Today's trip back in time ventures into Northern BC.

Vernon-based historian and videographer Francois Arseneault has unearthed footage from the Peace Region of the province, featuring Ft. St. John in 1966.

“A town of 6,700 people in the mid 1960s, the oil boom was gaining speed and the city was well positioned to service the growing oil and gas industry,” Arseneault said. “Despite being a small town about to become a city, life was still quite rural. In summer, days are long, winters can be harsh but make for great tobogganing.”

Arseneault said there “are plenty of little gems waiting to be rediscovered in this footage” including an unidentified ferry on a small river, a Canadian Army Hillier helicopter visiting possibly from Edmonton and many faces in the crowds.

“The unveiling of the Ft. St. John 'Welcome' billboard appears to have been a big deal. I suspect longtime residents will be able to shed more light on this subject,” Arseneault said.

The footage also features a parade.

“The film is yet another reel that was found in a flea market in Vancouver and really deserves to be shared,” he said.

Arseneault is always looking for more information on the vintage footage he digs up, and he encourages people to add their input in the comments section on his Youtube page.

Arseneault has an extensive collection of vintage footage, and he is always looking for more.

He currently has more than 1,000 episodes from 54 countries dating back to 1917.

Anyone who may have old 16 mm or 8 mm film footage is invited to email Arseneault at [email protected].