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Dimps Horn

Life & Stories in Central BC

Locals in Nature’s Heartland

In Nature’s Heartland in central British Columbia, dramatic canyons and ancient volcanoes draw you in, but it’s the layered history of the people that defines this place.

Across the Cariboo Plateau and Chilcotin grasslands, Indigenous Peoples were the original stewards of the land, and they continue to care for it. Later, generations of ranchers and Gold Rush settlers built their lives on the land. The stories, true grit, and rich history of these communities are part of the landscape, shaping what this place is today.

We toured through Nature’s Heartland to find out what it’s like to live here. The locals are practical, self-reliant, and unafraid to tell it like it is. Doors are open, kettles are on, and conversations come easy. Watch the short doc-style videos below to meet a few locals who call this place home.

person standing close to a horse holding the bridle

Dimps Horn

If you calculate the distance Dimps Horn has ridden on horseback, she would have travelled around the globe twice. As owner and operator of Watch Lake Lodge, she saddles up each day in her favourite place on Earth. As she readies her steed for the next adventure, Dimps reflects on her 75 years of living on the Cariboo Plateau in Nature’s Heartland.

person holding a torch in a welding shop

Stewart Cawood

An actor in an 1800s Gold Rush ghost town? It may sound unusual, but that’s exactly what Stewart Cawood does at Barkerville Historic Town & Park near Wells, BC. As he steps into the role of a historical character, he sees parallels between past and present; proof that some legends never fade.

person standing outside with mountains in the background

Florence Jack

Is there a place your heart calls home? For Florence Jack, home is in St’át’imc Territory, in the Bridge River Valley near Lillooet, BC. This “valley of plenty” is central to St’át’imc traditions that make her who she is today. Florence shares how family, cultural identity, and connection with the land have drawn her back home, just like the salmon returning each year.

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