Vavenby

First Homestead & Naming

In 1886, the first European resident was Franklin Allingham, who homesteaded a 400-acre (160 hectares) piece of land on the north side of the North Thompson River. This location is approximately two kilometres from the present-day township.

Then, in 1910, the original postmaster, Daubney Pridgeon, intended to call it Navenby after his birthplace.
However, the postal authorities misread his handwriting and the settlement was named Vavenby.

Growth with Forestry & Milling

According to a local history book, Upper North Thompson Reflections, a waterwheel-powered sawmill called Canfor was established in 1912 by Knute Skahl and Martin Thompson. It began operations near Lost Creek to produce railroad ties and lumber for the Canadian National Railway (CNR).

Over subsequent decades, multiple mills — including Weyerhaeuser and Slocan/Canfor — helped shape the local economy.

Economic Challenges & Revival

In 2002, the Weyerhaeuser mill closed. This resulted in job losses and population decline, though logging permits were retained. Then, in 2009, the Canfor sawmill shut down due to weak markets. It was reopened in late 2011 because of a $24 million investment, reinstating around 145 jobs. However, the mill closed again in 2019, this time forever.

The Economic downturns hit the tight-knit town hard following the 2019 mill closure. Increased demand at local food banks and concerns for young families were reported. Despite these setbacks, longtime residents like Pastor Ian Moilliet note the community's ability to “weather economic storms”. Moilliet said this in a Prince George Citizen News article, “Some people are pretty distraught. They just bought land or a house and they have to move on now. It's pretty difficult.” “It's discouraging, but we try to keep hope alive, I'm really trying to encourage people that there's something else around the corner. Don't be dismayed."