COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROFILE
LIVABLE & LOVABLE ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Clearwater, the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park is situated in the North Thompson just off the Yellowhead Highway. There are three rivers that border the community, Raft, Clearwater and the North Thompson, plus a lake situated in the community. These bodies of water offer all kinds of waterway activities. The community is surrounded by many great fishing lakes, and the area boasts of over thirty camping locations varying in size. Clearwater is situated approximately half way between Vancouver and Edmonton and is 125kms north of Kamloops. The community has been a logging and milling town for over seventy years, and more recently tourism has become a big part of the economy. The Wells Gray Provincial Park is recognized for the number of water falls, numerous hiking trails, touting the fourth largest water falls in Canada—Helmcken Falls, and the world-famous flower meadows—Trophy Mountain meadows. A water taxi service located at the Clearwater and Azure Lakes will take you to countless remote camp sites, or maybe you would prefer to canoe these beautiful lakes. The community was incorporated in December 2007, and boast of many amenities—modern hospital, shopping centre, several recreational facilities, biking and hiking trails. The community also offers a strong community recreation/healthy living program, seniors programming and a robust transit system. There are over 190 registered businesses, offering a wide variety of services, with room to grow our commercial sector. On behalf of Council, the business sector and our citizens, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Clearwater.
Mayor John Harwood Welcome to Clearwater, BC
Located in the heart of British Columbia and Wells Gray Country, Clearwater BC is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park and is surrounded by the Trophy Mountains, Raft Peak, Grizzly Peak and Dunn Peak. This rural community is the place for all seasons!
Whether you plan to locate your business here, invest in the area, relocate your family or enjoy the abundant recreational opportunities, Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada has it all!
Population GDP Growth Rate Estimated growth rate per annum is District of Clearwater 2,324* 0.52% Source: Thompson Nicola Regional District Wells Gray Country population 1,493 Total population DOC/WGC Unemployment Rate 3,817 June 2017 Unemployment Thompson/Okanagan *Only municipality. All other communities are unincorporated. 5.7% Source: Statistics Canada 2016 Census Source: Work BC Labour Market Information
Average Earnings Climate Facts and Family Income Average Mean Temperature January 2017 Median family income in 2016 -7.6°C All census families Average Mean Temperature July 2017 $64,655 16.6°C Source: Statistics Canada – 2016 Census Source Environment Canada Accessibility Distance and Travel Time to Major Urban Markets Highway City Km Miles Travel Time We are centrally located Kamloops, BC 124 77 1.5 hrs within a one-and-a-half- Calgary, AB 746 464 8.5 hrs hour drive to Kamloops Edmonton, AB 682 424 7.5 hrs BC, on Highway #5 (Yellowhead Highway) Kelowna, BC 289 180 3.75 hrs home to one airport. Vancouver, BC 479 298 5.5 hrs
Bus Railway Greyhound Bus Lines The Canadian National Railway runs Phone 250.674.3100 through the North Thompson Valley, passing Offering service to Kamloops once daily. through the communities of Clearwater, Birch Island, and Vavenby. Private rail sidings Clearwater & Area Transit service in Vavenby at the Canfor mill and Phone 250.674.3935 the old Weyerhaeuser industrial site. Fixed Route Local Service Providing 3 trips daily, Monday–Friday, Air between Blackpool and Vavenby, with stops Regional Airport & Air in Clearwater, Birch Island and other places. Cargo Services: Kamloops Valley Connector International Airport: Kelowna Fixed Route Kamloops Service: Weekly Tuesdays Chartered Flights: Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd & Thursdays service from Vavenby to Kamloops. Phone: 250.674.3600 • [email protected] Door-to-Door Service Charter, Air Ambulance, tour and contract services Specifically for seniors and people with disabilities. This service must be pre-booked. Air Taxi/Private Charter: Wells Gray Air Phone: 604.312.3598 • wellsgrayair.com Community Loop Inner community loop between shopping areas every hour Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 10am–3pm
