmon and Steelhead are found here. It can be reached from the boat launch at Exchamsiks River Park, 55 km west of Terrace.

Camping is no longer permitted at Exchamsiks River Park, 55 km west of Terrace on Hwy 16, but it has great walking trails. The boat launch on the west side of the river and the parking lot on the east side is open for day use.

32 Go fishing and catch a big one. Terrace is one of the prime fishing spots in B.C. and beyond.

All the information you need can be found at one of the area’s tackle shops. Ensure you have proper licences and understand various closures and restrictions.

33 For sheer beauty, nothing tops the drive from Terrace to Prince Rupert. Green forested slopes swoop down to meet the blue of the mighty Skeena River.

It’s about 90 minutes each direction, but leave yourself plenty of time to stop along the way to admire the scenery. Be sure to check out John Little falls and don’t forget to watch out for eagles.

34  See Bear Glacier. The three-hour trip is worth the drive. Situated on Strohn Lake near Stewart, B.C., the glacier is so close to the highway, you don’t even need to get out of your car to get a good look.

From Hwy 16 at Kitwanga, turn north on Hwy 37. Continue to Meziadin Junction and turn onto 37a. Keep going until you reach Stewart, a historic mining community of about 500 residents.

Stewart boasts plenty of local attractions, including a museum and several comfortable hotels, cozy bed and breakfasts, and a centrally-located full-service campsite.

35 Check out the local newspapers to find out about special events taking place that week. A list can be found in community calendar section of The Terrace Standard.

The Standard is published every Wednesday and on sale at a number of retail outlets. Or visit the paper online at www.terracestandard.com for up to date local news.

Also look out for The Northern Connector, published on Fridays and always free. The Northern Daily is also free and is available in numerous places around town. It contains national and international news. For more tourism info, check out directory.getawaybc.com, a province-wide site organized by the Terrace Standard and its sister papers.

36 Check out the spectacular Exstew valley and waterfalls. The valley is gorgeous and green with lush vegetation, rock cliffs, berries and lots of birds. The waterfalls are always full, and depending on the time of year and glacier flow, can be extraordinary.

Go west on Hwy 16 for about 39 kilometres. Turn right onto a logging road that is marked by a sign and drive for about 10 kilometres until you get to a fork. From here, there are two ways to get to the falls.

You can either stay right, then turn left at the next fork. Drive until the end and you’ll find a trailhead. From here, it’s a 20-30 minute hike to the falls.

Your second option requires less walking. Go left at the first fork, drive past two bridges and park when you see a trail on the left side. It should be marked by a pink ribbon. From here, hike 5-10 minutes to the falls.

A trip to the falls and back should take about three hours from Terrace including driving and hiking. The hiking trails are fine for beginners and children.

37 Take the free ferry across the Skeena River to the other side of Usk, a short 20-minute drive or so east of Terrace on Hwy 16. The ferry landing is on your left and easy to find. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon checking out the area.

38 Take a walk or a ride around the Terrace Mountain Hiking/Biking Trail, an 8-kilometre cross country bike trail that wraps around Terrace Mountain. The trail, boasts climbs and descents, promises a good fitness challenge, and is loads of fun. Stretching throughout a forested area, the trail takes riders past little creeks and beautiful flowers. It’s a challenging ride but parts can be walked if it proves too difficult. The trail head is the same as the Terrace Mountain nature trail, located on Walsh Ave., behind the arena..

39 For a unique ocean-side hike, drive south on Hwy 16 to Kitamaat Village and go for a hike. Turn left before you go down the big hill into downtown Kitimat. Drive to the very end of the village, park near the dock, and look for a trail along the shore. You’ll pass a totem pole and a Haisla graveyard along the way.

The hike takes around an hour round-trip.

40 A drive southwest from the Hwy 16 and Hwy 37 intersection will take you to the Terrace Speedway, featuring a brand new timing booth this year. The 3/8 mile paved oval track is home to stock car races and entertainment once-a-month between May and September on weekends, with time trials at 6 p.m. and races at 7 p.m.. For the 2009 race schedule and more info, go online to www.terracespeedway.ca.

Turn south on Hwy 37 from Hwy 16 and take the immediate first right. Turn left at the T intersection at the base of the hill and follow the signs.

41 For a day trip, try K’san Village just outside of Old Hazelton. Here you’ll find longhouses, totem poles and the history of the original inhabitants of the area. Head east on Hwy 16 for about an hour and a half. Turn off Hwy 16 toward Old Hazelton and follow the signs.

