-8°C
Friday February 10, 2012: Chance of flurries mixed with ice pellets
Community Clubs
Fort St. James has over 80 community groups, clubs and organizations that are involved with all aspects of social, recreational, community and religious activities. Our community spirit is evident by the success of their many projects. There are a number of recreation organizations in Fort St. James, providing activities for children and adults alike. Organized sports include hockey, basketball, curling, badminton and tennis, various forms of softball, figure skating, and speed skating. At any time of the year you can participate in indoor sports like badminton, basketball, indoor soccer and karate. The facilities at the local exercise gym help keep residents trim and healthy. And in the spring and summer you can face the challenges of one of the nicest 9-hole golf courses in the province, looking out over Stuart Lake.
It seems there is never a shortage of things to do in the Fort – if anything, there never seems to be enough time! If sports and outdoor recreation are not to your liking there are a number of community groups and organizations to keep you busy. You can immerse yourself in Guides and Brownies, the Community Arts Council or the local library. For those more musically inclined the Music Makers Society provides an opportunity to tread the boards.
Community Contacts
District of Fort St. James, British Columbia: Contact Us
Looking for information? Visit us at the Municipal Office
Office Hours and Location
Weekdays 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Closed Statutory Holidays)
477 Stuart Drive West, Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J1P0
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 640
Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
250-996-8233 Phone
250-996-2248 Fax
Administrative Staff
- – Kevin Crook
- – Jeffrey Lovell
- – Emily Colombo
- – Katie Cooper
- – Mel Chesnutt
– For general inquiries please email us.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DFSJames
Other District Contacts:
Public Works
– Dennis Saharchuk
250-996-7161 Phone
250-996-1472 Fax
Arena
250-996-7600 Phone
Fire Department
– Rob Bennett
250-996-8670 Phone
250-996-7474 Fax
Public Library
– Diana Uhrich
250-996-7431 Phone
250-996-7484 Fax
Dog Pound
Nahounli Kennel
250-996-7449 Phone
Education
School District No. 91 – Nechako Lakes
School District 91 manages an operating budget of $39.7 million (2004). It is the largest employer in the region, with 800 employees working in 22 schools, 5 adult centers, 3 alternate education sites and an internet-based Kindergarten to Grade 12 instructional program. The District covers 40,000 square kilometers with approximately 5,800 full-time learners.
For more information visit the School District 91 website.
For information about online education visit the eBus Academy website.
School District 91 operates the following schools in the Fort St. James area:
David Hoy Elementary School
4th Avenue West at Birch Street
Kindergarten to Grade 7
Principal:
Max Marshall
250-996-8237 Phone
250-996-7973 Fax
view the website
Sowchea Elementary School
2649 Sowchea Road
Kindergarten to Grade 7
Principal:
Cam McCormick
250-996-8248 Phone
250-996-7860 Fax
view the website
Fort St. James Secondary School
Grades 8 through 12
450 Douglas Avenue
Principal
Mike McDiarmid
250-996-7126 Phone
250-996-7708 Fax
view the website
Fort St. James Adult Centre for Education
High School completion programs for adults
250 Stuart Drive East
Contact Information
Dalphena Snively
250-996-7712 Phone
250-996-8544 Fax
Private / First Nation Schools
Nak’albun Elementary School
Operated by Nak’azdli Band
Kindergarten to Grade 7
Principal
Rick Aucoin
250-996-8441 Phone
250-996-2229 Fax
view the website
Five alternate religion-based private schools are also located in the Vanderhoof area.
Higher Education
College of New Caledonia – Nechako Region
The College of New Caledonia-Nechako Region (CNC-Nechako) serves 12 multicultural communities of varying size with a total population of over 20 000 in a geographical area covering 1 105 900 hectares – half the size of Vancouver Island. First Nations comprise 8 of the regional communities served. The First Nation communities include members from Nad’leh Whuten, Saik’uz, Nak’azdli, Tl’azt’en, Stellat’en, and Takla.
Focusing on quality programs and services, CNC-Nechako has been serving adult learners and our communities for more than 30 years. The role of CNC-Nechako is to equip learners to identify and meet the complex and evolving needs of their communities in ways that are culturally appropriate, economically and socially relevant, and wholly reflective of the adult learner.
CNC Fort St. James Campus
179 Douglas Avenue
Contact Information:
Ann McCormick
250-996-7019 Phone
250-996-7014 Fax
view the website
University of Northern British Columbia
UNBC is located approximately 1 hour from the Stuart Nechako Region. UNBC has a total enrollment of 4,073 (2003/04), and is the northern hub of education for the province with new opportunities in science and management, and arts, social and health sciences.There were a total of 695 graduates in 2003/04, with 635 bachelors and 35 masters degrees awarded.
For more information visit the UNBC website.
Bylaw Services & Enforcement
Our Mission
To provide unbiased enforcement of municipal bylaws supporting the development and maintenance of a safe and liveable environment in our community.
Emergency Services
Emergency services are organizations which ensure public safety by addressing different emergencies. Some agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies whilst others deal with ad hoc emergencies as part of their normal responsibilities. Many agencies will engage in community awareness and prevention programs to help the public avoid, detect, and report emergencies effectively.
