When Killam joined the Canadian Army in 1918, he was 54 years old, but he told the recruiter he was only 44 years old, still young enough to qualify for military service. After the war, he moved back to southern California until old age forced him to stay with his son in Vancouver until his death on October 26, 1945 at the age of 83.

Other than that, we don't know much about G.C. Killam. His stay in Smithers would have been forgotten except that he carried his camera and tripod and recorded the hearty pioneers and the excitement of life on a new frontier.

So, what was happening in the Bulkley Valley when Killam was here? The big news was the coming of the railroad. Now it was possible to ship farm products and mine ore by rail to the rest of the world. Farmers came to preempt and homestead Crown land and prospectors and miners came to work the claims for gold, sliver and lead.

New retail businesses followed and roads and trails were built up and down local valleys and mountains. Many of our local hiking trails we enjoy today were built by the Provincial government for prospectors who hauled ore concentrate out by mule or packhorse.