Silver-Lead-Zinc Mining & Cominco (4 of 5)

The growing traffic between Kimberley and Trail was one of the major reasons for the construction of the railway along Kootenay Lake in the late 1920s. This was the missing section of the original Crowsnest Pass Route and it eliminated the steamer service between Kootenay Landing, Procter and Nelson. A fertilizer plant was also built near Kimberley at Marysville in 1953 to make use of products derived from the ore concentration processes.

The story of the City of Kimberley has been inseparably linked with the development and operation of the Sullivan Mine. The prominence of the Sullivan Mine overshadowed other mines such as the North Star and logging and sawmilling have also been important. In the early 1900 the Otis Staples Lumber Company operated in the area. More recently tourism and winter sports have become important as the community works to broaden its economic base as the mine nears closure.

Cominco acquired many other mining properties in British Columbia including the Bluebell Mine at Roundel on Kootenay Lake and properties in the Slocan Mining district between Kaslo and New Denver. It also developed mines in other parts of Canada and internationally. After 100 years the Sullivan Mine is still in production although the ore deposits that can be recovered economically at this time are nearly exhausted. The mine is scheduled for closure in a few years.

Archival Photos

B-05327      Kimberley. Cominco, Man Train at Tunnel Entrance, Sullivan Mine, 1938
B-05347      Kimberley. Cominco, Men at Tunnel Entrance of Sullivan Mine, 1938
B-05319      Kimberley. Cominco Sullivan Mine. Shift Change, 1945

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