Village of Ashcroft
In 2016 the population of Ashcroft was 1,558 residents. Ashcroft is located in Thompson Country in the Interior of British Columbia. Ashcroft borders the Thompson River and is 30 kilometres (19 miles) downstream from the west end of Kamloops Lake where the the Bonaparte and Thompson Rivers meet.
How Ashcroft Got Its Name
Ashcroft was first called St. Cloud by Sir Wm. Van Horn when pondering the dream of building a trans-continental railway. But the first men who opened businesses began calling the new town BARNES STATION. However when it came time to mark the new town on the map, the Canadian Surveyor General called the town Ashcroft because the roadhouse (Ashcroft Manor) no longer retained its Post Office. This eliminated the problem of changing the name of the Post Office in Ottawa.
transcribed from sign
Ashcroft was incorporated as a village in 1952 and resembles that of desert terrain, due to the near desert conditions in lower elevation areas and has been marketed as sets for the film industry. A number of old west films and movies depicting the middle east have used this area as a stand in.
There have been over 30 movies, TV series, short films, mini series, and commercials filmed in and around Ashcroft; some include: The Andromeda Strain, The A-Team, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Twilight Zone, Bird on a Wire, An Unfinished Life and The X-Files.
Mayor and Councillors
Mayor - Barbara Roden
Councillor - Marilyn Anderson
Councillor - Jonah Anstett
Councillor - Nadine Davenport
Councillor - Deb Tuohey
Village of Ashcroft offices appears to be in an old school building built around the 1950s. This is technically a one and half story building as most of the lower floor is below ground level. It is a very long building, about 160 feet in length with full length windows across the front. There is a thrift store nearby and behind the Village of Ashcroft offices is a well cared for community garden.
One of the many attractions in Ashcroft is Heritage Place, aka Legacy Park, a well maintained interpretive park decorated with artifacts and buildings representing the history of the region. Within the park are a series of short walking paths with interpretive signs marking each exhibit documenting the early days of the railway and mining industries.
The park is a wonderful place to visit while in Ashcroft, with huge trees, shaded benches and picnic tables. Throughout the park are several murals and mosaics. When we were there the visitor center and washrooms were open. There is parking on both sides of the park. The park is approximately 2 acres in size, though it is long and narrow.
The Daylily
(Genus hemercallis)
The Official Flower of Ashcroft
Derived from the Greek
hemera meaning day and
kallos meaning beauty, daylilies are well known for their beautiful flowers with each flower lasting for only one day.
Daylilies are rugged, adaptable and vigorous perennials that endure for many years with little or no care. They come in many varieties and offer a huge variety of colors. Daylilies continue to produce blooms for a long growing period and also during the heat of the summer, making them a perfect fit for the semi-arid climate of Ashcroft.