Description

In 2000 and 2005, two sets of oral history interviews were conducted with current and former residents who lived in the Upper Fraser region of British Columbia 1945 and 1975 (the peak years of sawmill operations in the region). Many of the questions posed revolved around issues of migration, including why residents migrated to the area, where they came from, and reasons for their departure. This research presents results of the two sets of interviews and displays the results using data-intensive descriptive mapping techniques. Results indicate that most residents arrived from the Prairie Provinces and Scandinavia in search of employment, and were prompted to leave due to forest industry consolidation, lack of employment opportunity outside of the lumber industry, and lack of educational facilities in the region.

Document Type

Event

Start Date

8-3-2008 8:00 AM

Subject - LCSH

Community development--British Columbia; Urban-rural migration--British Columbia;

End Date

8-3-2008 5:00 PM

Session

Rural Geographies

Genre/Form

conference proceedings

Type

event

Geographic Coverage

British Columbia

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Keywords

Upper Fraser region, descriptive mapping, rural-to-urban migration, community change, historical geography

Included in

Geography Commons

COinS
 
Mar 8th, 8:00 AM Mar 8th, 5:00 PM

Mapping migration patterns in the Upper Fraser Region, British Columbia

In 2000 and 2005, two sets of oral history interviews were conducted with current and former residents who lived in the Upper Fraser region of British Columbia 1945 and 1975 (the peak years of sawmill operations in the region). Many of the questions posed revolved around issues of migration, including why residents migrated to the area, where they came from, and reasons for their departure. This research presents results of the two sets of interviews and displays the results using data-intensive descriptive mapping techniques. Results indicate that most residents arrived from the Prairie Provinces and Scandinavia in search of employment, and were prompted to leave due to forest industry consolidation, lack of employment opportunity outside of the lumber industry, and lack of educational facilities in the region.