Emergency Services RCMP Volunteer Fire Department Wells Gray Search and Rescue Clearwater RCMP Detachment 336 Clearwater Village Road 40 E Old North Thompson Hwy 205 Dutch Lake Road Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2 Box 213, Clearwater BC V0E 1N0 Clearwater BC V0E 1N2 Phone: 250.674.3733 Phone/Fax: 250.674.0100 Phone: 250.674.2237 (non-emergency) wellsgraysar.ca (non-emergency) districtofclearwater.com OPEN FOR BUSINESS The Business Community
Clearwater Municipal Tax Rates 2017 Major Employers/ # of Employees Residential...... 4.52328 Borrow Enterprises Ltd...... 23 Jim’s Market/Shell/ A&W.....22 Utilities...... 39.9974 Buy Low Foods...... 65 Kurt Dodd Consulting...... 15 Supportive Housing...... 4.5328 Canfor...... 183 On Call Services...... 15 Major Industry...... 15.4115 Clusko Logging School District #73...... 69 Light Industry...... 15.4115 —Clearwater...... 49 Thompson Resource Business/Other...... 15.4115 District of Clearwater...... 18 Management...... 6 Managed Forest Land...... 13.5984 Clearwater Volunteer Wells Gray Inn...... 50 Recreation/Non-Profit...... 4.5328 Fire Department...... 21 Wadlegger Logging...... 24 Farm...... 4.5328 Dr. Helmcken Yellowhead Community Memorial Hospital Services...... 70 Source: District of Clearwater 2017 Annual Tax Rate Bylaw No.164
(includes full time, part time and casuals) Building Permits 2016 Total value of $3.8mi. Business Licences 32 Building Inspection Planning & 192 As of January 1, 2017, Business Licenses PERMITS Development services are provided BUSINESS under contract to the District of LICENSES came into effect for all businesses located ISSUED Clearwater by the Thompson-Nicola within or operating in the District of Regional District (TNRD). Clearwater. A Business License can be obtained through the District of Clearwater Land Availability office. As of August 2017, 192 local and out of town businesses have applied Wells Gray Country: Total Land Area (ha).. 732,680* for a Business License. TNRD—Agricultural Land Reserve in TNRD (ha) ...... 566,538** District of Clearwater: Total Land Area (ha)...... 5,694* Vacant Commercial Land (ha) ...... 239 Vacant Industrial/Commercial Parcels...... 22 *Source: Govt. of BC, Local Govt. Stats 2013 **Source: Agricultural Land Commission
Housing For information on economic development contact: Average Cost Home Sold 2017...... $241,593* District of Clearwater CAO / Economic Development Officer Average Rental 3 Bedroom Home...... $1,100/mth Leslie Groulx • Phone: 250.674.2257 • [email protected] Vacancy Rates...... <1% *local Realtor office District of Clearwater Mayor John Harwood Phone: 250.674.2257 • [email protected]
Average Cost Visit our website at Home Sold 2017 $241,593 districtofclearwater.com DUTCH LAKE COMMUNITY CENTRE
Community Services Banking Health Care Royal Bank of Canada Dr Helmcken Memorial Hospital The Medical Centre 74 Young Road 640 Park Road • Phone: 250.674.2244 258 Park Drive Brookfield Mall No. of Hospital Beds: 6 Phone: 250.674.3319 Phone: 250.674.2231 Average Occupancy Rate: 74.5%* Clearwater Dental Clinic Interior Savings Credit Union Source: Interior Health, Hospital Facility Profile – 2015/16 258 Park Drive 401-365 Murtle Crescent Phone: 250.674.2151 Phone: 250.674.3111
Education Services Vavenby Elementary School (K–7) Dutch Lake Community Centre (DLCC) 3157 Galiano Road, Vavenby 209 Dutch Lake Road Phone: 250.676.9242 Municipal Hall • 250.674.2257 Raft River Elementary School (K–7) Community Services: 250.674.3530 801 Clearwater Village Road yellowheadcs.ca • [email protected] Phone: 250.674.2218 The facility is home to the following organizations and businesses: District of Clearwater municipal Clearwater Secondary School (gr 8–12) hall, Yellowhead Community Services, Clearwater 440 Murtle Crescent and District Chamber of Commerce, North Phone: 250.674.3328 Thompson Arts Council, Service Canada Thompson Rivers University (TRU) outreach program, Thompson-Nicola Regional Clearwater Satellite Campus District (Services Coordinator), Thompson Dutch Lake Community Centre Rivers University (Clearwater Regional Centre), 209 Dutch Lake Road Tourism Wells Gray, and Wells Gray Phone: 250.674.3530 • tru.ca Community Forest Corporation. This TRU satellite campus offers a range WorkBC—Clearwater Employment Services Centre of credit courses such as computer certificate Phone: 250.674.2928 • 58 