42 Har matey. Local Rotarians will once again be taking over the municipal campsite at Ferry Island for their annual treasure hunt on Sunday, Aug. 9. Parents and their children enjoy a stroll through the forested landscape, encountering pirates along the way. Each one has a skill-testing event and question. Costumes and props add to the occasion. There are prizes at the end. A registration fee goes toward community activities. The hunt begins at 1:30 p.m, and registration starts about an hour before that.

43 Celebrate Canada Day in style.

Food, music and history come alive July 1 when firefighters from Terrace and Thornhill host a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Terrace firehall on the corner of Eby and Lazelle, in the same building as city hall. Proceeds go toward the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund. Most of the money goes to a summer camp for children who are burn victims.

After the breakfast, drive up to Heritage Park where there’ll be music, old-fashioned kids races, a barbecue, a silent auction and other special events. Heritage Park is a collection of restored European settler-era log buildings. Take Kalum St. north up the hill and look to your left.

44 Everybody loves a parade and that’s what Kitimat, 60 km south of Terrace on Hwy 37, offers area residents each Canada Day.

The parade takes place at noon July 1 in the central area of Kitimat and winds up at the Riverlodge recreation centre. Numerous community groups spend hours prepping and decorating their floats, making them the best they can.

Riverlodge also hosts an international food fair after the parade, full of delectable ethnic foods. Local talent also plays. Once you’ve taken care of your appetite, get up and dance.

Canada Day concludes in the evening with fireworks at Mountainview Square at 11 p.m.

More information is available from the tourist information centre in Kitimat.

45 Head to the races.

Drag car races, which are fun and exciting to watch for the whole family, are held four weekends of the summer at the Terrace-Kitimat Airport. Racers compete for prizes and the drags are part of a Northwest circuit.

The first of the four race series in Terrace took place on May 23-22. The second series is on June 27-28 with Aug. 2-3 being the third weekend series. The fourth and last series of this season takes place the weekend of Aug. 29-30 featuring “Bike Wars”. If needed they will have a rain-out weekend on Sept. 5-7. On Saturdays, trials start at 6 p.m., races begin at 7 p.m. On Sundays, trials go at 1 p.m., races at 2 p.m. – all weather permitting.

On race weekend, watch for the signs on Keith Ave. and at the Hwy 37/16 intersection.

The race track is five minutes south of Terrace on Hwy 37 on the right hand side.

For more information check www.terracedrags.ca.

46 Look no further than Terrace for a jampacked B.C. Day long weekend. The city hosts numerous events as it celebrates its heritage with Riverboat Days. Named for the steam-powered vessels that plied the Skeena River until the advent of the railway, Riverboat Days offers music, culture, food, sports and much more.

The event, which takes place on the August long weekend, starts this year July 31 with opening ceremonies at George Little Park at 7 p.m.

Come see the floats making their way through downtown during the parade Saturday morning starting at 11 a.m., then head over to George Little Park to enjoy Concerts in the Park right after. The headliner this year is female rocker Lee Aaron. Concerts in the park continue on Sunday too.

Remember to check out baseball, beach volleyball, and paintball tournaments, the Skeena Cruizers Car Show at the arena on Saturday, and save some space in your stomach for barbecued salmon.

Finally, don’t miss the fireworks over Ferry Island on Saturday night. Follow the lead of locals and line up on the sidewalk of the bridges leading into the city from the east for the best view.

Riverboat Days runs from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 9, with sports events, music, theatre, historical tours, food and art taking place throughout the week.

47 Thornhill Community Grounds will be alive with the sound of animals September 12 to 13.

4-H club members and other organizations will show their animals for judging in horse achievement and other categories. Come see poultry, sheep, rabbits and other animals and learn about them from their owners.

There will also be the 4-H Horse Show.

These events are often the only time the club members get to show their animals and are a chance for people not familiar with farm animals to see them up close and personal.

48 Go for a relaxing paddle in a canoe in the sun. The northwest is home to dozens of unspoiled lakes you’ll be itching to explore by water. One local favourite is Kalum Lake. A few, hard-to-spot sites that are suitable for launching a canoe line the southeast shore.

The sites are accessible off the Nisga’a Highway.

The Hart Farm forest service campsite at the south end of the lake is a good launch-spot, too. It’s located at kilometre 27 along the West Kalum Forest Service Road, past Red Sand Lake Demonstration Forest recreation site.

You’ll see signs for Pine Lakes along the way, another great setting for a day’s canoe trip. This site is equipped with a canoe launch and picnic tables.