Core emergency services in the District of Fort St. James
The three services which are almost universally acknowledged as being core to the provision of emergency care to the populace, and are often government run. They would generally be summoned on a dedicated emergency telephone number, reserved for critical emergency calls. They are:
- Police — providing community safety and acting to reduce crime against persons and property
- Fire service — providing firefighters to deal with fire and rescue operations, and may also deal with some secondary emergency service duties
- Emergency medical service — providing ambulances and staff to deal with medical emergencies
Find links to our police web site and get information about emergency preparedness and our fire department.
Library
Fort St. James Bicentennial Library
Our mission is to anticipate and respond to community needs by providing access to all forms of information, inspiring imagination and encouraging lifelong learning and achievement for all.
Location and Contact Information:
425 Manson Street
P.O. Box 729
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-7431 Phone
250-996-7484 Fax
Library Hours:
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Parks & Recreation
Fort St. James offers a wide variety of opportunities for getting involved in sports, arts and recreation. Most of the local groups are run by volunteers, so it’s a great way to get involved in the community.
Our setting on the south shore of beautiful Stuart Lake opens up a world of outdoor recreation. Click on the Stuart Lake link below for more.
If you love wilderness camping, hunting or trekking, our forests provide a vast expanse of wilderness for you to discover.
Don’t hide indoors this winter! You’ll miss a million opportunities for fun in our area. Ski downhill or cross country, go tobogganing or tubing to relive the thrill of your youth, take a wild snowmobile ride, indulge in a few hours of ice-fishing, challenge the back-country trails on snowshoes, or take a dog-sled ride through beautiful, unspoiled scenery.
Property Tax Information
District of Fort St. James Property Tax
Due Dates
Tax notices are mailed at the end of May and payments are due July 2. A 10% penalty will be added to the outstanding current taxes at midnight July 3.
Home Owner Grants
The District of Fort St. James administers the Home Owner Grant program on behalf of the Province of BC. Home Owner Grants must be claimed before the due date to avoid penalties. Home Owner Grant applications that are incomplete, unclaimed, or late will result in penalty charges. Home Owner Grants that are not claimed are considered equivalent to unpaid taxes. Failure of an intermediary such as a financial institution, Canada Post, or lawyer to remit the application on behalf of the owner is a private matter for resolution between the parties involved and is outside the Tax Collector’s authority and responsibility.
For further information please contact:
Home Owner Grant Administration Branch
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Housing
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
1-888-355-2700 Phone
Electronic Home Owner Grant
Currently property owners cannot submit their Home Owner Grant claim online at the District of Fort St. James’s website. Watch for an update as to when this system will be available.
How to Pay your Property Taxes
Online Banking or Telephone Banking
You may pay your Tax or Utility bills using your financial institution’s online or telephone banking system. We are currently set up for this service with the Royal Bank, CIBC, BC Credit Unions and ScotiaBank. Enter the Folio Number or account number from your statement where the account number is requested. You must still claim the Home Owner Grant (if eligible) through the Municipal Office.
Mail Cheque
- Please ensure Home Owner Grant is completed in full (if eligible). A $25.00 service charge will be levied on all returned cheques. Your cancelled cheque is your receipt.
Pay In Person
- Be prepared to wait in line the last week of June! Pay by cheque, cash, money order, bank draft, or Interac (check your limit). Credit cards are not accepted. Post-dated cheques will be accepted and the cancelled cheque is your receipt.
Tax Installment/Prepayment
- You may leave post-dated cheques for monthly payments towards your property tax. Or, set up a monthly payment through your bank’s online bill payment system.
Roads & Traffic
Planning, building and maintaining an efficient transportation network in Fort St. James is one of the top priorities for the District. Whether you are biking or driving, busing, or walking, this section will give you information in all areas, from reporting a problem to assisting in making Fort St. James a “Safer Community” for vehicles and pedestrians.
Active Communities
The Active Communities Initiative is a cross-sectoral initiative focused on supporting communities to increase physical activity levels of British Columbians by 20% by the year 2010. The initiative mobilizes and collaborates with communities, local governments, First Nations and partner organizations to promote healthy lifestyle choices, increase accessibility to physical activities and build supportive community environments. The Initiative is delivered by BC Recreation and Parks Association with funding from the Provincial Government through ActNowBC and in partnership with 2010 Legacies Now.
A registered Active Community is one that has voluntarily made a commitment to work towards the goal of 20% increase by the year 2010; to build an Active Communities team and to develop an Active Communities plan.
Recreation Facitlities In Fort St. James
- Skate Park
- Paarens Beach Provincial Park
- Sowchea Bay Provincial Park
- Cottonwood Park
- Cottonwood Marina
- Bike Park
- Goodwin Park
- Barry Salt Memorial Tennis Courts
- Rotary Park
- Sonny Hamper Memorial Ball Diamonds
- Stuart Lake Golf Course
- Hiking Trails
- Walking Trails
- Fort Forum Ice Arena
- Curling Rink
- FSJ National Historic Park
- Murray Ridge Ski Area
- Bicentennial Library
- Family Pace Fitness
- XS Power Gyms
9-1-1
9-1-1 emergency calling for Police, Fire and Ambulance services is available in Fort St. James and throughout the region.
