The community of Thornhill is an unincorporated settlement of approximately 5,000 people on the south side of the Skeena River immediately across from the City of Terrace, British Columbia. It is connected to Terrace by the Old Skeena Bridge and the Dudley Little Bridge also known as 'the new bridge', and is the fastest growing settlement west of Prince George.
Thornhill was named after Thomas Job Thornhill, the first white man to settle on the Skeena River below Little Canyon. Born in Kent, England 1855 and raised in Victoria BC, Thomas was in the Fraser Valley where he met Eliza Wright, Sister of Kitselas Chief, Walter Wright. As well as Hereditary Chiefs, there are Elected Chiefs of Bands and Walter Wright's son George, held that position until it was taken over by the present elect Chief, Walter Wright's Grandson, Ralph Wright. The Wright Family currently live with their people on Queensway on the banks of the Skeena River which their ancestors controlled at Little Canyon for so many years.
Tom and Eliza came north in 1892, up the Skeena by canoe and built their cabin. From here, Eliza trapped and hunted, while Tom worked in the Steamboat Trade. 1907 Thornhill sold off some his property at Little Canyon to Charles W. D. Clifford, please note reference to Little is not in reference to George Little, but instead in reference to the opposite of "big".
Eliza died on her trapline in 1907 and Tom died in Prince Rupert, July 15, 1910.
Today, nothing remains of their garden except a few gnarled apple trees, but Thornhill Mountain smiles down upon their homestead and Eliza and Thornhill Creeks flow as surely as did the hospitality of Tom and Eliza Thornhill so many years ago.
Thornhill rests in the Traditional Territory of the Kitselas Nation. Kitselas Traditional Territory stretches from the Pacific Ocean on British Columbia’s North Coast, about 200 kilometres inland, to the Skeena River Valley. The Kitselas have thrived in this territory for close to 5,000 years and continue to live and work in this rich landscape. Thornhill and the Voice of Thornhill recognizes this privilege to be able to live and conduct discussions in this beautiful territory.