Welcome to Resisterville

A compelling story of Vietnam-era American migrants to the West Kootenays and of the idealistic society they inspired.

A compelling, highly readable study of American migration to the West Kootenays and of the counterculture values that created a vibrant society in the Canadian wilderness.

Between 1965 and 1975, thousands of American migrants traded their established lives for a new beginning in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. Some were non-violent resisters who opposed the war in Vietnam. But a larger group was inspired by the ideals of the 1960s counterculture and the New Left and, hoping to flee the restrictive demands of their parents’ world and the pressures of city life, they set out to build a peaceful, egalitarian society in the Canadian wilderness.

Even today, their success is evident, as values like equality, sustainability, and creativity still define community life. This fascinating history draws on interviews and archival records to explore the root causes of this bold migration and its role in creating a region that continues to be a hotbed of social and environmental experimentation. Welcome to Resisterville is both an important look at an untold chapter in Canadian history and a compelling story of enduring idealism.