Ocean Falls

Ocean Falls, BC, Unincorporated Place. Ocean Falls is located at the head of Cousins Inlet, 24 km from the Pacific Ocean and 480 km north of Vancouver. Isolated by steep terrain and rugged coastal mountains, the community is accessible only by air or sea.

History

In 1901 the provincial government granted a lease for a power site, these rights were then sold to the Bella Coola Pulp and Paper Company. By 1909 the sawmill was producing export lumber and a community was formed.

A concrete dam was built on Link Lake by Pacific Mills. This increased the hydro capacity for pulp, newsprint and kraft paper. By 1966 the mill, now owned by Crown Zellerbach, was producing an assortment of products and Ocean Falls was a thriving community of 3000. Economic hardship and centralization closed the mill in 1973. The BC Government bought the proceeds in an attempt to revive the mill but the attempt failed. By 1980 the mill closed and most of the residents left.

Present Day

Today, Ocean Falls is a community where people make their living by fishing, logging and tourism. Craft making is also a growing cottage industry. The recent move to build a roll on - roll off ferry terminal at Ocean Falls will assist economic growth in this community.