86 British Columbia Women’s Institutes

History of North Fraser District

The story of the Fraser Valley is primarily the story of a river; the
only river in British Columbia which rises and finds it way to the sea
within the boundaries of our Province. ‘Twisting and churning its way
through its upper reaches and canyons, the river carried down gold to
lure our first great influx of settlement. It provided a travel-way for
explorers, fur-traders, gold-seekers, settlers and the silvery salmon which
supplied a staple of diet for all. Breaking out of the mountains at Hope
the silt-laden river laid down in the last miles of its journey Westward
acres of fertile valley land in a most beautiful setting. ‘The snow-capped
mountains stand back like encircling arms, the river makes its leisurely
way by slow, sweeping curve to the setting sun and the sea.

The valley of the Fraser, comprising some 900 sq. miles, is the largest
and most fertile farming area in British Columbia, and is divided for pur-
poses of administration, by the Women’s Institutes, into three Districts:
North Fraser on the North Shore, Hopeline and Douglas on the South
Shore. On the North Shore the land rises steeply from the river in ridges to
the mountains. These hold in their deep valleys many lakes, draining into
the Fraser. Logging is an important industry here, with mills established
at many points, the first at Harrison in 1850, and other outstanding mills
at Port Moody, Port Hammond and on Burrard Inlet’s North Arm. ‘The
arrival of gold-seekers gave impetus to agriculture and logging. Food for
men, oats for their pack-trains, lumber for sluice boxes and huts were
urgently needed.

Agassiz, named for its first family (1862) and a fertile agricultural
area, is the site of Dominion Experimental Farm established in 1888.
Across the Harrison River are Mission, Hatzic and Nicomen, closely
related communities. As early as 1858 settlers were attracted by the
beautiful green grass on Nicomen Island. Often plagued by floods the
early settlers came back again and again to their grass land which now
supports many fine herds of dairy cattle. At Mission City Father Leon
Fouguet established a school in 1862 and brought machinery from France
for grist mill, sawmill, and carding mill. ‘The school served the community
well and now a group of beautiful buildings, including Seminary and
Chapel are built upon the ridge behind the City from which a lovely view
of the city and the river is obtained. ‘There are processing plants here for
the berries which have made Mission famous. Hatzic’s (Indian name
“Hatizics”’) first settlers came up river in 1892. Between the Stave and
Pitt Rivers are the communities of Whonnock, ‘Thorne Hill, Haney, Port
Hammond and Pitt Meadows. History of these communities, across the
river from Fort Langley, is closely connected with the Fort. Logging,
rather than agriculture, is the principal industry in this area. Port
Hammond has a link with the past in its Church, “St. John the Divine’.
This Church, erected at Fort Langley in 1859 is considered one of the
oldest Churches in British Columbia. When settlement around the Fort