Northern Settlement of Bear Creek Community Highlights Bear Creek is situated along Highway No. 155, around 44 kilometres south of La Athabasca Loche. The settlement is approximately 58 kilometres north of Buffalo Narrows and 453 kilometres north of Prince Albert.1 Boreal West Local Government 2 Churchill Chairman & Committee Members Chairman: Dean Herman River Member: o Deanna Park o Randy Gibbons First Nations Presence: None in the immediate vicinity Nearest First Nations: o Clearwater River Dene Nation (50 km) o Birch Narrows Dene Nation (50 km) Tribal Council: Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) Métis Council:3 Northern Region II – Local #156 Demographics4 Bear Creek North Saskatchewan Population 47 36, 557 1, 033, 381 Aboriginal population (%) 100% 86% 15% Youth population, 15 to 29 (%) 30% 9, 620 105, 204 Major Languages Dene, English Cree, Dene, English, Michif Labour Force Participation Rate, 15+ (%) Not available 50% 68% Employment Rate, 15+ (%) Not available 40% 65% Unemployment Rate (%) Not available 20% 6% Median family income: Not available $31,007 $58,563 Median earnings (persons 15+ years): Not available $18,449 $23,025 Population 25+ with a high school diploma (%) Not available 16% 144, 475 Population 25+ with a trades, college, or Not available 36% 303, 440 university certificate, diploma, or degree (%) Northern Settlement of Bear Creek Economic Environment Key Industries – The mining industry is a large employer, with community and surrounding area employees doing shifts “in and out” at the various northern mining locations. Major Employers Dean Herman Logging Ltd. Occupations Mine labourer Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver Welder Construction/Carpentry Firefighter (seasonal) Local Business Make-up None Local Financial Institutions None Transportation Services Highway 155 (Thin Membrane Surface) to Highway Road 965 (gravel) Air No Bus Service No Strengths and Potential Small quiet community Outfitting possibilities Potential recreational lot development Challenges Lack of services Lack of infrastructure Future Development Bear Creek is a member of the Dene Suline Regional Development Association (DSRDA) and are a signatory to the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) with Oil Sands Quest Inc. La Loche, Turnor Lake and the settlements of Black Point, Garson Lake and Descharme Lake are also members of the DSRDA. Training and Education Post-secondary institutions No Career and Employment Services No High School No Elementary Schools Sasdaze School (Kindergarten to Grade 6) Library No 2 FNMR-Northern Affairs Div. 26/11/2013 Bear Creek Northern Settlement of Bear Creek Infrastructure5 Highway Highway 155; Highway 165 Airports / Airstrips None Municipal Roads Gravel Water and Sewer Well water intake with truck delivery Sewer pump outs with truck to La Loche treatment system Power and Energy Power: Provincial grid Heating fuels: oil, propane, wood Natural Gas: No Information Technology High Speed Basic Internet (Sask Tel) Cellular Service No Housing6 Bear Creek North Saskatchewan Total private dwellings occupied by Not available 9,862 409, 645 usual residents Owned dwellings (%) Not available 36.6% 71.8% Rented dwellings (%) Not available 30% 25.6% Dwellings that require major repair (%) Not available 37.9% 10.5% Average household size Not available 3.7 2.5 Average value of owned dwelling Not available $98,022 $132,111 Emergency Services RCMP No, patrolled from Turnor Lake Hospital No Ambulance No Fire No Recreation7 Playground Basketball Nets Camping Grounds Volleyball Nets Creek Playground Equipment Community Hall/Recreation Centre Floor Hockey Equipment Ball Diamond Bear Creek Outdoor Rink, Natural 3 FNMR-Northern Affairs Div. 26/11/2013 Bear Creek Northern Settlement of Bear Creek Distance from Larger Centres8 Bear Creek Fort La Ronge Meadow Lake Prince Albert Saskatoon to: McMurray km 869 379 295 617 758 1 Nothern Lights Community School, “Community Profiles 2013”, available online: http://www.nlsd113.com/schlcom/north/bearcreek/ Accessed July 24, 2013. 2 Ministry of Municipal Affairs, “Municipal Directory”, available online: http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/Programs-Services/Municipal-Directory-pdf Accessed July 24, 2013. 3 Metis Nation Saskatchewan “Directory of Métis Nation – Saskatchewan and its Regional and Local Offices”, available online: http://www.mn-s.ca/regions-and-locals.html Accessed July 24, 2013. 4 Statistics Canada, Census 2011, and Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Municipal Directory, available online: http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/municipal-directory Accessed July 24, 2013. 5 1) Water Security Agency (July 2013); 2) SaskTel, “High Speed Basic Internet Communities”, available online: http://www.sasktel.com Accessed July 24. 2013; 3) and Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations – Northern Affairs Division, Community Profiles 2006. 6 Statistics Canada, Census 2011. 7 Saskatchewan Tourism, Parks, Culture, and Sport, Recreational Facilities in Northern Saskatchewan (July 2013). 8Google Maps, available online: http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl Accessed July 24, 2013. 4 FNMR-Northern Affairs Div. 26/11/2013 Bear Creek .