By Grant Warkentin
A team of archaeologists is carefully excavating what used to be the Dairy Queen parking lot in downtown Campbell River.
In late March, while demolishing the foundations of the old building to make way for new construction, workers uncovered archaeological artifacts at the north edge of the property. The city says the discovery includes “remnants of tool-making and fire-altered rock.”
Guardians from the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai Nations are working with a team of archaeologists who are now on-site, working to determine the extent of the archaeological area in accordance with the Provincial Heritage Conservation Act.
This week the team is working in two shallow pits on site, carefully sifting through the dirt and rocks to search for any more artifacts and historical evidence of human activity.
The city estimates the site work will continue through July. Once complete, the city will need to get additional provincial permitting before construction can begin on the new building planned for the block (see below for more details).
Before the Tyee Plaza was created in 1964-1965 by filling in the foreshore, what we now know as Shoppers’ Row from 11th Avenue to 16th Avenue was the original highway, and ran right along the waterfront. The site currently under excavation once sat right above the high tide line, overlooking mudflats that served as habitat for juvenile salmon and shorebirds.
The Strathcona Standard has reached out to the city to find out if the discovery will have any impacts on the timelines and costs for the downtown revitalization project.
Featured image: Archaeologists are excavating the former Dairy Queen parking lot along Shoppers Row after construction crews found evidence of pre-contact human activity. Photo by Grant Warkentin
Reimagine The Row
The block from the corner of Shoppers Row and 13th Avenue north to Robert’s Reach is currently being transformed as part of the city’s “Reimagine the Row” project.
“The intention of these purchases and their subsequent redevelopment is to increase the sense of vibrancy and safety downtown via the development of a mixed-use building that includes purpose-built middle-income rental housing that helps address the city’s low rental vacancy rate, with 10% of the units being rented below market rates,” says the city’s description of the project. “In addition to housing, the city envisions a variety of commercial, retail and civic uses at the ground level of the development that aims to invigorate and animate both Shoppers Row and 13th Avenue.”
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