Riondel, British Columbia
| Hamlet of Riondel | |
|---|---|
| Settlement | |
| Motto: Riondel, Riondel, Riondel Oh Hell Just call it good old Bluebell! | |
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| Coordinates: 49°45′49″N 116°51′23″W / 49.76361°N 116.85639°WCoordinates: 49°45′49″N 116°51′23″W / 49.76361°N 116.85639°W | |
| Country |
 Canada
|
| Province |
 British Columbia
|
| Region | Kootenays |
| Regional district | Central Kootenay |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | Riondel Commission of Management |
| • Chairman | Garth Saunders |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.7 km2 (0.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 576 m (1,890 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 273 |
| • Density | 389.7/km2 (1,009/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| Postal code span | V0B |
| Highways | 3A |
| Waterways | Kootenay Lake |
| Website | Community of Riondel |
Riondel is a village of approximately 300 people. It is situated on the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake, located 90 minutes from Nelson, British Columbia, using the world's longest free ferry ride.
The settlement of Riondel originated from a very productive silver, lead and zinc mine, known as the Bluebell mine. In 1882 an American named Robert Sproule staked four claims along the Riondel Peninsula, including the Bluebell mine. When he left to register his claims an Englishman, Thomas Hammill, re-staked the claims. This led to a dispute that ended with Sproule shooting Hammill dead. Sproule was executed on the gallows for his crime.
In the 1890s the settlement was known as Hendryx, after Wilbur Hendryx, who had control of the Bluebell mine and other claims in the mid-1880s. In 1905 The Canadian Metal Company purchased the mine, and in 1907 the settlement was named Riondel after Count Edouard Riondel, the president of the Canadian Metal Company.
Riondel is pronounced several different ways, even by locals: RYE-on-del and ree-ON-del are commonly heard. However, S.S. Fowler, who applied for the post office in 1907, wrote: “It is or should be pronounced Ree-on-del with accent very slightly on the first syllable.”
The Bluebell mine operated from 1895 to 1929, during which the population of Riondel was stable at around 70 people. With the closure of the Bluebell mine in 1929 the population dwindled until in 1943 there were only 22 people left in Riondel. In 1950 the Bluebell mine re-opened, and the population of Riondel soared to almost 300 people within three years. The expansion of the Bluebell mine required more electricity and in 1952 Cominco built power lines across the Kootenay Lake, to bring power to the East Shore without the use of generators. Development included a smelter and a townsite. This mine has the longest history in the province of British Columbia.
From 1950, Riondel was a bustling, thriving mining town until 1972, when the Bluebell mine closed for good. Most people moved on to other nearby towns, while the older employees stayed in Riondel and retired. Riondel became a popular retirement community and at one time had more seniors per capita than any other postal code in Canada.
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Wikipedia