1966, W.A.C. Bennett Dam under construction, Hudson's Hope, BC
1966, W.A.C. Bennett Dam under construction, Hudson's Hope, BC
This footage was captured from the public viewing platform, a strategic highpoint offering an excellent viewpoint of most of the construction site and demonstrating the sheer scale of the massive project.
During his 20 year tenure,Premier Bennett was committed to the large-scale, state-directed development of British Columbia. Multiple projects across BC helped shape the province's future. None much bigger than the dam on the Peace River. Initially named Portage Mountain Dam, it would be renamed WAC Bennett Dam because the premier's vision played a major role in the project initiation, development, and realization.
Construction of the dam began in 1961 and culminated in 1968. At the dam, the Finlay, the Parsnip and the Peace Rivers feed into Williston Lake, also referred to as Williston Reservoir. It is the third largest artificial lake in North America. At 186 metres (610 ft) high, it is one of the world's highest earth fill dams.
Not without controversy, the project displaced members of the Tsay Keh Dene First Nation. Aboriginal hunting and fishing grounds around the Fort Grahame and Finlay Forks areas were severely impacted by ecological change. In the process of creating Williston Lake, 350,000 acres of former forest land was flooded. This caused the loss of plant and wildlife biodiversity as well as risking mineral and timber rights. It continues to be the largest power station in B.C and it is the third largest hydroelectric development in Canada after Robert-Bourassa and Churchill Falls.
Thank you to the Hoy family for generously contributing this wonderful 8mm film reel.
7 min 13 secs, 8mm 2k digital scan
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80+ hours original programming. Reel Life, PTOCS & CanadaMotorSports
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episode 767
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