Historic Sea to Sky village now open in final step of 20-year project | Daily Hive

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Travellers along the Sea to Sky Highway will now have another destination to stop at in the form of a historic mining village in Britannia Beach.

Britannia Village recently held its official grand opening, with a public tour, kids’ activities, an Indigenous welcome by members of the Squamish and Kwakwaka’wakw nations, and more.

The renewed Britannia Village occupies nine original mine town buildings, which have been restored and upgraded by lead architect Donal O’Callaghan in collaboration with historians.

Locals and visitors will discover a range of retail shops and services, a variety of restaurants, and family-friendly amenities during a trip to the village, which is described as the final step in a 20-year project to renew the Britannia Mine site.

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“The grand opening of Britannia Village marks the fulfillment of a dream which began 20 years ago when I acquired 10,000 acres at Britannia Beach,” said Rob Macdonald of Macdonald Communities in a release.

“The land included 200 km of Britannia mine shafts and tunnels, which were leaking three tons of copper into Howe Sound per day. Working with Premier Gordon Campbell and the Provincial Government, we were able to facilitate the cleanup of the mine, which sparked the remarkable environmental renewal of Howe Sound.”

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According to the Britannia Mine Museum, which is situated across the street from the village, the mine was the largest copper producer in the British Empire in the late 1920s. Underground tunnels supplied raw ore and produced copper and zinc concentrates.

It was operational as a mine until 1974, and it reopened in 1975 as a museum. The current neighbourhood now includes 100 new homes and 73 new townhouses, according to Macdonald.

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Britannia Village’s selection of shops, services and restaurants includes Autostrada Oyster Bar & Grill, Beaucoup Bakery, Copper & Fern Boutique, Kawartha Dairy, Copper Beach Kitchen & Bar, and the General Store.

Guests can also visit Memorial Park, which is home to a specially commissioned artwork by Squamish Nation carver Jim Charlie.

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There are also 10 EV charging stations, accessible public washrooms, a wi-fi hotspot, a new kids’ adventure playground, and an interpretive trail along Britannia Creek to discover.

“These developments, crowned by the opening of Britannia Village, have brought Britannia Beach back to life,” added Macdonald. “I consider the restoration of this historical and ecological zone in Howe Sound to be the most important thing I have done in my long life of development.”