TRANSPORTATION CENTRE OF THE FAR NORTHEAST
"HOME TO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES"

Regional & Community Profile

LOCATION

The Northern Rockies Regional District is situated in the northeast corner of British Columbia. The Town of Fort Nelson, the regional district's only municipality, is located at Historical Mile 300 on the Alaska Highway, 454 km north of Dawson Creek. The area of the regional district (85,808 km²) comprises approximately 10% of the total area of the province.

CLIMATE

Situated at an elevation of 1,383 feet, Fort Nelson enjoys a dry climate with an annual average precipitation of 448.5 mm (17.7") and 106 frost free days. The average temperature November through February is -18EC and June through August, 15.5EC. Temperature in summer is often in the 30's and in winter it can dip to -40EC. Although not the norm, we do occasionally experience significant wind chill.

Some of the most spectacular occurrences in the Fort Nelson skies are the phenomenal 'Northern Lights'. These displays can occur just about anytime of year but are most readily visible during the winter months. Our clear northern skies and vantage point are also attractions to scientists who come to Fort Nelson to observe and record events taking place within the cosmos.

Originally established as a fur trading post in the early 1800's, Fort Nelson today is a modern, thriving community with a regional/municipal population estimated at 6,400 year round. The community also experiences seasonal population increases. In winter, logging and rig activities bring in approximately 2,000 people, and during the summer tourism season, April through September, about 140,000 visitors travel through the area.

The Fort Nelson area has experienced dramatic growth due to forest and petroleum industry expansions, beginning 1985 and particularly since 1989. Offered here are a wide variety of natural resources including extensive forests, natural gas, oil, sulphur, and developing agricultural land. One of the main opportunities for present and future industrial and economic development is the area's ability to offer the services necessary to transport to major markets and to produce goods here for worldwide export. Most of the development and employment opportunities lie in resource extraction but with an increasing emphasis on the area's reputation as a regional transportation and service centre.

Fort Nelson's transportation infrastructure is well developed and meets the current needs of the local economy. Besides having the 'world famous' Alaska Highway as its main street, the community has an excellent airport with daily scheduled flights provided by Air Canada Regional Airlines and Peace Air. Greyhound Canada offers daily passenger services to and from the area and also located here is BC Rail that provides industrial transportation for local industries. Courier and freight services are readily available by air or ground via Air Canada Regional Airlines, Canadian Freightways, Greyhound, Loomis, Purolator, "hot shot" trucking services and other transport companies located here. Due to Fort Nelson's location, facilities and services, the community has become known as the Transportation Centre of the Far Northeast.

Located in Fort Nelson is North America's largest gas processing plant, Westcoast Energy; and one of the leading plywood\lumber mills in British Columbia, Slocan Group - Tackama Division. In 1995 Slocan constructed an oriented strand board plant, Polar Board Division and the plant itself is the largest industrial building of its kind in BC. Through its two operations, Slocan is Fort Nelson's principal employer.

Fort Nelson's service industry is an integral and growing sector of the local economy for two reasons. First, this sector is a major employer within the area, and second, it provides essential services to the other sectors of the economy including the petroleum, forestry, and mining industries.

Tourism is also very important to the region and is a sector with tremendous growth potential. The spectacular scenery and abundance of wildlife are of global significance and make Fort Nelson a world class destination for adventure tourism, fly-in fishing and big game guide\outfitting. There are nine provincial parks, recreation areas and campgrounds within the Regional District including the renowned Liard Hot Springs. The area is also home to the Northern Rockies Protected Area that is gaining distinction world wide.

The region is a bustling centre for the accommodation and hospitality industry and is well served through its hotels and motels, restaurants, as well as several private campgrounds and prestigious new resorts. Opened in1997 is a new 91 suite hotel complete with dining and convention facilities.