Communication
Newspapers
Caledonia Courier
Weekly community newspaper
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-8482 Phone
250-996-8451 Fax
view our website
Prince George Citizen
Daily Newspaper
(home delivery available)
250-561-3301 Phone
view our website
Radio and Television
Fort St. James TV Society
Provides television and radio rebroadcasting to the Fort St. James area.
Six radio stations and 17 TV Channels.
view our website
View List of Television and Radio channels
Satellite services are available through
Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice.
Telecommunications
Telus
250-310-2255 Phone
view our website
Telus Mobility
1-866-558-2278 Phone
view our website
Rogers Wireless
1-888-764-3771 Phone
view the website
Internet Providers
Telus
250-310-4638 Phone
view our website
Max Internet Technologies
250 Stuart Drive East
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
250-996-7554 Phone
view our website
ABC Communications
1-888-235-1174 Phone
view our website
Ambulance Services
All calls to the emergency number for an ambulance go to the Kamloops dispatch for response by fire, police and ambulance.
Fort St. James is served by a 24-hour ambulance service, employing 10 staff at the paramedical (advanced life support) level. The station has two ambulance units that are staffed 24-hours per day.
All areas emergency contact: 1-800-461-9911
Counselling Services
Adventures in Recovery Counselling & Consulting Services
360 Stuart Dr. W.
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
Hours: By Appointment
Contact Information:
Ray or Blanche Bertrand
250-613-2667 or 1-866-613-2667 (toll free)
250-996-7662
Counselling and consulting services. Seminars, workshops, gender-based counselling, clinical assessments.
Fireweed Safe Haven
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
Hours: All Hours
Contact: Brandi Hanterman
250-996-8081 Phone (call collect)
250-996-8000. Emergency phone
Emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing violence, Stopping the Violence counselling.
Fort Alcohol & Drug Counselling
Box 217, 140 Stuart Drive
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
250-996-8411 Phone
250-996-8307 Fax
Contact: Kathy Palmer
Nechako Valley Community Services
Fort St. James Office:
349 Stuart Drive West
PO Box 1146
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-7645 Phone
250-996-7647 Fax
A registered non-profit society that provides counselling services for children, youth and families. Click here for more information.
Snow and Ice Control
The District of Fort St. James maintains the streets and sidewalks within the District, with the exception of Highway 27 (Stuart Drive West and a portion of Douglas Avenue) which is maintained by Yellowhead Road & Bridge. Rural area roads are maintained by Yellowhead Road and Bridge.
District of Fort St. James Policies:
Please contact the District of Fort St. James for further information about streets and roads in town:
250-996-8233 Phone
Please contact Yellowhead Road & Bridge for further information about streets and roads in the rural area:
250-996-8422 Phone
view the website
For highway travel advisory, please contact DriveBC:
1-800-550-4997 Phone
view the website
Garbage and Recycling
Garbage Collection
The municipal garbage service provides weekly garbage pickup for residential properties within District boundaries and more frequent service as needed for businesses.
Residential pickup is on Tuesdays south of Nahounli Creek, and on Wednesday north of Nahounli Creek. Garbage must be in containers with lids, and we recommend that you set your garbage out by 7:30 am so you don’t miss the service. Pickup times are subject to change without notice.
For further information about water, sewer and garbage, please contact the Public Works Office.
Contact Information:
Public Works Superintendent
Dennis Saharchuk
P.O. Box 640, 477 Stuart Drive West
Fort St. James, British Columbia
Canada V0J 1P0
250-996-7161 Phone
Recycling
For recycling information, please view the Recycling Guide
Truck Routes
The truck route through Fort St. James is via Highway 27.
Heading north, Highway 27 becomes Douglas Avenue between Kwah Road and Stuart Drive. The highway continues along Stuart Drive West, through the commercial district, and resumes as Highway 27 North at Heathmont Street.
The load limit through town is 5 tonnes, with a 50% limit during road bans in the spring. Contact the Public Works Superintendent for up to date information on load restrictions:
250-996-7161 Phone
Fitness Centres & Weight Rooms
XS Power Gyms
- 24 Hour Gym
- Weight Loss & Fitness Centre
- Personal Trainer
- Vitamins, Minerals
- Cardio Equipment
- Free Weights
561 Stuart Drive West
P.O. Box 507
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
996-7000 Phone
250-996-7070 Fax
view our website
Family PACE Fitness
250 Stuart Drive E.
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
Terri-Lee MacDougall
250-996-2230 or 250-996-2294 Phone
250-996-8071 Fax
One-hour workout in 30 minutes.
Hospitals
Stuart Lake Hospital
The hospital, located in Fort St James, was established in 1972. This acute care facility serves the residents of Fort St. James and surrounding areas.
The hospital provides:
- 7 medical beds, 2 surgical beds, 3 pediatric beds, 3 maternity beds and 4 newborn bassinets.
- Inpatient services include medicine, surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics.
- Outpatient services include laboratory, x-ray and dietary services.
Contact Information:
600 Stuart Drive East
PO Box 1060
Fort St James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-8201 Phone
250-996-8777 Fax
To find out more about our Regional Health Services follow this link
Property Rentals and Sales
Rental Assistance Program
The BC Housing Rental Assistance Program provides cash assistance for eligible families renting in the private market. For families who have a total household income of $35,000 or less, this assistance can make a significant difference in their ability to better afford rent, buy food, medicine and other necessities.
