ConnaughtHill

Open from April to September annually and located in Prince George’s historic east side, this park gives a picturestic 360 degree view overlooking the original Prince George town sites. It has long been part of the history of the area.

In time immortal, the hill was an island in the confluence of the Mighty Fraser and the Nechako Rivers. Natives in the area settled the community as the land opened up. They would not go up on Connaught Hill as they had legends of the hill being an ancient Beaver Lodge where the Beaver King lived and terrorized them.

Thousands of years past and the Europeans came and altered the history of the land to include themselves. The hill held a water tower in Prince George’s early days; gravity feed supplied the water to the hundred or so residents of the original 2 town sites. In 1931, British Columbia’s first artificially illuminated ski jump was constructed on the hill’s western slope. The jump was constructed in February. It measured 30 meters and was host to the Canadian Olympic trials of that decade.

Prince George’s first female Mayor Carrie Jane Gray (1958-59) witnessed the opening of the park on Connaught Hill during her time at City Hall. The attractive and fragrant flora is native to the area; some smaller wildlife has been spotted on the slopes. Today, during the spring, summer and early fall, residents and visitors alike can enjoy the beauty of the park and view from 8am to 11pm at no cost. It is accessed by traveling along Queensway and turning west on Connaught drive a few blocks north of 17th Avenue.

In November to January Prince George is lit up with the lights of the festive season in the “Northern Lights Festival”. Starting west of town with “Candy Cane Lane” (Upland Street at Ferry Drive), residents and visitors are treated to seasonal lights and spectacular nativity displays all over the city. In 2007, Connaught Hill joined in and hosted a land of lights, candy canes and seasonal characters during the Northern Lights Festival. Come enjoy Prince George in any season!