49 The village of Kincolith at the mouth of the Nass River in the Nass Valley is known as the Seafood Capital of the Nass. So it’s natural that its annual entertainment extravaganza take on an appropriate name – Crabfest. It takes place this year on July 3 and 4 featuring Kim Mitchell and Trooper and other entertainers, including local and youth. Also on hand will be a group of Nisga’a dancers, a multitude of other musicians, food vendors, production vendors and more. If you are camping, please bring appropriate supplies. Access to Kincolith is easy now that a road has been built to the village. Check in with Kermodei Tourism for updated information as the dates get closer.

50 Visit the original house of Terrace’s founder George Little. The George Little House hosts a variety of events and fundraisers year-round.

It offers interpretive tours, local arts and crafts and maps and provides information about the history of the city and its founder. Local First Nations art work is on display downstairs in the Wilp Simgan carving studio. The house also hosts monthly Clara’s tea. Clara, who was George Little’s wife, also made important contributions to Terrace’s past. The house hosts a flea market Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during summer months and this year, its staff will also offer interpretative historical bus tours of Terrace.

The George Little House is downtown near the train tracks at the foot of Kalum St, making it an easy-to-find central hub for visitors. Private teas can be booked. Phone 638-8887.

51 Explore Terrace’s old pioneer cemetery. It offers a spectacular view from high on the bench, overlooking Eby’s Landing on the Skeena River.

The cemetery is a local heritage site and volunteers are busy restoring this once-neglected site, which was founded in 1909.

The final resting place of Terrace founder George Little is here. Also look for the two headstones marking the graves of two Russians who died while working in the northwest region.

Floyd Frank, a Terrace dairy farmer, is also buried here. Before his death in 2002 at the age of 96, he created a network of pathways leading down the hill to a small park at the bottom of the embankment. Varieties of trees he collected are planted along the pathways and in Frank’s Park.

To reach the cemetery from downtown Terrace, drive west along Hwy 16 past Canadian Tire. Turn right on to Kalum Lake Dr. where you see the sign for Northwest Community College. The cemetery is located at the top of this hill, next to Frank’s Field.

52 Cattle sorting and gymkhana take place outside at the Thornhill Community Grounds August 16.

The annual gymkhana will welcome horse club riders from around the Northwest region to compete in all seven gymkhana events.

Horses and riders test their speed and precision in Figure 8, Barrels, Flag Picking, Keyhole, Pole Bending, Ring Spearing and Scurries.

Figure 8 is similar to barrel racing but the riders direct their horses around poles instead. Flag Picking involves bending down and pulling a flag out of a barrel, racing down to the end, riding around a pole, racing back and putting the flag back into the barrel and racing to the finish. In Pole Bending, riders weave their horses through a series of poles and race for the finish. Ring Spearing tests riders’ accuracy as they use a long pole to slip the rings onto without letting them fall off.

If the weather turns rainy, the events will be moved into the Skeena Valley Exhibition Arena.

53 Prince Rupert’s the place to be for the fun, food and excitement of a festival where 10,000 people are having a great time! Welcome to Prince Rupert’s annual SEAFEST community festival from June 11-14th and come to experience it all.

This is the best festival in the northwest to taste the famous shish kabobs and seafood, to try your hand at canoe racing, basketball, soapbox derby, street hockey, or many other events. Come to join in or watch the long colourful parade winding through downtown, the hilarious Quick & Daring, or the wonderful Sunset Service.

The theme for this year’s 31st annual parade is “Whale of a Good Time” and the parade route is literally a sea of people with the show of community pride not to be missed. And you won’t want to miss the entertainment after the parade, as we are pleased to have both the Canadian Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific and the USAF Band of the Pacific Alaska Brass in attendance this year.

Seafest will recognize the 2010 Olympic Games with the BCLC 2010 Winter Games Dome where participants can ski through the winter woods and shoot targets at the simulated Biathlon course, test their wrist shot in the hockey rinks and experience first-hand the sights, sounds and smells of bobsleigh or paralympic sit-skiing in the ImmersaDome.

The Seafest Committee is in need of more volunteers now to take on small jobs in the organization of the festival and during the festival weekend, so please consider giving back to your community and join in behind the scenes. Please call Special Events at 250.624.9118 or visit out website at www.prspecialevents.com.

The community has fun, the participants have a blast, and the spectators have a great time! So come and join us for a weekend of friendships, good food and great activities. See you in Prince Rupert from June 11th to 14th at Seafest 2009.