To qualify for the program, families must have a gross household income of $35,000 or less, have at least one dependent child, have lived in BC for the past twelve months and have spent part of last year or this year working.
1-800-257-7756 Phone Toll Free
Police Services - RCMP
Police Services (RCMP)
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the Canadian national police service and an agency of the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. The RCMP is unique in the world since it is a national, federal, provincial and municipal policing body. They provide a total federal policing service to all Canadians and policing services under contract to the three territories, eight provinces (except Ontario and Quebec), approximately 198 municipalities and, under 172 individual agreements, to 192 First Nations communities.
For more information on the RCMP, visit the national website at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca .
Policing in Fort St. James
The Fort St. James detachment responds to many emergency situations, along with routine calls for service, and provides crime prevention programs with support from our many volunteers. The police officers and staff are dedicated to working with the Fort St. James and surrounding areas. Fort St James RCMP Detachment
The Fort St James Detachment is staffed by one Sergeant in-charge of the detachment two Corporals, seven general duty Constables, and has four First Nations Policing positions: one Corporal assigned to Yekooche, two constables assigned to Tl’azt’en and one constable assigned to Nak’azdli.
Fort St. James Detachment provides a service to a number of First Nations communities through Community Tripartite Policing agreements exist with the Tl’azt’en, Nak’azdli and Yekooche First Nations. In 2002, a community police office opened on the Yekooche First Nations Reserve. A First Nations Community Policing position, staffed at a corporal level, works out of the Yekooche First Nation Community Police office. Policing concerns differ little between the communities.
The RCMP Detachment police officer and staff are committed to working with the District, surrounding First Nations communities, and the various community groups, businesses and individuals to ensure that residents of District of Fort St. James enjoy safe homes and safe communities.
Health Unit
Northern Interior Health Unit
121 – 250 Stuart Drive
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
Contact: Public Health Nurse
250-996-7178 Phone
Public Health Services include:
- Health promotion
- Health education
- Prevention of disease and injuries
- Supporting healthy families
Download Public Health brochure
Golfing
Stuart Lake Golf Course
Come challenge yourself to a game of golf on a 9-hole course enjoyed by all levels of golfers. Aside from the course itself, the major challenge on this course is not being distracted by the beautiful view of Stuart Lake.
The Golf Course offers opportunities for individuals, private groups and businesses to participate in the annual golf tournaments or to create a weekend tournament of your own.
Call the Stuart Lake Golf Course to book a tee time or for details of the upcoming tournaments.
Stuart Lake Golf Course
250-996-873 Phone
Sports & Recreation Community Groups
Fort St. James Ball Association
Gladys Hart
P.O. Box 1893
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
250-996-7963 Phone
Fort St. James Curling Club
Don Martin
P.O. Box 497
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-8711 or (250) 996-7010 Phone
Curling Rink
Fort St. James Falcons Speed Skating Club
Kris Nielsen
P.O. Box 486
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-7756 Phone
Short Track – Fort Arena , Long Track – Fort St. James Speed Skating Oval
Fort St. James Ladies Hockey
Lonnie King
P.O. Box 585
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-7930 Phone
Wednesday nights at 9:45pm
Fort St. James Minor Hockey
Jeff Holland
PO Box 984
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-5210 Phone
Fort St. James Old-Timers Hockey
Bruce Russell
P.O. Box 910
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-7569 Phone
Fort St. James Recreation Hockey
Troy Bruvold
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-8208 Phone
Saturday nights at 8:00-12:00pm
Fort St. James Tae Kwon Do Club
P.O. Box 356
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-8317 Phone
http://www.northerntaekwondo.com
Fort St. James Youth Soccer Association
Brian Ray
P.O. Box 1295
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-6910 Phone
Registration begins after spring break
Soccer season: March to June
David Hoy Elementary
Murray Ridge Nordic Ski Club
Shaun Hales
P.O. Box 1767
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-8218 Phone
250-996-5425 Fax
Murray Ridge Ski Area
Dan Goff
P.O. Box 866
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-8515 Phone
250-996-7880 Phone
Stuart Lake Figure Skating Club
Ulrike Roessler
P.O. Box 543
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-7917 Phone
Stuart Lake Golf Club
Mike Gardner
2704 Stones Bay Road
P.O. Box 158
Fort St. James, British Columbia V0J 1P0
250-996-8736 Phone
Rural Transfer Station
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday and Sunday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed: Statutory Holidays
Disposal Information
Materials Accepted For Disposal
- Common Household Garbage
- Small Volumes (Less Than 2 m2, Standard Pick-Up Truck Box) of Construction / Demolition Waste
Materials Accepted For Recycling
- Clean Wood Waste – Untreated, No Paint, No Stain
- Metal Products Including:
- Propane Tanks
- Crushed Food Cans Auto Hulks – Restrictions On Disposal (Call the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako for more information)
- Appliances – $16 Fee Is Charged For Appliances Containing Ozone Depleting Substances (Freon)
- Glass – Clean Food Jars
- Auto Batteries
Other Services
Reuse Shed
Any materials that are usable, or that may be salvaged, can be brought to the Reuse Shed. Items in the Reuse Shed are then free to the general public.
