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Fort St. John is the largest city in northeastern British Columbia, and part of the Peace River Regional District. It is 22 square kilometres in size and has a population of approximately 21,000+ residents. The city got its beginnings in 1794 when it began to be developed as a trading post.  Fort St. John is 286km northeast of Prince George, and 206km northwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Also the largest city along the Alaska Highway, Fort St. John is the primary transportation hub of the Peace River region. Agriculture, Oil and Gas, and Forestry are the primary economic drivers here, and most of the residents of the city work in these industries or in service and tourism. One interesting fact about Fort St. John and the Northern Peace Region of the Province is that it uses Mountain Standard Time all year. There’s no moving clocks back or forward twice a year in Fort St. John.

Weather and Climate

Fort St. John has a cold, humid continental climate and that means cold winters and warm summers. However, the nearby Rocky Mountain Range keeps it warmer in winter than other towns at similar northern latitudes across Canada by blocking Arctic air. Fort St. John is one of the sunniest places in British Columbia, and especially in winter and spring.

The city has average winter temperatures of -8 degrees Celsius, and average summer ones of 19 degrees Celsius.

Attractions

The Peace River Region of Northern B.C. has so much in the way of natural beauty and endless wilderness to explore, and the Fort St. John Area is no exception. The Peace River and Charlie Lake are just a short ways out of town, and there’s excellent fishing in each as well as plenty of watersports activities too.

Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing opportunities abound in winter, and the same can be said for off-road mountain biking in spring and summer. The annual High on Ice Winter Carnival goes every January in Centennial Park, with amazing carved ice sculptures that make for amazing photo ops. The Great Canadian Welding Competition is held in Fort. St. John every August and what these metalwork magicians can create is really something to see.

Fort St. John’s Community Planting Day in the spring is a nice chance for green thumbs of all ages to be involved in making the city as colourful as possible for the summer months, and then come fall the Taste of the Town event during harvest season allows residents to taste locally-grown produce and food products.

Amenities

Centennial Park is a large urban park that is one of the primary fixtures of Fort St. John. It contains many of the city’s recreational and cultural facilities, including the Fort St. John North Peace Museum, the North Peace Leisure Pool, North Peace Arena, a curling rink, plus an outdoor water park and a speed skating oval.

Most athletics and recreation amenities are found at the Fort St. John Enerplex (aka Pomeroy Sports Center), with two ice hockey rinks, an indoor long-track speed skating oval, and 340-meter rubberized indoor long walking track that is free for everyone to enjoy year round.

Fish Creek Community Forest is another especially nice spot within Fort St. John city limits, with forested leisure trails that are popular with walkers and bikers alike. The Kids Arena Fieldhouse sports an indoor artificial grass field used as a soccer pitch and for other activities throughout the year. It’s also available for private bookings and rentals.

The North Peace Cultural Centre is an expansive facility in town, and features the Peace Arts Gallery and the Fort St. John Library within it, plus a 413-seat theatre with performances of all different sorts scheduled throughout the year.

Last but not least, there is an extensive walking trail system throughout city that links neighbourhoods and can also be used by bikers travelling at reasonable speeds.

Real Estate

Fort St. John real estate is most notable for the way many modern, spacious detached single-family homes are available for less than $500,000 CAD, and older ones for less than $300,000. There is certainly much in the way of affordability with housing in Fort St. John, and especially for young families who’d like space and a backyard with their home

Many of the Fort St. john homes for sale have acreage while still being relatively close to the town area, and there are also vacant land development opportunities for both residential and commercial / agricultural interests.

Multi-family housing development in the city is limited, but there are some townhome and condo developments in Fort St. John.

Getting There

Fort St. John is accessible via Highway 97 from Prince George, or Highway 2 from Grande Prairie, Alberta. If you’re coming from the North then Fort St. John is right is right along the southernmost stretch of the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse, Yukon or beyond. Air Canada Jazz, WestJet, and Central Mountain Air have connecting flights to Fort St. John from Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, and Calgary and Greyhound Bus has service from Vancouver, Edmonton, and Whitehorse.