06/09/2026
THORNHILL, BRITISH COLUMBIA was settled in 1892 by Tom Thornhill and his wife Eliza Wright. Thornhill, is recognized as the first permanent European settlement on this part of the Skeena River. As the pioneer settlement Thornhill paved the way for
1. Future development in the region.
2. Established agriculture as a cornerstone for the local economy.
3. Provided a foundation for the growth of future nearby communities.
Thornhills, Rich history and Legacy are a testament to the vision and perseverance of its founders.
THORNHILL LANDING,1892 : that is the start, Tom Thornhill and his wife Eliza Wright, sister of Kitselas chief Walter Wright ,settled on the West Bank of the Skeena River.
WHY THORNHILL LANDING became the early stop over location.
- Higher Ground : Thornhill Landing is the traditional Kitselas first nation fishing site on the west side above the main flood plain. Settlers arriving by riverboat, used it to restock and scout for Homestead land that wasn’t prone to Skeena flooding.
- FERRY CROSSING : The site later served as a vital docking point for a ferry across the Skeena River with anchoring rings, still visible on the rocks of the west side of the Skeena River today.
Terrace is built on low lying terraces/and an ancient flood plain of the Skeena River. City of Terrace‘s own history notes that Terrace was laid out on terraces or raised benches along the Skeena River, but those benches are still part of the active floodplain of the Skeena River , city of Terrace itself notes that low lying areas along Skeena street ,ferry Island and Fishermans Park to name a few areas prone to flooding during high water events. The province and city run flood watches and sandbag operations there regularly. That’s why you see ongoing spending on D***s, Tiger dams,gabion baskets, and pump stations etc. flood mitigation on a river like the Skeena can reduce risk, but it’s maintenance heavy because you’re managing a dynamic river system. For a river the size of the Skeena ,permanent elimination of flood risk isn’t feasible. The provinces flood strategy notes that floodplains are natural , and undeveloped . Floodplains are the most effective form of mitigation. once a community is built on a floodplains that approach becomes risk reduction , D***s, setbacks, early warning, and emergency prep. That does mean ongoing costs of maintenance monitoring and emergency response. The geography and history shows Terrace sits on a flood prone part of the Skeena River floodplain , which is why it’s always been a high maintenance location for flood control. Thornhill higher elevation is one of the reasons why it’s seen less flood exposure and why it’s growing faster recently. Prior to European settlement, the dominant Tsimshian villages were KitsumKalum and Kitselas located on higher ground west and east of present day Terrace. There was no permanent first nation villages at the exact Terrace town site.
The Skeena Valley has 10,000 years of Tsimshian occupation with villages and fortresses along the Kitselas Canyon and other banks, but the flood-prone flats where downtown Terrace sits were used seasonally for fishing, traveling, and temporary camps. Not for year-round settlement. The Kitselas and KitsumKalum people depended on the water source for salmon, transportation, and survival and knew which ground flooded and what grounds didn’t flood.
FLOODING = ongoing cost because Terrace is on the floodplain. It deals with regular high water events. The city and province spent millions on D***s over the decades. You can’t fix a floodplain permanently. You can only manage and maintain. Thornhills elevation is why it avoided that cycle and became the logical place for settlers to land and look for farmable ground. For a river, the size of the Skeena, permanent elimination of flood risks isn’t feasible. The provinces flood strategy notes that natural and undeveloped floodplains are most effective form of mitigation . Once a community is built on a flood plain their approach becomes risk reduction, D***s ,setbacks ,early warning and emergency prep.
That does mean ongoing costs for maintenance and monitoring an emergency response.
BOTTOM LINE - the geography and history of Terrace sits on a floodplain part of the Skeena floodplain, which is why it’s always been a high maintenance location for flood control. Thornhill elevation is why it’s seen less flood exposure.
-133 YEARS LATER : the first Thornhill Heritage Day was held at Thornhill Landing in 2025 to mark 133 years since Tom and Eliza built their home there. Chief counsellor Bennett noted. Thornhill lies within the Kitselas territory and highlighted the nations connection to SKeena riverboat travel and Thornhill Landing also commemorating the 100th anniversary of Thornhill’s iconic Skeena River Bridge.
YES - THORNHILL LANDING WAS THE 1892 FOOTHOLD PRECISELY BECAUSE IT WAS HIGH GROUND ABOVE THE FLOODING AND THE SAME GEOGRAPHY EXPLAINS WHY THE NEIGHBOUR TO THE WEST LOCATION HAS MEANT PERPETUAL FLOOD CONTROL COSTS INTO PERPETUITY