Bike Collection Area
An area for the collection of old bikes and reusable bike parts that may be salvaged by the general public.
Materials Not Accepted
- Tires
- Pesticides and Herbicides
- Contaminated Soils
- No Creosote Treated Wood Products
Also not accepted products at the Transfer station are used Oil Products and Filters. You can recycle at: Co-op Stations and British Columbia Used Oil Management Assocation Website
Facility Location
The transfer station is located on Necoslie Road and is a service of the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.
Please call the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako office for information on materials accepted, and the Enviromental Services Department will answer your questions 250-692-3195 or 1-800-320-3339.
Hiking Trails
Hiking Trails Around Fort St. James
The Loop
Starting from Cottonwood Park, making a 3.5 km loop, this path is a terrific asset for strollers, walkers and runners. It is a well-maintained gravel surface, separate from vehicular traffic; two thirds of the path is lighted for safe night-time use.
Mt. Dickenson Trail
Located just a few minutes from downtown, near the hospital on Pineridge Way, this trail is very steep and rocky in places, but leads you to stunning views of Fort St. James, Stuart Lake, and the surrounding area. Round trip takes about 1.5 hours.
Mount Pope Trail
Located off of Stones Bay Road, this trail is 6.4 km from the bottom to the top, a 4 to 6 hour return trip. Be sure to wear good shoes and bring water! There are several rest points/lookouts along the way, with a panoramic view of Stuart Lake and the whole Fort St James area from the gazebo at the top. Elevation at the top is 4,828 feet.
Nyan Wheti “The Trail Across”
This 45 km ancient pack trail connecting Stuart Lake and Fraser Lake is recommended for experienced hikers only.
Other trails in the area include Shas Mountain, Antimony Mine, Tulle & Marie Lake.
Regional Hiking Trails
Black Point Trail
Getting There
Go west on Highway 16 and travel 3.9 km from Fraser Lake, then turn left (south) onto Francois Lake Road. Follow Francois Lake Road (seal-coated) for 7.1 km then turn left (south) onto Nithi Road. Travel down Nithi Road for 1.9 km then turn right (west) onto Dahlgren Road. Travel on Dahlgren Road past the east end of Francois Lake and across the Nithi River Bridge. At approximately 4.3 km from the Dahlgren Road turn off there is a small forest service campsite and at 7.4 km you will find the Black Point Trail parking lot is off the side of the road, which accommodates 4-5 cars. The total distance from the Fraser Lake Tourist Info Centre to the Black Point Trail Parking Lot is 20.3 km and a 20 minute drive.
The Trail
The Trail is an easy walking trail suitable for running shoes. It is moss covered and descends down to Francois Lake. It passes through a mature Pine and Spruce forest with patches of poplar and Douglas fir trees. The pine and spruce are over 140 years old. The area is representative of the Sub-Boreal Spruce dry cool biogeoclimatic sub zone. It is a site rich with devil’s club, thimbleberry, peavine and black twinberry (Bearberry). Follow the trail 1 km down to the lake. At the lake there is an old trapper’s cabin. Walk along the lake for another 0.5 km to Black Point Rock outcropping at the edge of the lake. From here see the beautiful view of the lake, hills and beach. The pebble beach spans a 0.5 km length. It is a great place to get away to swim or cast for fish. At Black Point up the hill is an open fir stand that has been there of over 250 years old. It takes about 1 hour to hike (round trip), but plan on additional time to enjoy the secluded beach and surroundings.
Cabin Creek Falls
Getting There
Travel east on Highway 16 and travel 5.7 km from Fraser Lake, turn right (south) onto the Holycross Forest Road. Watch for the signs marking Holycross Forest Road. Travel down Holycross Forest Road for 31.5 km. On the left side of the road you should see a sign marking the beginning of the trail. There is no parking lot so you must park on the north side of the road. The total distance from the Fraser Lake Tourist Centre to the Cabin Creek Falls Trail sign is 37.2 km and takes about 30 minutes.
The Trail
The trail is marked by orange diamonds and is easy to follow. The route is rather flat, an easy walk through stands of lodge pole pine. The trail starts off going through knee deep grasses, then follows along the creek. Be careful along the rocks as they can be rather slippery when wet. The trail ends at the top of the falls, which are small but are nice to view. There is no safe way to reach the base of the falls, so watch children carefully. The trail is approximately 0.5km and takes about 15 minutes.
Cheslatta Falls Trail
Getting There
Turn left (east) on Highway 16 and go for 5.7 km and turn right (south) onto the Holycross Forest Road (there are signs marking Holycross Forest Road). Follow the Holycross Forest Road until you reach the bridge at 59.5 km. On the South-East side of the bridge, there is a sign marking the trail’s beginning. The total distance from the Tourist Centre to the Cheslatta Falls Trail is 65.2 km and a 60 minute drive. Parking is either on the left (north-west) side of the bridge following a small road that leads down to a parking area, or you may park at the Cheslatta Forestry Campground located across the road from the trail (To get to the campsite drive 500m south from the bridge turn right and take the lower campsite route. There are outhouses available at the campsite.)
