Golden, B.C. > From the time the town of Golden was first founded in 1882 for its rich natural resources, its hardworking residents knew it was a special place. On horseback, by raft, on skis and on foot, Golden's early settlers also became its first adventurers.

Along with the Trans Canada Highway, came a new economy - tourism. And while the industry was largely undeveloped, visitors to the area were captivated by its beauty. In 2000, Dutch giant Ballast Nedham was chosen by visionary and architect Oberto Oberti to develop the local ski hill - then called Whitetooth. With Ballast Nedham at the helm as the project manager and major shareholder, the newly re-named Kicking Horse Mountain Resort took off and drove skier visits from 22,000 prior to their takeover to over 90,000 in just 3 years.

Today, Golden's residents and municipal government are recognizing and embracing the town's shifting economy. Outdoor recreation, adventure activity operators, tourist accommodation and service providers are Golden's new visionaries. Golden is experiencing economic growth not seen since the Canadian Pacific Railway laid its tracks at the turn of the century.