COMMUNITY PROFILE Community Profile October 2008 48 COMMUNITY PROFILE Preamble Town of Smithers The Town of Smithers is located in the heart of the Bulkley Valley in Welcome to Smithers. Ours is a community of friendly people, incredible surroundings, small-town charm and northwestern British Columbia. Many people and businesses relocate to economic prosperity. Safe, clean and beautiful, our town is a Smithers for the high quality of life and the low cost of living. Friendly wonderful place to live, start a business and raise a family. We know that whatever your interests and hobbies, you will people, countless recreation opportunities and a strong, diverse find many outlets for your creative and recreational energy in economy make Smithers a destination of choice in which to invest, Smithers. work, play and live. Smithers offers a competitive business climate, with a great location and a skilled labour force. Smithers is a regional centre, housing services and businesses used by residents of the entire Bulkley Valley. Our town is home to a number of industries, and the majority of Smithers’ businesses are locally-owned. Economic development initiatives, such as a runway extension at the airport and proposed ski hill expansion, will further develop our economy. The Town of Smithers has prepared this Community Profile to give the reader an idea of what life is like as a resident of Smithers. You will likely notice that some themes—the natural beauty, the downtown charm, and the positive economic outlook—are repeated frequently throughout the profile. This is not done in exaggeration. We genuinely believe, and hope you will discover, that Smithers is simply exceptional. Mayor and Council Town of Smithers 1 COMMUNITY PROFILE Table of Contents Preamble 1 Table of Contents 2 Smithers in Brief 3 Smithers and the World 4 Naturally Beautiful 5 Climate 6 History 7 Economy 9 Building a Business 10 Industry 11 Retail 13 Transportation 14 Communications and Media 16 Housing 17 Financial Services 17 Infrastructure 18 Smithereens 19 Demographics 20 First Nations 21 Education 22 Recreation 25 Outdoor Activities 26 Arts 34 Festivals 36 Community Services 39 Town of Smithers 40 Regional District 41 Emergency Services 42 Police Presence 43 Health Services 44 Social Support Services 45 2 COMMUNITY PROFILE Smithers in Brief Smithers is a picturesque town of some 5,200 residents, nestled in the heart of the Bulkley Valley at the edge of BC’s Interior Mountains. While the Town is approaching its centennial, the region has been home to the Wet’suwet’en First Nation for thousands of years. From the banks of the Bulkley River, the valley rises through rolling hills before abruptly soaring more than two kilometres to the mountain peaks. Smithers gets the best of all seasons, with warm summers and snowy, sunny winters. 3 COMMUNITY PROFILE Smithers and the World Smithers is located near the centre of the Bulkley Valley, a 100km long, 10km wide strip of land at the eastern edge of British Columbia’s Interior Mountains. The Bulkley River winds its way northward through Smithers, before flowing into the famous Skeena River. Both river and valley are named in honour of Colonel Charles Bulkley, the head engineer of the Russian-American Telegraph project that resulted in the valley’s first non-aboriginal exploration in 1866. Telkwa is a village 12km south of Smithers. It and the adjacent but now abandoned Aldermere were the first settlements in the region. Other communities south and east of Smithers include Houston, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof and Prince George. Moricetown, originally called ‘Kyah Wiget, is a Wet’suwet’en village 30km north of Smithers. The Bulkley River narrows as it flows through a steep canyon, creating an excellent fishing spot that locals have taken advantage of for thousands of years. Other communities north and west of Smithers include Hazelton, Kitimat, Terrace and Prince Rupert. Located on the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway 16, Smithers is connected to the world by road, rail and air; Smithers Regional Airport has undergone a runway extension to allow for modern jet aircraft access, increasing the ease with which people will travel to Smithers. 4 COMMUNITY PROFILE Naturally Beautiful The Town of Smithers is set between the Bulkley River and the backdrop of Hudson Bay Mountain. Snow-capped mountains belonging to the Babine and Hazelton ranges surround the valley, forming part of the larger Interior Mountain range. These in turn connect with the Coast Mountain range, putting Smithers at the eastern edge of a solid wall of soaring mountains hundreds of kilometers wide. The Kathlyn Glacier overlooks the Town from its perch on Hudson Bay Mountain. Dozens of lakes dot the nearby countryside, connected by fish-laden creeks and rivers to the Pacific Ocean. The area offers The Bulkley River. residents and visitors a unique mix of open green spaces, mature forestlands and scenic vistas. It is a (Photo Courtesy of the RDBN) place of stunning natural beauty. Twin Falls on Hudson Bay Mountain above Smithers. Astlais Mountain, or “The Onion”, in the Babine Range east of Smithers. 