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Harrop-Procter
Harrop-Procter is located approximately 31 km (19 miles) north-east
of Nelson across the West Arm of Kootenay
Lake from Balfour.
Harrop
and Procter
Harrop-Procter refers to an area of land that borders the east side
of West Arm Provincial Park and Kootenay Lake in the east containing
the two small villages of Harrop and Procter. The two communities
are about 7 km (4 miles) apart from each other with a main road
that connects the two called the Harrop-Procter Hwy.
'Procter's
Landing'
Procter was originally called 'Procter's Landing' in 1891 after
Thomas G. Procter erected a fishing lodge on Kootenay Lake. During
the 1900's, the community prospered with sawmills, hotels, the CPR
Railway and served as a destination point for holiday travellers
coming from Nelson aboard the CPR steamer, M.V. Nasookin.
The last major employer Kootenay Water Transport Company closed
in 1977 and Procter is now a retirement and cottage community.
Harrop
Harrop first started with a sawmill in 1889 and later with Ernest
Harrop establishing a general store and post office in 1907. In
time Harrop had fruit orchards, a packing house plus a CPR terminus
serving a railway transport link from Nelson connecting with a landing
and wharves at Sunshine Bay for sternwheelers to service Kootenay
Lake mines.
Eco-Tourism
Today Harrop is similar to Procter economically serving as an eco-tourism
destination for private solitude, spirituality and inspiration.
The communities both are centres for artists to come together producing
a number of unique works that are displayed in the shops throughout
the West Arm of the Kootenay Lake area.
Harrop-Procter
Community Forest
The area of land that backs onto West Arm Provincial Park is called
the Harrop-Procter Community Forest. The reserve acts as the main
impetus for economic well-being in the Harrop-Procter corridor,
providing sustainable jobs in the forest industry with some remanufacturing
of the local timber harvested.
Sustainable
Remanufacturing
Some remanufacturing of the large dimensional timbers are used by
The Traditional Timber Framing Co. or Mandala Custom Homes, both
from Nelson who construct timber-framed houses in the Kootenay Region.
Local
Answers
Other local companies such as Ox-Bow Shops use individual pieces
out of the Harrop-Procter Community Forest for custom one-of-a-kind
creations. The reserve also benefits end-users like the Sunshine
Bay Botanicals who create natural and sustainable answers to today's
health issues and also provide work for local residents.
Kootenay
Storytelling Festival
Taking place annually in Procter every July, the Kootenay Storytelling
Festival brings together with a number of people orating about the
rich history of the Kootenay Region. The Kootenay Storytelling Festival
includes a free garden tour through Harrop-Procter.
Harrop
Harvest Festival
The Harrop Harvest Festival occurs in mid-September and is held
at the Harrop Hall located at 6066 McConnell Road. The festival
encompasses a number of vendors selling fresh-baked goods, handicrafts,
canned goods plus fresh fruits and vegetables. Other entertainment
includes musicians, games and prizes.
West
Arm Provincial Park
For exploring around the Harrop-Procter area, there is West Arm
Provincial Park, the site of a number of small isolated beaches
located on the south shore only accessed by water. The park has
a number of areas for wilderness camping, great swimming and areas
of 'old-growth' forest.
Lasca
Creek Trail
There is a non-maintained hike that follows a heritage trail up
Lasca Creek. You have to be well prepared for encounters with grizzlies
who reside in the ideal bear habitats of Lasca Creek and West Arm
Provincial Park.
Information
on Harrop-Procter
First
Nations
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