Fort Nelson has many culture and recreation facilities that provide an excellent quality of life for its residents. Included are: a large multi-purpose recreation centre that contains an arena for hockey and skating during the winter and for roller skating and other activities during the summer; the centre also houses a five sheet curling rink with lounge and viewing area. These excellent facilities attract major sports events to the community on an ongoing basis.

Next to the recreation centre are Fort Nelson's tennis courts and skateboard park and nearby, is the Aquatic Centre that includes a 25-metre swimming pool, swirlpool and sauna. The 275 seat performing arts\movie theatre, the Phoenix Theatre, was completed in 1992 and has greatly enriched the quality of life for area residents.

Fort Nelson is home to the 9-hole, championship calibre, Poplar Hills Golf and Country Club. This scenic course has a driving range, putting green, pro shop, carts and equipment rentals, and inside the clubhouse, a concession and lounge. In addition, the community has a full facility library, a community forest, and a seasonal historical museum and Visitor Information Centre. A multi-facility, privately owned sports-plex was constructed in 1996 that houses an 8-lane bowling alley, racquetball courts, banquet facilities, and an outdoor driving range.

Activities are abundant for enthusiasts of winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Each year the community is host to the Canadian Open Sled Dog Competition that attracts competitors from all over the world.

HOUSING

Fort Nelson's residential property taxation is among the lowest in British Columbia. The average cost of a basic 1,100 ft.² - 1,200 ft.² home is approximately $135,000. The average rental rate for a 2-bedroom apartment is $650 per month. Currently the rental market vacancy rate is about 0% - as at February, 2001. To meet residential demand, four new residential subdivisions have been constructed in recent years - two within the town and two in the nearby rural area. Adding to the community's housing infrastructure, two new mobile home parks have been constructed over the past 5 years. Almost all residences are heated by natural gas.

Fort Nelson is one of the few communities within BC where residents qualify for the 'full' Northern Living Allowance available through Revenue Canada.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

School District #81 administers three elementary schools and one high school in the Town: Clark Elementary: K-4; Carlson Elementary: K-4; RL Angus Elementary: 5-7, and Fort Nelson Secondary School: 8-12. In addition, SD#81 administers a K-12 school in Toad River.

Fort Nelson has a community college, Northern Lights College, which offers a full variety of educational opportunities, from adult basic education through university transfer. Other services available in the town include a playschool and two licensed daycare centres.

The community has a 32-bed, fully accredited hospital that hosts visiting specialists; on chiropractor, two medical clinics and three physicians, including a surgeon. Additionally, Fort Nelson has two dental clinics, a drug store, Peace Liard Community Health Unit, a women's resource centre, drug & alcohol programs, counselling services, child\youth programs, and several support groups and organizations.

Emergency services include the full-time Fort Nelson Fire Department; the Municipal Emergency Program (MEP); the BC Ambulance Service and a volunteer Search and Rescue Organization. Policing services are provided by the RCMP.

COMMUNITY AMENITIES AND SERVICES

Fort Nelson has a variety of fast food, including A&W and Subway, retail, commercial and service establishments such as real estate, law and accounting services; two large grocery stores: IGA and Overwaitea; and two banks: Scotiabank and CIBC each equipped with automated banking machines.

Other social and community services include: a Senior Citizens' Complex; senior's activity center; legal services; Chamber of Commerce; social services; Government Agent, Native Friendship Center and service clubs such as Lions, Rotary, etc. Churches in Fort Nelson include Roman Catholic, United, Anglican, Alliance and Pentecostal. Media include the weekly Fort Nelson News, Cablevision, CKRX - Energy 102.3 FM, and CBC radio. Internet administrators are the Peace River Internet Society (PRIS), Fort Nelson Cablevision (Cancom), Sympatico and Fort St. John Net.

Fort Nelson offers government services on the federal and provincial levels and has British Columbia's most unique local government structure integrated regionally and municipally. The Northern Rockies Regional Board consists of a Chair, who is also Mayor of the Town of Fort Nelson, and 7 Directors, four of whom serve as Town Councillors. As elsewhere in BC, general elections are held every three years.