Press Release
May 7, 2004
BC Hydro's Stave Falls Visitor Centre designated as new National Historic Site
Authentic 1912 generating station only BC location bestowed honour this year
NEAR MISSION – BC Hydro's Stave Falls Visitor Centre "The Power House at Stave Falls" is the latest BC site to receive National Heritage Site Designation from Parks Canada. Announced by Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today along with twelve other new designations of national historic significance.
"It is very moving to be chosen as a site of national historical significance," said BC Hydro Executive Vice-president of Generation, Dawn Farrell. "Stave Falls was the original backbone of our system when BC Hydro, then BC Electric, began to build the province through power generation a century ago. The Visitor Centre that preserves our rich history is a great way to go back in time when electricity was a vague promise for the future and TVs and computers we take for granted today were still a half-century away."
Work began on the first phase of Stave Falls in 1909-1910. Power production started in 1912 with transmission lines from Stave Falls to receiving stations at Ardley (between New Westminster and Vancouver) and Sumas, Washington. In 2000, the original 52.5 MW powerhouse at Stave Falls was decommissioned and replaced by a new 90 MW powerhouse at the same site. The Visitor Centre was created at the original powerhouse to preserve the heritage and history of one of BC Hydro's first hydroelectric installations.
The Power House at Stave Falls offers interactive games and historic displays where visitors can learn how electricity is made, see turbines and generators up close, or watch how water is used to make power in our 50-seat theatre.
The Power House at Stave Falls opens to the public for the season on May 15 until October 11, 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm. Admission for adults is $5, seniors and students $4 and children 5 and under are free. Fully wheelchair accessible.
For more information on tour rates or the Power House, call 604 462-1222.
Contact:
| BC Hydro Media Relations |
| Media Relations manager |
| Phone: 604 623-4022 |