5 COMMUNITY PROFILE Climate The superb quality of life enjoyed by residents of Smithers is partly due to the area’s Location* unique climate. The Town has relatively moderate temperatures for its location. Latitude: 54°49’ North With bright, warm summers, snowy winters, rainy springs and cool autumns, Smithers Longitude: 127°10’ West truly experiences all four seasons. Sunshine Total Hours: 1651 Total Days: 292 Average Daily Temperature (Celsius)* Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Average Precipitation* Rainfall: 354mm Daily Maximum Snowfall: 204cm -4.9 -0.4 5.1 10.8 15.7 18.9 21.6 21.2 15.8 8.8 0.8 -3.8 Daily Minimum -12.7 -9..4 -5.1 -1.3 2.8 6.3 8.4 7.9 4.0 0.1 -5.4 -11.1 Daily Average *Data from Environment Canada -8.9 -4.9 0 4.8 9.3 12.6 15.0 14.6 9.9 4.5 -2.3 -7.5 Alpine flowers in summer. Powdery winter snow in the mountains. 6 COMMUNITY PROFILE History of Smithers The Bulkley Valley Before Smithers Prior to the arrival of the railway in the early 1900’s, the Bulkley Valley had been supporting countless generations of the Wet’suwet’en, or “People of the Lower Hills”. The Wet’suwet’en are a Carrier people whose oral history recounts the story of their origins in the village of Dizlegh, on the Bulkley River just east of Hazelton. The traditional Wet’suwet’en territory extends from near Hazelton (60km northwest of Smithers) past Burns Lake (150km southeast of Smithers), and south through what is known today as the Lakes District. Main Street in 1913, the year Smithers was established. (Photo courtesy of Harry Kruisselbrink) Fur traders were the earliest non-aboriginal presence in the region. In the 1860’s, an attempt was made to build a telegraph line to Asia. The route selected took the project through the Bulkley Valley. Although the endeavour ultimately failed, a later project by the government of Canada to extend a telegraph line to the Yukon ignited interest in the area due to its agricultural and mining Main Street in the 1950’s. The Babine Mountains are in the potential and settlements emerged throughout the valley. background. (Photo courtesy of Harry Kruisselbrink) 7 COMMUNITY PROFILE A Railroad and a Town Construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway through northern British Columbia began in 1908. The company needed to establish a divisional headquarters in the Bulkley Valley. The settlement was established in 1913, and took its name from Sir Alfred Smithers, the chairman of the board of directors of the Grand Trunk Railway. Following the establishment of Smithers, hundreds of people flocked to the area. Smithers reached a population of 1,000 by the mid 1920’s. In 1921, Smithers became the first village in BC to be incorporated. On January 1, 1967 - Canada’s centennial year - Smithers became an incorporated town. Main Street in 1979. The Street underwent a major transformation soon after. (Photo courtesy of Harry Kruisselbrink) The Town Today Today, Smithers is a regional hub for more than 20,000 people. Charming Main Street remains the geographic and commercial centre of town. Smithers is an extremely walkable community. The Town has adopted a unique alpine theme, which is reflected in the façades of downtown buildings. Smithers is unquestionably one of the most beautiful towns in British Columbia. Forestry, mining and agriculture form the backbone of the Town’s economy. Recently, tourism has also become an integral piece of the economic fabric, as visitors flock to Smithers for excellent fishing, skiing, and other outdoor activities. The spectacular natural beauty of the Town, a strong Main Street today. The Babine Mountains are in the background. (Photo courtesy of Cristoph Luther) economy and a commitment to community have made Smithers a wonderful place to live. 8 COMMUNITY PROFILE Economy and Infrastructure The Town of Smithers has one of the most diversified and stable economies in north central BC Two major forestry companies operate a sawmill and a particle board mill in Smithers. The mineral extraction sector continues to be very active in the region. The inclusion of agriculture, a growing tourism sector and Smithers’ status as an administration and services centre for the region makes it clear the Town has an exceptional range of employment and business opportunities. With affordable commercial and industrial land, excellent services, sound infrastructure and a skilled labour force, Smithers provides an excellent environment for new and growing businesses. 9 COMMUNITY PROFILE Building a Business in Smithers www.cfdcnadina.ca Business Climate www.tourismsmithers.com/chamber The economic outlook in north central British Columbia is extremely positive.