Fort St. John: Not Your Grandparents’ City

Credit: City of Fort St. John

Quick: think of a community in BC with a young, energetic vibe, plenty of work in high-paying jobs, and 304 days of sun every year. If your mind’s eye went straight to the Okanagan, make a full stop and head north because those characteristics are exactly what you will find in Fort St. John. Surprised?

You shouldn’t be. The City of Fort St. John has invested heavily into building a community its residents are proud of and dismantling ideas about what it was like in the 70s. Fort St. John today is an entirely different place—a place families can prosper and enjoy endless natural beauty.

Credit: City of Fort St. John

Fort St. John’s population of just over 20,000 boasts a mean age of 30 earning the province’s highest average income in the energy and support sectors.  That means being in the northern part of BC, the city is separated from bigger locales, and if something needs to happen, the community steps up.

Everywhere you look, there is wide open space, ripe for outdoor recreation opportunities—hunting, fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking are just the beginning and an adventurer’s dream. And for the colder months, the city has a 400-seat cultural centre that is the hub of a thriving arts and culture scene.

Credit: City of Fort St. John

Residents enjoy a festival plaza gathering space, and the city has invested heavily into parks and indoor recreation, making it a haven for who enjoy being outdoors and away from crowds.

The region’s thriving energy sector—Site C Dam, LNG, and oil and gas—as well as plenty of work in agriculture and forestry tends to draw families, especially since Fort St. John is one of the few remaining places in BC where housing is affordable.

Credit: City of Fort St. John

The city’s population has the highest median income in the province, but affordable houses options in the $300,000 range. The Site C Dam project is less than 10 km from downtown and the export licence on the province’s natural gas facility alone is 70 years, which means Fort St. John has plenty to support the economy for decades to come.

The City of Fort St. John is committed to making the community a better place and on continuing the legacy of its most famous saying: “You might plan to come for a short time, but once you get to know our community and enjoy the natural beauty, you’ll never want to leave.”

Learn more about Fort St. John | fortstjohn.ca

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