54 Music lovers, put the Kispiox Valley Music Festival in your calendar. The music festival, in its 15th year, takes place the last weekend in July every year and showcases local artists playing a range of eclectic music. Acts are performed on a stage located on the bank of the Kispiox River with space for seating and dancing outside in a natural ampitheater.

Headlining this year are bluegrass band Viper Central, gypsy style band Redboot, rock band Traveler, flamenco guitarist Jorge Miguel, the Dana Wylie band, and Navaz.

The festival began in 1994 with a group of indiviuals hoping to host an event in the community. Booths with homemade food and people selling their creative wares are present for those inclined to shop.

Bring your tent or campers to this family event that runs this year from July 24 to 26 in the beautiful Kispiox Valley. Take Hwy16 to New Hazelton and turn off the main highway. The festival grounds are approximately a half hour drive on the Kispiox Valley Road.

55 If you love totem poles, Gitanyow is the place to go. There are 21 totem poles standing on the Gitanyow Historic Village Site and an interpretive center that houses some original totem poles that date back to 1760.

The interpretive center was built in 2001 and have exhibits portraying the crests of the totem poles and other artifacts like the only existing copper shield, traditional blankets, baskets, and bentboxes. There are also photographs of current and past chiefs. It also hosts exhibits of Emily Carr and the time she spent with the Douse family in 1928.

Those interested in a tour should call (250) 849-5615. The cost to observe the historic village and center is $5.00 per person.

Gitanyow, also known as Kitwancool, is located on hwy37 North to Alaska, approximately 25 kilometers from the hwy16 turnoff and north of Kitwanga. The community is approximately 2.5 km down a turnoff from hwy37N. It is home to two frog clans: the wolf (Lax Gibuu) and Frog/Raven (Lax Ganeda).

56 The RCMP Musical Ride returns to enthrall spectators with its precision and beauty July 12 in the main arena at the Thornhill Community Grounds. There will be two shows: 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The public will be able to see the horses in the Skeena Valley Exhibition Arena when they’re not performing. Don’t miss this exciting event – the last time the musical ride performed here was in the 1970s. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to improve the community grounds. Tickets are available at various businesses around town.

57 The Riverside Music Festival rocks the countryside at Har-Lee’s Place August 7 to 9. There’s great entertainment all weekend with 15 bands plus this year’s headliner Ronnie Prophet. Pick up some crafts at the kiosks and enjoy the foods available from vendors on site. Har-Lee’s Place is 14 km north on Kalum Lake Drive. For more information, call 631-9514.

58 The annual McBike 8-Hours of Onion Lake team bike race is still happening but there’s a challenging addition for those who are prepared – a full-on 24-hour version. That 24-hour version begins Sunday, Aug. 2 while the eight-hour race starts the next day, Aug. 3, with the plan that both conclude at the same time. Onion Lake is located between Terrace and Kitimat just off of Hwy37 South. Camping locations are available. There are adult and youth racing categories. More information is available from McBike in Terrace, 250-5225.

59 What goes up must come down and that’s been the case, with the exception of a few years, since 1977 thanks to the King of the Mountain running race. It’s 8.5 kilometres up and then down Terrace Mountain which overlooks the city. This year’s event has male and female categories and takes place Saturday, Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. There’s same day registration, beginning at 12:30 p.m., at the Terrace Arena. It’s also the starting point for the race. The event is sponsored by the local running club. Further information available at 250-638-1802.

60 Learn more about First Nations culture and enjoy performances by numerous talented First Nations people on National Aboriginal Day. National Aboriginal Day is a way for First Nations people to get together and enjoy cultural activities in one surrounding. The event is open to everyone in the community and surrounding areas.There will be many activities and all kinds of vendors in George Little Park June 20. The day starts out with an opening prayer at 9 a.m.;

That’s because Kermodei Tourism, the town’s main tourism body, is bringing back their Kermodei Cruiser program for the second summer.

Two locals will be cruising around Terrace and the surrounding area acting as town ambassadors.

Their goal is to help visitors by answering any questions. They’ll be distributing information like maps, coupons, flyers and pamphlets about places to visit, accommodation, and restaurants in the area.

Driving around in a van fitted with a rack full of resources, the two representatives are roaming local campsites, RV parks, lakes, picnic areas and other popular tourist destinations in and around town.

They will also be collecting information for tourists: the ambassadors will likely ask where visitors are from, why they are here, and how long they are staying to help market Terrace and serve tourists better in the future.