The Trail
The trail is quite steep in the beginning and can be slippery when wet as it follows the river. Follow the hiking diamonds that are along the trail. The trail ends on a cliff where you view the falls. Be careful as there is no protection along the cliff. Walk back down the trail a few metres and off to the left is a trail leading down to the base of the falls. There is a camping area, and a fire pit, plus a good fishing area. There is a loop going back up to the road that goes along the river. About half-way back to the road there is a camping site on the loop. There is also a native hospice that is interesting. The trail is approximately 1.2 km long (one way). It takes about 2 hours to hike the trail, and view the falls.
Fraser Mountain Trail
Getting there
Go east on Highway 16 and go for 14.6 km from Fraser Lake and turn right (south) off the highway into the Fraser Mountain Trail parking lot. Note: the access is a small road that is hard to see. The parking lot can hold 4 to 5 cars. The total distance to the turn off is 14.6 km and takes about 15 minutes.
The Trail
The trail is rather steep with rocky patches so it is recommended that one wear hiking shoes. The trail starts to the left of the parking lot and is marked by orange diamonds. The trail passes through spruce, balsam and Douglas fir. There are Douglas fir that have been struck by lightning. The trail’s first 0.5 km is the old ski hill and fairly steep. The path is ankle deep grasses. At about 1 km there is a view point on the left of the trail that overlooks Fraser Lake and area. After the first viewpoint it levels out for about 0.5 km. the trail then becomes quite steep again as it goes up the mountain to another viewpoint at 3 km. This viewpoint has a bench, where you can sit to view the east end of Fraser Lake. From left to right you can see Fraser Lake, Nautley River, and the Nechako River. The trail then levels out going along the opposite side of the mountain. Along the trail there are Huckleberries which ripen the beginning of August. Follow along the trail until you reach a small road leading up to the fire lookout tower. At the fire lookout tower there is a great view of the area. The lookout tower was built in 1961 but is no longer in use. After viewing the lookout, return the same way that you came following the orange diamonds. The trail is approximately 4.1 km (one way) and takes about 4 hours.
Mouse Mountain Trail
Getting There
From Fraser Lake, turn right (north) on Carrier Crescent. Turn right past the Arena on Mouse Mountain Drive. At the next intersection turn left on Murray Street. Follow the road past the 4 way stop and past Mouse Mountain School onto a dirt road. Following the dirt road there is a parking spot at the base of the hill. The total distance from the tourist centre to the Mouse Mountain Trail sign is 1 km.
The Trail
The trail is marked by green diamonds and is easy to follow. The trail passes through a 250 year old Douglas Fir stand. The trail is quite steep as it zigzags up the hill. There are rest areas which have unique views of the town and Fraser Lake. At the top of the hill there is a beautiful picnic area with a view of Fraser Lake. When proceeding down the hill be careful of loose rocks. About half way down the back of the mountain is a tree marking the beginning of the White Swan Trail with an orange circle. Proceed to the right to continue on Mouse Mountain Trail. The trail zigzags to the bottom of the hill and then along the base of Mouse Mountain back to the parking lot. The Trail is approximately 2.8 km and takes about 1 hour.
Hospitals
Stuart Lake Hospital
The hospital, located in Fort St James, was established in 1972. This acute care facility serves the residents of Fort St. James and surrounding areas.
The hospital provides:
- 7 medical beds, 2 surgical beds, 3 pediatric beds, 3 maternity beds and 4 newborn bassinets.
- Inpatient services include medicine, surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics.
- Outpatient services include laboratory, x-ray and dietary services.
Contact Information:
600 Stuart Drive East
PO Box 1060
Fort St James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-8201 Phone
250-996-8777 Fax
To find out more about our Regional Health Services follow this link
KDL Bike Park
KDL Bike Park
Fort St James KDL Bike Park is an amazing Skills Park that has hella fun pump track, technical features area, wicked flowy jump lines, slope style features and trail all built into just under 2 acres. This park is yet another fantastic contribution to the Northern route and is worth driving to the ‘end of the road’ for in a heart beat.
In 2008, Fort St. James came together along with the building experience of Jay Hoots of Hoots Inc., and created the KDL Bike Park. The youth in the community showed up every day to help build, local contractors either worked for free or at a very discounted rate and club members and locals at large came out to not just help but to commit to the project until finished.
Jumps, a double width wall, a river complex, a step up/down box and mounds and mounds of wonderful dirt, the Fort St. James bike park is a must for bikers of all ages.
Nechako Valley Community Services Society
Who We Are
Nechako Valley Community Services Society (N.V.C.S.S.) is a registered non-profit society that provides counselling services for children, youth and families in the communities of Vanderhoof and Fort St. James as well as providing service for children and youth two days a week in Fraser Lake.
The Society was established in 1977 and currently has a seven-member board of directors with representation from the three communities that we serve. Our Board members are all professionals or retired professionals who have extensive experience in business and/or social purpose enterprise.
Mission Statement
Nechako Valley Community Services Society is dedicated to collaborating with Government Ministries and Community Based Organizations in supporting children, families and individuals in order to promote independence and confidence in managing their daily lives.
Objectives
Based on the philosophy and within the resources available to us, the Society will strive to provide and maintain:
- Programs to include physical, social and emotional assistance and advocacy for children, families and individuals.
