Established in 1884, Douglas Lake Cattle Company is one of Canada’s most iconic ranching operations, with a rich history that spans over a century. The company was originally established by Charles Beak, Joseph Greaves, Charles Thomson, and William Ward, just as the Canadian Pacific Railway completed its first transcontinental train trip. Beak, a seasoned cattle rancher, brought with him a wealth of experience and a large landholding of 22,000 acres in the Nicola Valley. Greaves, Thomson, and Ward were part of a cattle syndicate with the goal of securing a contract to supply beef for the railway.
By 1892, Beak sold his share of the company, and Greaves and Thomson continued their involvement until 1910, when Ward purchased their interests. Over the years, the ranch grew to encompass over 110,000 deeded acres, making it the largest and most influential ranch in Canada at the time. For several decades, it remained in the hands of the Ward family, who navigated both prosperous and challenging times, including the turbulent years of World War I and the Great Depression.
The changing landscape of ranching in the early 20th century brought new challenges, particularly as mechanization began replacing traditional horsepower. The Ward family sold the ranch in 1950 to Colonel Victor Spencer and William Studdert, with Frank Ross joining as a third owner in 1951. By then, Douglas Lake Cattle Company had expanded its holdings to 145,000 acres. In 1959, Spencer and Ross sold the ranch to Charles “Chunky” Woodward and John West, with Woodward becoming the sole owner after West’s passing in 1968.
The Woodward family continued to manage the ranch until 1998, when it was sold to Bernard J. Ebbers, a Canadian-born businessman from Jackson, Mississippi. In 2003, the ranch was sold again, this time to an American buyer.
Today, Douglas Lake Cattle Company continues to grow, acquiring additional properties over the years to expand its land base. In 2008, they purchased the Alkali Lake Ranch, followed by the James Cattle Company in 2012. In 2013, they acquired Quilchena Cattle Company, and in 2015, they added Riske Creek Ranching to their portfolio. Most recently, the company made another historic acquisition with the purchase of the Gang Ranch, further solidifying its position as a leader in Canadian ranching.
From its early days as a modest cattle operation to its current status as one of Canada’s largest and most well-known ranching enterprises, Douglas Lake Cattle Company’s history is a testament to the resilience and evolution of ranching in British Columbia.