George Vancouver Copley
Vernon & District Family History Society

After George Vancouver Copley [1880–1976], who did the first detailed survey and timber reconnaissance in this area in 1915. Copley was born in Cobble Hill at Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island. An early industrial accident left his right arm 5 cm shorter than the left. Prior to 1915, Copley had accompanied Frank Swannell on various surveys from 1909 to 1914, and was hired by the BC Forest Service for the 1915 timber reconnaissance survey of the upper Parsnip River and McGregor River valleys. He continued to work for the BC Forest Service until his retirement.

Origin of the name unknown, dates to a 1912 map.

Kakwa Wildland Park is an Alberta provincial park just east of the border with British Columbia at the 120th meridian west. The park is home to Alberta’s tallest waterfall, the Kakwa Falls, which is 30 metres tall.

It adjoins Willmore Wilderness Park and British Columbia’s Kakwa Provincial Park and Protected Area and together with them comprises Kakwa Willmore Interprovincial Park, the first interprovincial park shared between BC and Alberta.

Named in association with Kakwa River.

Kakwa-Willmore Interprovincial Park was designated through an agreement between the Alberta and British Columbia governments in April 2006.  The park includes Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park and Willmore Wilderness Park on the Alberta side and Kakwa Provincial Park in B.C. 

The interprovincial park recognizes that the three parks share common mountain and foothills ecosystems and that cross-border visitation is common.  Staff from the two province governments work together on park planning, resource and visitor management, and other activities that benefit both the park’s ecosystems and visitors.

West Twin Protected Area established in 2001, containing approximately 9134 hectares.

Baseball field on Main Street near train station.