Film Location Resource Guide - Golden BC

Photo from Tourism Golden
Film Location Resource Guide

From every direction, Golden, BC
is a great location!
Golden (a.k.a. Kicking Horse Country) includes the
town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional
District (CSRD) Area A.
Coming from the east, Golden is the gateway to
the Province of British Columbia and the majestic
Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges. From the west,
Golden is nestled at the foot of the Canadian Rocky
Mountains. From the South, you’ll experience the
Columbia River Wetlands – a 180km long stretch of
pristine wetlands that over 300 species of birds and
mammals call home. To top it off, we’re right in the
heart of six of Canada’s most impressive National
Parks: Banff, Jasper, Glacier, Yoho, Kootenay and
Mount Revelstoke. Our Downtown is located right
beside the confluence of the mighty Columbia
and the historic Kicking Horse rivers where you’ll
find Canada’s longest single-span, timber frame
pedestrian bridge.
Golden Area Initiatives is a joint venture between
the Town of Golden and Area A of the CSRD.
Leading, facilitating, and supporting community
economic development within this region is the
role of the Golden Area Initiatives office.
We are pleased to assist film producers and
production companies in finding ideal locations
and services within the CSRD. We maintain a
comprehensive locations database in conjunction
with the Columbia Shuswap Film Commission
(www.filmcolumbiashuswap.com).

Introduction
Photo from Tourism Golden

Contact Information
Denise Wheelhouse
Communication and Project Coordinator
Golden Area Initiatives
111 Golden Donald Upper Rd., PO Box 20190
Golden, BC V0A 1H0
Office: 250-344-2420
Cell: 250-272-8258
Email: film@goldenbritishcolumbia.com
Website: www.livegoldenbc.ca
Liaison
Robyn Cyr
Film Commissioner
Columbia Shuswap Film Commission
PO Box 978, 781 Marine Park Dr. NE
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P1
Office: 250.833.5928
Email: film@csrd.bc.ca
Website: www.filmcolumbiashuswap.com
Mary Jo Beirnes & Michael Jamont
Locations Consultants
Columbia Shuswap Film Commission
Cell: 250-515-2894 • Alt. Cell: 250-515-2951
Email: filmcsrd@gmail.com
Photo of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
photographed by Adam Sherriff

Photo of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort photographed by Scott Thumlert
Reasons to Make Golden, BC
Your Location:
No Permits and No Filming Fees!
Access to Backcountry
Access to Specialists
Local Businesses
People
Foreign and domestic productions in
British Columbia can access a variety of
provincial and federal tax credit programs
and if eligibility requirements are met,
a producer can combine them to access
exceptional savings.
To learn more about BC Tax
Credits, visit:
British Columbia Film Commission (BCFC)
Website: www.bcfilmcommission.com
British Columbia Film + Media
Website: www.bcfm.ca
Filming in Golden
Tax Credits

Population
According to the 2011 Census, there are 3701
people living within the Town of Golden and
3065 residents in the CSRD Area A.
Location
Golden is strategically located on two of Canada’s
largest transportation routes – the Canadian
Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway.
It is at the junction of the Trans Canada Highway
and Provincial Hwy 95, on the path of the
Canadian Pacific Railway line, and at the western
edge of the Canadian Rockies. Golden is located
approximately 268 kilometres West of Calgary,
Alberta and 713 kilometres East of Vancouver, BC.
Golden Background Information
Planes, Trains and
Automobiles
Planes: Golden is only a 2.5
hour drive from both the Calgary
International Airport
(www.calgaryairport.com) and the
Canadian Rockies International
Airport in Cranbrook, BC
(www.cranbrookairport.com).
Golden Municipal Airport (CYGE)
is an airfield with 1 paved runway
that is 4500 x 75 feet (1372 x 23
m). To learn more, visit the Town of
Golden’s website:
www.golden.ca

