McBride

Start Your Adventure in McBride

Welcome to McBride Sign © Bill Arnold

Welcome to McBride Sign © Bill Arnold

Founded in 1913 as Mile 90 of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, McBride is a picturesque community surrounded by the Rocky and Cariboo Mountains. With rich farmland lining the Valley bottom and a great mix of forest and alpine, the area’s varied terrain ensures incredible hiking, camping, and bird watching during warmer months, and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter.

What helps set McBride apart are the people who live there. From digging a 2km trench to save a pair of abandoned horses on Christmas Eve to pitching in on a town cleanup or helping out at a BBQ to raise funds for the foodbank, community members offer outstanding hospitality.

Friendly, helpful, and ready for a new conversation, let us welcome you to McBride!

 

Explore the Village:

  • Horseshoe Lake is a naturally formed ox-bow lake with an observation platform for viewing waterfowl and other bird species.  A complete bird list is available at the Visitor Centre and we have an active bird watching community.
  • The Valley Museum and Archives at 521 Main Street has an outdoor exhibit of antique farming equipment on display as well as changing exhibits and educational programs. Through the village you can see history plaques with photos. Pick up a map showing where to find them at the museum or the visitor centre. Also at 521 Main Street is the exciting new McBride and District Public Library.
  • The heritage railway station on 1st Avenue is decorated throughout with historical photos and houses a gallery of quality work by local artists and crafters, as well as the Visitor Information Centre and a coffee shop.
  • Not to forget, our McBride Bears, a family of oversized chainsaw carved bears, who welcome visitors alongside the Village Office.
  • The Whistle Stop Gallery is a local artist’s cooperative that not only offers quality arts and crafts for sale, but is also active in the community. They have created an art walk, with pieces from local artisans on display throughout the Village, painted murals on various building and undertook to turn the fire hydrants in town into miniature works of art. One of the local artists has created a model of the solar system throughout the town so visitors and residents can stroll through our solar system as they meander through the Village.
  • There is a fabulous playground in the Village Park, across from the train station, plus a playground at the Elementary School.
  • There’s also a ball field, the Recreation Centre (ice rink, curling, and convertible courts), Koeneman Regional Park on the edge of town and local walking trails.

Below are some of the village’s historic buildings. Pick up the Valley Museum’s history map to see these and many more historic points of interest!

Click here for the McBride Town map (pdf)

Anglican-United Church Hall, Dominion Street
This hall was built as a Methodist Church, the first church in McBride, by the Reverend Frank Bushfield, the first minister in McBride.  It was originally built on the north-east corner of Queen Street and Fourth Avenue.  The church was opened on May 24th, 1914 with celebration by the whole community
The church was built away from the centre of town, anticipating quick growth, but World War I changed the expectations and the town diminished.  The church was moved in 1922 to the elementary school lot on Third Avenue. In 1967 a new United Church was built on Dominion Street and the original church was moved beside it for the church hall.

Elks’ Hall, Holdway Street

The Empress Theatre was opened in August, 1914, a few days after the start of World War I.  It was originally a ‘moving picture house’ which was also used for many community functions – large meetings, dances, special celebrations.  It was sold several times but always well used by the community.  It was bought by the Elks’ Lodge in spring 1939 and became known as the Elks’ Hall. In 2008 a large photo mural, depicting one of the pioneering forestry men in the area, Sig Harstad.

Railway Station, First Avenue
The original station on this site was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1913, and for a time was reputed to be the largest between Winnipeg and Prince Rupert.  It burnt down in 1918 and was replaced by the present station, built on the original foundations and opened in 1919.  The last train was dispatched from the station in 1989 after which the station was closed for a decade until it was brought back to life in its present form.

St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church
The church was given to the congregation by Bishop Bunoz and dedicated on March 17th, 1937.  The previous church a short distance away is now a private home.

Robson Valley Visitor Guide