So when in Terrace, if approached by two smiling strangers with bags full of information, don’t be afraid. Ask them anything you want to know.

It’s part of a program to help you enjoy yourself and take advantage of all the area has to offer. ;

Follow the Nisga’a Highway north from the turnoff on Hwy 16 West. You’ll pass Kalum Lake and the community of Rosswood before entering the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park.

The volcano that spawned it all, Wil Ksi Baxhl Mihl or “where the fire ran out”, is a small cinder cone only 250 years old.

The eruption buried two Nisga’a villages, killed 2,000 aboriginal people, and pushed the Nass River from one side of the valley to the other.

The road forks in the midst of the 23-kilometre-long lava flow. The road east goes to New Aiyansh - the capital of the Nisga’a Nation and seat of Nisga’a self-government since the signing of their historic treaty in 2000.

The scenic road west takes you past the villages of Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City), which features a foot-passenger suspension bridge over the Nass River.

Beyond Gitwinksihlkw is Lakalzap (Greenville) and after that, you’ll reach the oceanside village of Gingolx, or “Place of the Scalps”. The last leg of road to Gingolx, also called Kincolith, was completed in 2003, ending the community’s isolation. Gingolx hosts Crab Fest each July long weekend - details at www.crabfest.ca. Tom Cochrane is the scheduled headliner this year.

Nisga’a villages are liberally dotted with totem poles and you may get the chance to see carvers at work. Fish wheels or fish counting areas may also be in operation.

Get out of your vehicle and make friends. A self-guided auto tour brochure for the lava beds park is available from the Terrace visitor info centre.

The Nisga’a Commercial Group has created three new tours of the area this year, a botanical tour, a fish wheel tour, and a lava bed cone tour.

For more information, drop by the Aboriginal info centre at the Kwinitsa House in Terrace (page 8), call 250-633-5150 or visit www.ncgtourism.ca. The centre in the Kwinitsa House or the visitor info in New Aiyansh will also have more information about cone tours. ;

The Kwinitsa foreman’s house stands proudly as a reminder of our railroad past.

It is named for where it came from – “Kwinitsa,” a once-bustling railroad station situated midway between Terrace and Prince Rupert.

From 1911 and 1915, 50 railroad stations were built on The Grand Trunk Pacific rail line in BC; ten of them between Terrace and Prince Rupert.

Nothing remains of the many stations and buildings that once peppered that rail line.

The house came to Terrace from Kwinitsa in 1972, on two flat cars – the same way it originally arrived in Kwinitsa (from an unknown location), approximately in the mid-1940s.

At Kwinitsa, it served as living quarters for the CN foreman and his family. Inside the house, which included a kitchen, living room and bedrooms, amenities were sparse: there was no electricity, no central heat. Instead, there were kerosene lamps, an oil stove, a combination coal/wood stove. An outhouse in the back served the call to nature, within nature itself.

Twice, the house has been saved from demolition – by a railroader.

In 1972, Richard Rinaldi, the CN foreman at Terrace (and the last foreman at Kwinitsa, in 1970) arranged for the house to be moved from Kwinitsa to Terrace, by rail.

The house was placed on CN land where Staples now sits, and the interior was renovated to include offices, a lunchroom, washroom, lockers, etc. for CN crew.

A few years ago, Rinaldi came to its rescue again when he realized the house – which by this time had been moved to its present site on the Grand Trunk Pathway – was slated for demolition by CN.

At his request, the city agreed to save – and renovate – this historic railroad building.

It’s not just locals and visitors who enjoy the sights and sounds of the trains of today whizzing by.

For the Kwinitsa house itself, these too, must be music to its ears.

Lulled by the rhythmic sounds of passing trains, with its proud railroad history echoing from its walls, the Kwinitsa foreman’s house must surely feel right at home.

Copyright 2008 by Chantal Meijer. A Terrace writer, Chantal Meijer is the daughter of Richard Rinaldi.;

The Standard is published every Wednesday and on sale at a number of retail outlets. Or visit the paper online at www.terracestandard.com.

Also look out for The Northern Connector, published on Saturdays and always free.

The Northern Daily, which has news from the entire region, is the newest paper in town. For more tourism info, check out directory.getawaybc.com, a province-wide site organized by the Terrace Standard and its sister papers.

Head west on Hwy 16 and turn right on Kalum Lake Rd. Drive along the highway and keep your eyes peeled to the side of the road. Be very careful, though. Do not get out of your car and at no time, try to feed the bears. Take photos from your car.