Young Road courses, the Home Support Residential Care clearwateremployment.ca •info@ Program, and other TRU programs such as clearwateremployment.ca Traffic Control. It also provides services such as General Education Development (GED) NORTH C exams, Accuplacer Entrance exams and A O U R N T C LPI English Placement exams. S I L THOMPSON Community Services, continued receiving station. operates aseptage ofClearwater The District Septage main andgravity. consists ofbothfore- sewer lift stations, and to 210properties, sanitary provides services sanitary ofClearwater The District Sewer water systems. well orsmallprivate Birch are Island) on Clearwater, Blackpool, Gray Country (Upper the Clearwater and Wells All otherareas within of Vavenby.community water system for the operatesTNRD the water systems. is onwell orprivate balance ofClearwater to 992properties. The provides potablewater ofClearwater The District Water Supply clearwaterbcchamber.com [email protected] Phone: 250.674.3530 Anne (Goldie) Krawec Chamber ofCommerce Clearwater &District wellsgraycountry.ca [email protected] Phone: 250.674.3530 Sherri Madden Area A) (TNRD Committee Coordinator Wells Gray Country Services districtofclearwater.com [email protected] Cell: 250.674.8818 Phone: 250.674.2257 Leslie Groulx CAO &Economic Development Officer ofClearwater District CONTACTS
[email protected] Phone: 250.674.2600yellowheadcs.ca this organization. 620Park Drive, Youth Group are alsooffered through Program, andClearwater BusinessServices Development andHousing, The Food Security Trusted Third Party for ofSocial theMinistry by Six,Infant Massage, The Literacy Program, Playgroup, Early Years Centre Room, Success as Parent ChildMotherGoose,Clearwater Other programs for families withchildren such through Yellowhead Community (YCS). Services Spring Camp andSummerFun Days are offered daycare, playschool, After SchoolCare, Child care programs suchaslicensed Childcare Facilities [email protected] located 144Evergreen at Place Society Evergreen Acres SeniorCitizens Home 250.674.8185. at and plannedbustrips.Contact: Lynne Frizzle Circle, SeniorsBookClub, GamesDay, Bunco monthly SeniorsLuncheon, Wells Gray Writers Clearwater). The societyhasabusy schedule: Community Centre, 209DutchLake Road, theSeniorsRoomat theDLCC at (DutchLake is avery active group ofseniorsmeeting The Senior Services
Wells Gray Country SeniorsSociety [email protected] Phone: 250.674.3334 (May–October) Visitor andGeneral Information (Wells Gray Park Info-Centre) Information WellsGray wellsgray.ca [email protected] Phone: 250.674.3530 Stephanie Molina Tourism &Marketing Manager Tourism Wells Gray Association communityfutures.net [email protected] Phone: 250.828.8772 Community Futures ishometo24lowincome units
CLEARWATER
Map Credit: Thompson-Nicola Film Commission • tnrdfilm.com Amenities • Clearwater Ski Hill • Library • Candle Creek Trails • Community Parks • Art Gallery —Mountain Bike —Rotary Sports Park • North Thompson Arts Council —Hiking Tennis & Basketball Courts, • Multi-use Trails —X-Country Ski Skate Park —Walking • Sportsplex —Splash Park —Hiking —Hockey Arena —Raft River Viewing Park —Biking —Skating —Dutch Lake Beach • Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital —Curling Rink • North Thompson Provincial Park • 9 hole Golf Courses • Kayaking • Wells Gray Provincial Park —Lacarya Golf Course • Whitewater Rafting • Farmers Market (May–October) —Wells Gray Golf
Events • Clearwater Winter Festival • Rotary May Day Parade • Clearwater Canoe Regatta • Clearwater Hockey Days • National Aboriginal • Simpcw School Program • Family Day Day Celebrations • Firehall Open House • Birch Leg Cross Country Ski Race • Canada Day Celebrations • Halloween Fire Works • Figure Skating Carnivals • Summer Music Night • Santa Skate • Easter Egg Hunt at the Firehall • First Fish Ceremony • Rotary Christmas • Clearwater Youth Week • Children’s Art Festival Tree Light Up • Bike to Work/ School • Star Gazing Festival
Activities Summer Activities Winter • Boats Tour, Camping, • Back-Country Skiing, ADVENTURE STARTS HERE Canoeing, Fishing, Disc Cross Country & Downhill Golf, Golf, Hiking, Kayaking, Skiing, Curling, Hockey Mountain Biking, Whitewater (Drop In and Minor Hockey), Rafting & Floating, Paddle Ice climbing, Ice fishing, Boarding, Swimming, Skating, Snowshoeing, All Year Trail Rides, Walking Snowmobiling Recreation/Healthy Living Program Visit districtofclearwater.com for full menu