Cranbrook is the commercial and consumer centre of the East Kootenays — British Columbia’s mountain playground — and a fine place to visit. This bustling community of around 20,000 people has the best of city and country life: fine restaurants, shops, galleries, and historic attractions, all surrounded by majestic mountains and unspoiled Crown lands.
Cranbrook is situated near the junction of Highway 95 and Highway 3, with access to southern Alberta, all parts of British Columbia, and the Pacific Northwest United States.
In 1898, the Canadian Pacific Railway chose the site to serve as the administrative centre for its Crowsnest Pass route. The settlement that formed around the railway was incorporated in 1905 as the City of Cranbrook.
In order to meet the shopping needs of 70,000 people in the region, Cranbrook has a thriving central business district and two major shopping centres. There are more than 50 restaurants, offering everything from convenient take-out to fine dining. Accommodations include 25 hotels/motels and three full-service campgrounds. Business travellers can find all the professional services they need.
Those seeking leisure in and around Cranbrook will not be disappointed. There are many verdant golf courses, 20 parks, a recreation complex with aquatic centre, three ice rinks, a curling rink, a performing arts theatre, movie theatres and more. Clear mountain lakes dotted throughout the area offer great fishing, and there are plenty of well-maintained trails for bird watching, hiking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Snow bunnies will love the six world-class ski resorts, all within a three hour drive. Fort Steele Heritage Town, just 20 minutes away, is an essential stop for those keen on history and a delight for the whole family with its steam train and wagon rides.
One of the best-known Cranbrook attractions is the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel (est. 1977). This renowned museum collects, restores and displays sets of vintage passenger trains, highlighting the luxury passenger train era from the late 1800s through the first half of the 20th century. Tours are available year-round.
The city has a diverse economy, with forestry, mining, rail travel, transportation, industrial service and supply, manufacturing and an ever-increasing number of tourism programs. There are 14 public schools, the College of the Rockies and the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. Cranbrook is a city of urban conveniences in a spectacular rural setting.
The Canadian Rockies International Airport is situated 15 kilometres west of Cranbrook, on Highway 95A, with regular services to Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Calgary.
For more information, visit www.cranbrook.ca.
Designed by Shawn Wernig © 2011 Columbia Valley Pioneer • www.columbiavalleypioneer.com