Trains: Golden is along the
Canadian Pacific Railway
route and has mechanical and
engineering services as well
as operations facility located
within the town.
The Rocky Mountaineer is the
only passenger rail service on
this line and passes through
Golden on the Canadian Rockies
route that continues into Yoho
and Banff National Parks.
Automobiles: Thanks to
our location on the Trans-
Canada Highway, Golden is
very accessible by car. Hwy. 95 starts in Golden
and follows the Rocky Mountain Trench south
straight to the U.S. Boarder where it continues
through as Interstate 95 into Idaho, Oregon, and
Nevada.
Photo from Tourism Golden
The Governments of BC and Canada continue to
invest in the Kicking Horse Canyon Project which
is upgrading and expanding the Trans-Canada
Highway between Golden and Yoho National
Park to make it safer and faster for you to get to
Golden.
Canada’s Pacific Gateway Program will see the
upgrading of the Trans Canada Highway and
road connections to the US Border. For more
information visit: www.kickinghorsecanyon.ca
and www.th.gov.bc.ca/PacificGateway/

Driving Times and Distances
Starting Point Driving Time Kilometres Miles
Lake Louise AB 1 hour 81 50
Banff AB 1 hr 45 min 137 85
Calgary AB 3 hours 268 166
Jasper AB 4 hours 307 192
Edmonton AB 6 ½ hours 562 349
Radium Hot Springs 1 hr 15 min 105 66
Invermere 1 hr 30 min 120 75
Fairmont Hot Springs 1 hr 40 min 138 86
Kimberley 3 hours 237 147
Cranbrook 3 hours 250 155
US border Hwy/I93 4 hours 330 206
Rogers Pass (Glacier N.P.) 1 hour 80 50
Revelstoke 1 hr 50 min 149 92
Vancouver 9 hours 713 443
Photo from Tourism Golden

Climate
Golden has four distinct seasons with fluctuations in temperature and precipitation
between seasons. From the warm sunny days of spring giving birth to new life, to the
bright colours of fall, the powder days of winter and the long hot days of summer.
Average Temperature, Precipitation and Snow Depth for Golden
Daily Avg Temp Avg. Rainfall Avg. Snowfall Avg. Snow Depth
Month °C °F mm inches cm inches cm inches
January -9.7 14.5 4.9 0.2 49.4 19.4 34.0 13.4
February -5.2 22.6 5.1 0.2 24.8 9.8 35.0 13.8
March 0.4 32.7 11.0 0.4 10.7 4.2 18.0 7.1
April 6.2 43.2 19.6 0.8 2.5 1.0 1.0 0.4
May 11.1 52.0 35.3 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.0
June 14.7 58.5 45.7 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
July 17.1 62.8 47.7 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
August 16.5 61.7 46.7 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
September 11.3 52.3 38.3 1.5 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0
October 4.9 40.8 29.9 1.2 2.5 1.0 0.0 0.0
November -2.5 27.5 22.4 0.9 29.5 11.6 5.0 2.0
December -8.4 16.9 6.6 0.3 49.3 19.4 18.0 7.1
Source: Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000
Golden Airport Weather Station: Latitude: 51°17’54” N; Longitude: 116°58’54” W; Elevation: 785 m (2 575 feet)
Average Snowfall at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Elevation Snowfall
m feet cm inches
Lower Mountain 1,300 4,263 252 100
Mid Mountain 1,722 5,646 360 142
Alpine Snow Stations 2,150 7,049 650 256
Summit Snow Stations 2,450 8,033 750 295
Source: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort -
http://www.kickinghorseresort.com/mountain/information/mountain-stats.aspx
Photo of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort photographed by Andrew Mirabito

