Williams Lake, British Columbia
City of Williams Lake | |
|---|---|
 Welcome sign for Williams Lake | |
| Nickname(s): BC's Stampede Capital, Mural Capital of the Cariboo Chilcotin | |
  Williams Lake Where Williams Lake is located in British Columbia  Williams Lake Williams Lake (Canada) | |
| Coordinates: 52°07′45″N 122°08′24″W / 52.12917°N 122.14000°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Cariboo |
| Regional district | Cariboo |
| Incorporated | 1929 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Surinderpal Rathor |
| • Chief Administrative Officer | Gary Muraca |
| Area | |
| • Land | 33.13 km2 (12.79 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 69 m (226 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 12,017[1] |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Postal prefix | V2G |
| Area code(s) | 250, 778, 236, 672 |
| Website | City of Williams Lake website |
Williams Lake is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the Northwest region and is in the Skeena Country region.
The population of Williams Lake was 12,017 as reported by the 2021 Canadian census.[1] The mayor of Williams Lake is Surinderpal Rathor.[2] The city is known for its annual rodeo Williams Lake Stampede, which is the second-largest rodeo in Canada.[3]
Williams Lake is named after the Secwépemc chief William, whose helped protect the settlers in the area from a Tsilhqot'in uprising by stopping the Shuswap from joining it.[4] In 1860, Gold Commissioner Philip Henry Nind and constable William Pinchbeck were sent to Williams Lake to start the first government in the town.[5]
Thompson Rivers University has a campus located in Williams Lake.[6]
The city is home to the Williams Lake Stampeders of the Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL) and they play their home games at the Cariboo Memorial Complex.
References
- 1 2 "2021 Census Profile for Williams Lake, British Columbia". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Mayor & Council". City of Williams Lake. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Williams Lake Stampede". Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Chapter 2 - Williams Lake". City of Williams Lake. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Chapter 2 - Williams Lake". City of Williams Lake. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Williams Lake Campus: Thompson Rivers University". Thompson Rivers University. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
