Jaffray, British Columbia

Jaffray is an unincorporated community on the west side of Little Sand Creek in the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia.[1][2] On BC Highway 3/93, the locality is by road about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Sparwood and 47 kilometres (29 mi) southeast of Cranbrook.

Jaffray, British Columbia
Village
Jaffray, British Columbia is located in British Columbia
Jaffray, British Columbia
Location of Jaffray in British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°22′59″N 115°18′03″W
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
RegionEast Kootenay
Regional DistrictEast Kootenay
Settled1900
Government
 • MPRob Morrison
 • MLATom Shypitka
Area
 • Total6.89 km2 (2.66 sq mi)
Elevation
823 m (2,700 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total510
 • Density74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain Standard (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (Mountain Daylight (MDT))
Postal Code
V0B 1T0
Area codes250, 778, 236, & 672
NTS Map082G06
Highways Hwy 3
Hwy 93

History

Jaffray was formerly a siding, depot and steam train water stop. In the early 1900s, Robert Jaffray and several of his brothers worked at the local sawmills, eventually leaving and homesteading in Lacombe, Alberta. Even though some local people believed that Jaffray may have been named after the brothers, according to folklore, Jaffray had already been named by the time they came to the area.[3] Frank Desrosier may have been the first resident to purchase land in the Jaffray town-site, purchasing District Lot 3055. In September 1900, Robert Elmsby received a crown grant on D.L. 3543, obtaining 81 hectares (200 acres) for two hundred dollars, including most of what is now Jaffray proper.

Since the first residents settled, Jaffray has had four hotels, including the Jaffray Hotel, the Henderson's Hotel, Desrosier's Hotel and the Pearson Hotel. Historical general stores included Anthony Modigh's General Store, Economy Corner Store, and the present Jaffray General Store.[4]

Fire protection

In September 1995, the Regional District of East Kootenay, with the direction of founding Fire Chief John Betenia, and community approval of an RDEK bylaw, opened the Jaffray Volunteer Fire Department with 31 volunteer firefighter trainees.

The department has expanded considerably since inception and now includes a rescue team with First Responder Level III status.

Geography

Jaffray is located near the picturesque Steeples, which include Fisher Peak, and the Lizard Mountain ranges, not far from Lake Koocanusa. The village is found on Highway 3 and 93, west of the Elko Highway 93 junction; just north of the Canadian/United States border at Rooseville, BC. This portion of the Rocky Mountain Trench is relatively flat, with open woodland and grasslands. The area is very popular for its great recreational opportunities.

Climate
Cranbrook Climatological Data
Temperature
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Record high °C (°F) 10 14 19 28 33 35 36 36 34 29 18 12
Average high °C (°F) -2 -2 8 14 18 22 26 26 20 12 2 -3 2.5
Mean °C (°F) -6 -3 2 7 12 15 18 18 13 6 -1 -7 8.5
Average low °C (°F) -10 -8 -3 1 5 8 10 10 5 0 -5 -10 -0.2
Record low °C (°F) -33 -32 -24 -10 -4 -1 3 -1 -6 -15 -30 -35
Precipitation and Sunshine Hours
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Total mm (in) 33 24 20 27 44 53 36 29 29 22 40 46 403
Rainfall mm (in) 4 5 12 23 43 53 36 29 29 20 15 6 275
Snowfall cm (in) 30 19 8 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 24 40 128
Data recorded at Canadian Rockies International Airport by Environment Canada. Data spans 1971 to 2000.

Education
Census population:
Jaffray
YearPop.±%
1951157—    
1956158+0.6%
1961282+78.5%
1966269−4.6%
1971193−28.3%
197693−51.8%
1981—    
1986376—    
1991440+17.0%
1996—    
2001—    
2006453—    
2011494+9.1%
2016*564+14.2%
2021510−9.6%
Source: Statistics Canada
[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
* Revised figure

Part of School District 5 Southeast Kootenay, Jaffray Elementary Junior Secondary School has about 225 students from Kindergarten to Grade 10.[15]

Notable people
  • Dean Brody (1975– ), country recording artist, residence as a youth.[16]

Radio stations

(broadcast from Jaffray)

(available in Jaffray (broadcast from Cranbrook))

Further reading
  • "Jaffray". www.crowsnest-highway.ca.

Footnotes
  1. "Jaffray (community)". BC Geographical Names.
  2. "Little Sand Creek (creek)". BC Geographical Names.
  3. Sand Creek Historical Book Committee 1995, pp. 10–11.
  4. Sand Creek Historical Book Committee 1995, p. 11.
  5. "1956 Census" (PDF). us.archive.org. p. 60.
  6. "1961 Census" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. p. 71 (69).
  7. "1966 Census" (PDF). us.archive.org. p. 48 (44).
  8. "1971 Census" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. p. 53 (51).
  9. "1976 Census" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. p. 60 (52).
  10. "1986 Census" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. p. 166 (151).
  11. "1991 Census" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. p. 186 (178).
  12. "2011 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  13. "2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  14. "2021 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  15. "Jaffray Elementary/Junior Secondary School". www.sd5.bc.ca.
  16. "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. September 26, 2015. p. 2.

References
  • Sand Creek Historical Book Committee (1995). Forests, Farms and Families. Friesens. ISBN 1-55056-338-6.
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