White River
Started as a CP Rail work camp in 1885, but by 1886 it was a modern rail town, with a deluxe station house, fine hotels, and an ice house. This location proved to be a pivotal stopover in the rail line to feed livestock and resupply.
Details
Date Added to Canadian Geographical Names Database:
March 1, 1956?This is the date when the Government officially recognized the name. More Info
Related Person: Gus Weidman
Notes
White River’s population went from from 10 families in 1886 to 42 families in 1906. The town continued to grow until the present population of about 1000 people.
Sources and Further Learning
The real Winnie The Pooh was adopted by a man in White River from a trapper and then eventually given up to the zoo in London, England. Winnie (named after Winnipeg) was a female bear cub who brought much joy to zoo visitors from all over Canada and this is where she met her soon to be best friend, Christopher Robin Milne. Christopher's father was a writer, and the rest, as you know it, is history! Writer A. A. Milne published children's books based on Winnie and Christopher's special bond and in 1961, Disney purchased the copyright to Winnie The Pooh.