Nestled in the Robson Valley region of British Columbia, Canada, McBride is a charming village surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains and Cariboo Ranges. Located 210 km southeast of Prince George, British Columbia, and 166 km west of Jasper, Alberta, McBride offers a unique blend of history, culture, and outdoor adventure.
Founded in 1913 as Mile 90 of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, McBride was named after the serving premier, Sir Richard McBride. The village's early industries were rail, shipping, forest harvesting, and the agricultural development of the valley. The opening of Highway 16 (Yellowhead) in 1970 transformed access to McBride, enabling vehicles to travel through the valley. Today, McBride's economy is supported by the railroad, forestry, tourism, small businesses, and agriculture, with barley, oats, forage crops, and pasture being the main agricultural activities.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, McBride had a population of 588 living in 266 of its 325 total private dwellings, a change of -4.5% from its 2016 population of 616. With a land area of 4.62 km2, it had a population density of 127.3/km2 in 2021.
McBride is served by the Jasper-Prince Rupert train operated by Via Rail, connecting the village with Prince George and Prince Rupert, as well as Jasper eastwards three times a week.
The McBride Community Forest Corporation (MCFC), owned by the Village of McBride, was established in 2002 to manage community forest tenure for the village and the surrounding area. MCFC manages "the forest for all of its product potential rather than just timber," serving the social, economic, and environmental needs of McBride's forest industry.
The McBride Hospital and Health Centre provides a variety of services to the community and surrounding area, including an emergency room, acute care beds, x-ray and lab services, acupuncture, and massage therapy. A BC ambulance station is located in McBride beside the hospital, with 911 services available to McBride and the surrounding areas.
McBride offers diverse outdoor attractions for all seasons. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing, while the warmer months allow for hiking, camping, fishing, and bird watching. The village also houses the McBride and District Public Library and the Valley Museum and Archives, showcasing the unique history and culture of the Robson Valley.
Main Street in McBride offers a variety of unique stores for visitors and locals to explore. The focal point of Main Street is the historic train station, built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1913, rebuilt in 1919 after a fire, and purchased by the Village of McBride in 1996. The station houses the Whistle Stop gallery, McBride's Visitor Information Centre, and a locally owned coffee shop, The Beanery.
McBride experiences a relatively wet climate, especially in the summer, with precipitation occurring on average 21 days during the month of July.
