Donald Cemetery: A Place Where Golden’s Earliest Stories Rest

Long before Golden became the community we know today, the town of Donald stood as the CPR’s major divisional point in the Columbia Valley. In the late 1800s, Donald was a bustling settlement of railway workers, families, merchants, and labourers — a place where people lived, worked, celebrated, and mourned. When members of that early community passed away, they were laid to rest on a quiet hillside overlooking the valley. That burial ground is now known as the Donald Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the region.

When the town of Donald declined after the CPR relocated its operations, the cemetery remained — a silent witness to the earliest days of settlement in the valley. Over time, the Golden & District Historical Society took ownership of the site to ensure it would be protected, respected, and cared for. Today, the cemetery stands as one of the most important historic landscapes in the area, containing the graves of railway workers, pioneers, children, and families whose lives shaped the beginnings of Golden and the surrounding communities.

To help share the stories held within this remarkable place, the Historical Society hosts an annual fall presentation at the cemetery. These excursions offer visitors a chance to walk among the historic graves, learn about the people buried there, and understand the role Donald played in the development of the Columbia Valley. The talks are now led by Denice Darbyshire, who brings history to life through thoughtful storytelling and careful research. Each visit offers something new — a name rediscovered, a story clarified, or a moment of connection with the past.

A date has not yet been chosen for this year’s excursion, but we encourage visitors to check back often. The Donald Cemetery presentations have become a cherished tradition, and we look forward to welcoming the community again soon to share in the history, memory, and quiet beauty of this remarkable site.