- Programs on the promotion of health including self care, life skills, parenting and wellness.
- An atmosphere in which the rights of clients and staff to be free from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse will be respected and maintained.
- A safe working environment with opportunity for personal growth and development, beneficial to the client, the employee and the community.
- Strict client confidentiality.
- The inclusion of the client and family in planning of interventions which will respect the clients values and beliefs.
- An organization which is responsible and fiscally stable.
Learn more about Nechako Valley Community Services
Locations and Contact Information:
Vanderhoof:
157 West Victoria Street
Box 1249
Vanderhoof, British Columbia
V0J 3A0
250-567-9205 Phone
250-567-3939 Fax
Fort St. James
349 Stuart Drive West
Box 1146
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-7645 Phone
250-996-7647 Fax
Fraser Lake:
Adult Learning Centre
110 Chowsunket St
Fraser Lake, British Columbia
KidSport™ So all kids can play!
The KidSport™ Fund is the charitable arm of Sport BC that is designed to remove the financial obstacles that prevent some children from playing sports. Grants to individual athletes are given to children whose families cannot afford sport registration fees and would otherwise not be able to participate in a season of sport.
At KidSport™ they believe that no child should be left on the sidelines. They offer an opportunity for children to participate in the sport of their choice, in their own community, by providing grants to cover the registration fees of a season of organized sport.
All applications are kept strictly confidential, and most children do not know that they have received funding. Since its inception in 1993, KidSport™ has raised over $2 million, and assisted over 20,000 children between the ages of six and 18. In 2005 KidSport™ increased the number of grants 35% over the previous year, thanks to new community chapters and additional corporate partnerships.
For more information or an application visit the “KidSport” website.
Service BC
Service BC is your source for frontline government services and information in British Columbia. Service BC delivers hundreds of programs and services to residents, businesses and visitors – in person, online, and over the phone.
Available services are:
- Ambulance Billings
- BC Assessment Information
- BC Hydro Payments
- BC Parks Reservations
- Birth, Death and Marriage Certificate Applications for all of Canada
- Boater Safety Program
- Business Information and Referrals
- Child Care Subsidy Program
- Community Access Terminal
- Company Name Searches and Registrations
- Consumer Taxation Payments and Forms
- Electrical Permits
- Fish and Wildlife Licences
- Freedom of Information Act Applications
- Gas Permits
- Land Lease Tenure Payments
- Land Title Searches and Information
- Legal Services Society Forms and Access
- Logging Tax Payments
- Lottery Licences
- Marriage Licences
- Manufactured Home Searches, Relocation Permits and Registrations
- Medical Services Plan Registration and Billing Payments
- Migratory Game Bird Licences
- Mineral Titles Online
- Navigable Waters
- Official Anniversary and Birthday Greetings
- OneStop Business Registration
- Partnership/Proprietorship Searches
- Personal Property Registry
- Pesticide Exams
- Provincial and Federal Government Information and Referrals
- Residential Tenancy Information
- Rural Property Tax Collection
- Self Counsel Press Publications
- Student Loan Applications
- Tourist Information
- Trade Exam Invigilation
- Vital Statistics in BC
- Voter Information
Contact Information:
Service BC
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. (closed daily 12:00 to 1:00 pm)
470 Stuart Drive
Box 1328
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-7585 Phone
250-996-7652 Fax
Louly Thomson
Government Agent
Cathy Lychak
_Customer Service Representative _
Statutory Appointments Held:
- Commissioner for Taking Affidavits
- Deputy District Registrar of Voters
- Marriage Licence Issuer
- Notary Public
Municipal Parks
Municipal Parks
Fort St. James offers several community parks with a variety of amenities. There’s something here for everyone.
Spirit Square
Opened in 2009, the Spirit Square is the Fort’s new downtown gathering place. This park commemorates the 150th anniversary of the establishment of British Columbia as a Crown Colony. The park features include a large paved plaza, a centrepiece representing First Nations and European fur traders’ canoes, the town’s war memorial, a botanical garden and a monument to Estonian national hero and local pioneer Johan Pitka.
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Cottonwood Park
The Fort’s flagship park, Cottonwood Park is on the lakeshore, with easy access from downtown. It’s the home of many of the area’s special events, including Cottonwood Music Festival, Canada Day, Thunder on Ice and the Caledonia Classic Dog Sled Race.
Amenities at Cottonwood Park include:
- Beach
- Washrooms and changerooms
- Band stand
- Covered picnic area
- Playground
- Beach Volleyball
- Camping
- Marion Steam Shovel Display
- Information Kiosk
- RV Sani-dump
- Junkers Bush Plane Replica
Goodwin Park
This community park features a children’s play area, tennis courts, playing field and washrooms.
KDL Bike Park
Fort St James KDL Bike Park is an amazing Skills Park that has hella fun pump track, technical features area, wicked flowy jump lines, slope style features and trail all built into just under 2 acres. This park is yet another fantastic contribution to the Northern route and is worth driving to the ‘end of the road’ for in a heart beat.
In 2008, Fort St. James came together to build the KDL Bike Park. The youth in the community showed up every day to help build, local contractors either worked for free or at a very discounted rate and club members and locals at large came out to not just help but to commit to the project until finished.