Physical Environment
Golden is situated in the Kootenay region of southeastern
British Columbia, and lies between two
mountain ranges – the Purcell Mountains and the
Rocky Mountains, and at the junction of two heritage
rivers – the Columbia River and the Kicking Horse River.
Although most of British Columbia is in the Pacific
Time Zone, Golden is located in the Mountain Time
Zone along with other East Kootenay communities
south to Cranbrook.
The Kicking Horse River is one of the wildest, most
intense waterways in Canada. The Kicking Horse River
boasts unparalleled whitewater rafting excitement
with 5 rafting companies operating on the river.
Photo of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort photographed by Alex Giesbrecht
Golden is home to the highest concentration
of Powder Providers (including ski resorts,
backcountry touring huts, helicopter and catskiing
operations, and snowmobile outfitters)
in the world:
Average of 10 metres (32ft) of champagne
powder in surrounding 3 mountain ranges –
Purcells, Selkirks and Rockies
The birthplace of Heli skiing - the Bugaboos
4 Heli skiing operators
1 cat skiing operator
20 backcountry lodges with great ski touring
terrain
Famous Rogers Pass, ski touring capital of
the world, is only 80 km from Golden
13 snowmobiling areas
4 snowmobile guiding outfitters
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort:
14km from downtown Golden
Legendary for quality powder and
astounding vertical
Direct access to numerous peaks and valleys
of ski touring slackcountry from Kicking
Horse Mountain Resort
KHMR has the highest elevation of any ski
resort in BC. The summit sits at 2450 metres
(8,033 ft). The difference in elevation
between the Town of Golden and Eagle
Eye’s Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain
Resort is 1,562 metres (5,126 ft)

Locales and Attractions
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Facilities
Columbia River Wetlands –
tours, canoeing, etc.
Edelweiss (Swiss Village)
Golden & District
Arena
Golden & District Museum
Golden Cinema
Golden Civic Centre
Golden Curling Club
Golden Freeride Park
(skateboarding, biking)
Golden Library (Okanagan
Regional Library)
Golden Municipal Swimming
Pool & Wading Pool
(Outdoor)
Golden Outdoor Gym
Golden Snowmobile Club
Trails
Gushers Spray Park
Photo from Chatter Creek photographed by Alain Sleigher
Keith King Memorial park –
baseball & soccer fields
Kicking Horse River white
water rafting
Kicking Horse Pedestrian
Bridge
Mount 7 for hiking, biking &
paragliding, etc.
Mount 7 Recreational
Complex
Moonraker & Canyon Creek
mountain biking trail system
Rotary Trails for hiking,
biking & cycling
Pump Track & Skills Park
(biking)
Tennis & Basketball Courts
Parks & Playgrounds:
Kinsmen (“Clown Park”) &
Dogwood Park (“Train Park”)
Tourist Attractions
Dogtooth Climbing Gym
Golden Golf & Country Club
Golden Municipal
Campground
Grizzly Bear Refuge at Kicking
Horse Mountain Resort
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Kicking Horse Pedestrian
Bridge
Northern Lights Wolf Centre
National & Provincial Parks
Banff National Park
Bugaboo Provincial Park
Glacier National Park
Jasper National Park
Kootenay National Park
Mt Revelstoke National Park
Yoho National Park

Contacts
Emergency Services Information
911 For Emergency Situations
Ambulance: 250-344-6226
RCMP: 250-344-2221
Fire: 250-344-6401
Golden and District Hospital
835 9 th Ave S
250-344-5271
Town of Golden
David Allen
Chief Administrative Officer
810 9th Ave. South, Box 350
Golden, British Columbia V0A 1H0
Office: 250-344-2271 ext. 228
Email: cao@golden.ca
Website: www.golden.ca
BC Film Contacts
British Columbia Film Commission (BCFC)
201 - 865 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 2G3
Office: 604 660 2732
Email: info@bcfilmcommission.com
Website: http://www.bcfilmcommission.com/
British Columbia Film + Media
2225 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E4
Office: 604-736-7997
Email: bcf@bcfilm.bc.ca
Website: http://www.bcfm.ca/
Telefilm Canada – Western Region
609 Granville Street, Suite 410
Vancouver, BC
Office: (604) 666-1566
Toll-free: 1-800-663-7771
Email: info@telefilm.ca
Website: http://www.telefilm.ca/
Photo from Tourism Golden