focal point for settlers all over the eastern part of Maple Ridge as well as Glen Valley across the Fraser and on lands across the Stave River. Whonnock soon boasted, aside from a railway station, a post office, a school, and a general store, amenities not available elsewhere for some time. Added to that were a growing number of churches. Most of the new residents were of British descent and came from other parts of Canada, but other nationalities were also here. Norwegian immigrants and their descendants played a significant part in the history of the community. In general the settlers made their livelihood fishing and logging. Subsistence farming was essentially the only kind of farming in this mostly poor neighbourhood but, as elsewhere in Maple Ridge, a few residents developed small-scale commercial fruit growing and poultry farming. There was a small number of affluent permanent or summer residents – hobby "rangers" – who could afford employing others to do the manual work. From the 1920s until their expulsion in 1942, the Japanese settlers – a large part of the population – made use of the slopes facing south for extensive berry farming. Lumberyards and mills continue to be active on the waterfront until the present day although today on a smaller scale than before. Women, through the church and other organizations, played an important part in the shaping of community life. In 1912 they created and started operating a community hall that remained the centre of social activities for some forty years. Current Many people keep horses, and have poultry, sheep, goats and llamas. There are some small tree and fruit farms. Whonnock Lake Park Whonnock Lake is a typical bog lake. The only regular water input is from the north. There is an exit to Whonnock Creek on the south-east side. Whonnock Lake Park offers a stand of mature trees, a grassy playground, and a small sandy beach, which allow swimming, hiking, and nature study. The park is home to native plants and thriving colonies of beavers and muskrats, as well as to breeding populations of loons, mallard ducks, and numerous small birds. The lake is stocked annually with rainbow trout, and supports a substantial recreational fishery. Whonnock Lake Centre In 1988 the Whonnock Community Association opened Whonnock Lake Centre in Whonnock Lake Park. In 2013, after taking care of the operation of the Centre for 25 years,