History of Mackenzie, British Columbia

Mackenzie was named after the great Scottish explorer, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who traveled through this area in 1793 on his voyage to discover the Northwest Passage.  Sir Alexander drove himself and his men relentlessly by canoe and portage across the uncharted rivers, valleys, and mountains of North America.  He was the first explorer to cross the continent, opening it to trade and exploration.

In 1966, the District of Mackenzie was formally incorporated as a municipality.  The township is a small, modern community of approximately 5,200 people nestled in the heart of the forest industry.  Mackenzie is the gateway to Williston Lake, which is know as the "Biggest Dammed Lake in North America," created by W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River.  Mackenzie is located on Highway 39, 29 kilometres from Highway 97 North, placed at the base of the beautiful Omineca Mountain Range and positioned within the Rocky Mountain Trench at an eleveation of 701 metres.