Telkwa Fair Continues Despite Fire

The Bulkley Valley Fairs saw a gap between 1912 and 1914, with no fair held in Telkwa during 1913. This was largely because the founding of Smithers that year distracted many Valley residents.

When the fair did return to Telkwa in 1914, it really expanded, with more competitive divisions and entertainments. They even had a baseball game between Smithers and Telkwa, which Smithers won 8-3, and a boxing match. There was also a fair in Telkwa the following year, in 1915.

Then in 1916, the only fair in the district was held in Hazelton. The Hazelton Agricultural & Industrial Association organized it for September 15th and 16th, and it included the usual livestock and produce divisions, plus various entertainments.

But after that, in both 1917 and 1918, there weren't any fairs in the Bulkley Valley at all. L.B. Warner, the editor of the Smithers Interior News, actually wrote an editorial in 1918 lamenting this. He felt that without a fair, the Bulkley Valley was missing out on a chance for social interaction and sharing ideas. He also believed the event had great advertising value for the district, which was lost during those years without a fair.