BC City Guide 2018: Fort St. John

Credit: Jasonwoodhead23/Flickr

Opportunity is always knocking in what’s often ranked one of B.C.’s best places to work

“The Energetic City,” Fort St. John is the province’s largest centre north of Prince George. Though many British Columbians have never paid it a visit, the trading hub has thrived in recent years. At a respectable 3.4 percent from 2012 to 2017, Fort St. John’s population growth outpaced the B.C. average.

The city’s slogan is a double entendre: one of B.C.’s biggest producers of oil and natural gas, it also has a decidedly youthful population. The local government’s efforts to draw working people appear to be effective, given that as a group, locals are 8.8 years younger than the average British Columbian.

The main reason for the population surge is unusually high wages across every industry, from the service and oil and gas sectors to agriculture and forestry. For that reason and others, Fort St. John took the No. 1 spot in this magazine’s latest Best Cities for Work in B.C. ranking. Among the metrics that put it on top were average household income under age 35—a whopping $123,744; no other city exceeded $100,000—and five-year income growth.

Besides collecting a healthy paycheque, what keeps people in Fort St. John? We’re guessing it isn’t the winters, which can be some of the coldest in the province. Nor is it the wildfires that occasionally threaten evacuation of the town. Rather, it’s a community spirit that brings people together no matter the weather. Regularly updated on the city’s website, events like the 45-year-old Fort St. John Trade Show are almost always well attended. When winter hits, you can find residents huddled up at Whole Wheat Honey Café or at the two hockey arenas (one also serves as the only voting station during municipal elections).

And when summer rolls around, there’s a reason Fort St. John was No. 1 in the province for average household spending on recreation in the most recent Best Cities for Work survey. The sun stays out almost all night during the dog days, illuminating the hilly terrain, so make sure you’ve got thick blinds if you’re calling it quits early.

Firefighters sent to the area (just in case!) often become part of a young community bent on enjoying the Peace River region’s many outdoor pursuits. That means hiking, mountain biking and fishing, and lots of it. The many forest trails are packed with wheels and feet most of the year, even in the snow. Fort St. John is worth the trek, it would seem.

PEOPLE
Population: 28,386
Household age (0-45, 45-64, 64+): 56.4%, 32.3%, 11.3%
University grads: 13.6%
Average household income: $139,305
Average household income under 45: $134,687
Five-year income growth, 2012-17: 20.5%
Five-year population growth: 3.4%

HOUSING
Median detached home price: $419,900
Median condominium price: $316,000
Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom: $1,024
Average annual household spending on shelter: $26,302

WORK
Key industries: Oil and natural gas; forestry; agriculture; hospitality and tourism
Notable employers: Government of British Columbia; Northern Health; Northern Lights College; School District 60
Regional unemployment: 4.5% (February)

BUSINESS
Total value of building permits issued in 2017: $272,679
Change from 2016: –55.3%
Average processing time for a building permit: 2-4 weeks
Cost of a business licence: $125
Business property tax rate:  $21 per $1,000 of assessed value
Average office lease rate per sq. ft./year: $18-$20.90
Average retail lease rate: $19

QUALITY OF LIFE
Major post-secondary institutions: Northern Lights College
Major recreational amenities: Two skating rinks; curling rink; water park; indoor pool; speed-skating oval; hiking and mountain-biking trails
Key annual events: Fort St. John Trade Show; Fire Truck Pull; Spring Concert; Easter Egg Hunt; High on Ice Winter Festival
Average annual household spending on recreation: $6,502
Residents who walk or bike to work: 5.8%

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