• home
• mill physical plan
• mill process
• mill and community
• artistry of the mill
• mill in history
• museum and the mill today

• Introduction
• Britannia Beach and Townsite
• Minerals and their Markets
• BC and Canadian History and the Mill

The Mill in History

Thousands of people drive by Britannia Beach every day on the Sea to Sky highway between Vancouver and Whistler, but few realize that they are traveling through one of the largest, most important copper mine sites of the 20th century. Only some of the buildings that made up the community of Britannia Beach still stand today. Up the mountain, ‘The Townsite’ (also known as Mt.Sheer) is completely overgrown, its buildings long demolished and its history alive only in the memories of the people who lived there.

All communities have a rich history that is often not readily apparent. Many of our towns and cities have an industrial heritage, since fishing, forestry and mining were the major occupations that built Canada’s early economy. Britannia Beach and its Mill are an important reminder of the stories found in all our communities, and they encourage people to discover the history in their own backyard.