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Williams Lake  is found in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest urban centre between Kamloops and Prince George. The population in the city limits is approximately 11,150 but the City and market area is approximately 25,120.It is in the heart of the frontier amid lakes and rolling ranch land. Williams Lake has been the focal point and service centre for the ranches of the Cariboo and Chilcotin regions since the turn of the 20th century.

History
Williams Lake is named in honor of Secwepemc chief William, whose counsel prevented the Shuswap from joining the Chilcotin in their uprising against the settlers. The story of Williams Lake began in 1860 during the Cariboo Gold Rush when Gold Commissioner Philip Henry Nind and Constable William Pinchbeck arrived from Victoria to organize a local government and maintain law and order. Eventually, there would come the inevitable influx of European fur traders and gold prospectors where the encampment flourished to become a small service centre. This was in spite of the area being bypassed in 1863 by the Cariboo Wagon Road. It was not until the arrival of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in 1919 that its recovery was launched. The village appeared not long after this around the original train station. This old building was renovated and still sits at the foot of Oliver Street. It also houses the Station House Gallery.

The Wild West Flavour
Williams Lake became a modern commercial centre and hub for all of the outlying regions. It has managed to maintain a decidedly western frontier character that is celebrated every year at the Williams Lake Stampede. This is one of the largest celebrations of its kind in North America. It features local, national and international contestants. You will find it operating for the most part on the Canada Day weekend where this four-day event dominates with a host of homegrown events. Some of the more popular events include the Pony Chariot Races, Team Cattle Penning, Wild Cow Milking and the Pony Express Race. As with any stampede, there will be the search for the Stampede Queen and Princess.

Land of Diversity
There is much to explore in the Cariboo region. To the east you can find gold rush country and cedar forests. To the west lies the expanse of the Chilcotin Plateau that kisses the Pacific Ocean at Bella Coola. North is the city of Prince George and beyond this lies Alaska. In the opposite direction lies the much drier climate of the Thompson-Okanagan region. Continue further south and west, and you find the Lower Mainland.

Xats'ull Heritage Village
It is possible to experience the deeply spiritual culture of the Shuswap people at the native Xats'ull Heritage Village. The village has been occupied for over 4,000 years. Today you will find less than 1,000 people who live near by the actual heritage site. There are one-day cultural programs. These include tours of the village, mini workshops on toolmaking, basket-making, traditional story telling and food preparation. It also affords the opportunity to experience the lifestyle of the Native peoples of the Shuswap area with traditional overnight stays in Pit Houses or Tee Pees.

The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin gives visitors a glimpse into how all of the peoples of the area converged and brought the Cariboo Chilcotin to where she is now. From First Nations people to the first settlers of the gold rush to the ranchers, there are many interesting stories here to entertain and inform.

Scout Island Nature Centre on Williams Lake offers a unique opportunity to view shorebirds and waterfowl that populate the wetland marsh. It is located at the west end of the community of Williams Lake, connected to the mainland by a vehicle causeway. There are exceptional viewing opportunities of wildlife from blinds and the 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of well-groomed trails. Here is a naturalists dream, with a profusion of ospreys, bald eagles, black-capped chickadees, yellow-headed blackbird, marsh wren, Brewer's blackbird, great blue heron, hooded merganser, swallows, flycatchers, gulls, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Animals often include red foxes, mink, river otters, beavers and muskrats. The Nature House features natural history displays where you can study local ecosystems. The centre also has a boat launch, providing easy paddling around the island and marsh areas.

West of Williams Lake, the 1,368-kilometre long Fraser River has the notoriety of being the longest river that flows entirely within British Columbia. It is also considered to be the world's greatest salmon stream.

The Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser system is one of the best-known river systems in British Columbia for River Rafting. The Lava Canyon on the Chilko River is a world-class run with continuous Class IV rapids, and a very high level of risk.

Surrounded by the hills of Chilcotin Country, the Williams Lake Golf Club overlooks the community of Williams Lake, offering scenic views, rolling terrain, and a variety of holes.

From cross-country and downhill skiing to snowboarding, snowmobiling and even Dog Sledding, there are plenty of winter sports to entertain locals and visitors through the winters.