Jumps, a double width wall, a river complex, a step up/down box and mounds and mounds of wonderful dirt, the Fort St. James bike park is a must for bikers of all ages.
Russ Baker Memorial
On a secluded bluff with a spectacular view over Stuart Lake, this memorial to the legendary pilot Russ Baker is a great place for a peaceful retreat.
Rotary Kiddie Park
A fun place for families with small children, this fenced playground features a water park, riding toys and picnic tables.
Sonny Hamper Ball Park
The main ball diamond has bleachers, concession and washrooms. A short walk away there are several other diamonds.
Regional Health Services
Stuart Nechako Health Services
The Stuart Nechako Region is part of the Northern Health Region which takes care of over two thirds of the land mass of British Columbia. The Region provides services for 300,000, with the headquarters in Prince George. Six thousand people work for the Northern Health region, and the operating budget for 2004/05 was approximately $448 million.
Fraser Lake Diagnostic and Treatment Centre
The Treatment Centre is operated by the Fraser Lake and District Health Society.
This newly completed facility offers the services of:
3 doctor’s offices
X-ray facilities
Laboratory
Public Health Nurse’s office
Patients requiring standardized care are referred to the nearest hospital in Vanderhoof, 56 km east of Fraser Lake. For more serious conditions and acute care, patients are directed to Prince George Regional Hospital. Emergency service is available by air to Prince George.
Stuart Lake Hospital
The hospital, located in Fort St James, was established in 1972. This acute care facility serves the residents of Fort St. James and surrounding areas.
The hospital provides:
- 7 medical beds, 2 surgical beds, 3 pediatric beds, 3 maternity beds and 4 newborn basinettes.
- Inpatient services include medicine, surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics.
- Outpatient services include laboratory, x-ray and dietary services.
St John Hospital
The hospital, located in Vanderhoof, has been in existence since 1941. The hospital is part of the Stuart Nechako Regional Hospital District serving the region. Today St John Hospital is a modern 24 acute care bed and eight bassinet facility, with an additional 50 complex care beds in the newly completed Multi-Care Facility.
A major redesign and construction of post-operative recovery room and services is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2005. The Omineca Medical Clinic, located across the road from the hospital, operates five days a week and is staffed by 10 physicians.
The St John’s Hospital services include:
- Emergency treatment
- Labor and delivery
- X-ray and ultrasound
- Minor orthopedic surgery
- Minor general surgeries
- In-patient recreation and physiotherapy
St John Hospital is a teaching facility for the University of British Columbia. Visiting specialists are referred for orthopedics, urology, ororhino-laryngology (ENT). Services that are operated on an outpatient basis from the St. John Hospital include:
- Diabetic counseling and daycare
- Occupational therapy
- Smoking cessation program
- Dietetic services and counseling
- Healthy heart program
*Mental Health Unit *
The Mental Health Unit serves the communities of Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Fort St James and Burns Lake, providing on-site counseling and outreach services for adults with crisis and persistent mental disorders. A visiting psychiatrist and geriatric psychiatrist provide delivery for 4-5 days once every four months.
Other Services
Vanderhoof has three dental clinics, a private physiotherapy clinic, a local search and rescue group, as well as 20 other health related support groups, volunteer associations and service providers. Fort St James and Fraser Lake have one dental service each.
Northern Health Connections
Northern Health Connections is a travel service program for patients needing to travel for out-of-town medical appointments in northern BC and between northern BC and Vancouver.
NH Connections is operated under contract to Northern Health by Diversified Transportation Ltd. (DTL) of British Columbia. DTL is a division of Pacific Western Transportation.
The program provides patients with new transportation options to reduce one of the costs associated with visiting specialists, obtaining specialized diagnostic testing, and receiving other health care services not available in the patient’s home community.
We know there are many people in smaller communities who need to travel for specialized medical services offered in larger centres. Northern Health Connections will offer patients the support they need to get the services they require.
To find out more information visit the Northern Health Connections page on the Northern Health Authority website.
Northern Health Authority
The Northern Health Authority is responsible for the delivery of health care across Northern British Columbia, including acute care, mental health, public health, addictions, and home and community care services.
*Geography *
NHA covers almost two-thirds of British Columbia’s landscape, bordered by the Northwest and Yukon Territories to the north, the BC interior to the south, Alberta to the east, and Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the west. For a more detailed view of the region, download the NHA Regional Map (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required).
NHA is divided into three operational areas called Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDAs): the Northeast, the Northern Interior, and the Northwest. This structure helps to provide a greater degree of local operation and decision-making for health facilities across Northern British Columbia
Population
About 300,000 people live in Northern BC. By 2010, the population is expected to grow to just over 348,000. The North has the highest projected growth rate of seniors in BC, with a 48 per cent projected increase by 2010. 13 per cent of the population is Aboriginal, the highest proportion in the province.
Governance
NHA is governed by a nine-member board, made up of individuals from throughout the North.
Operating Budget
NHA’s annual operating budget for the 2005/2006 fiscal year is $482 Million. Of that total:
- Acute care services are budgeted at $170.2 million.
- Home and community care services are budgeted at: $68.9 million.
- Community programs (including public health) are budgeted at $69.9 million.
- Administration costs equal 6.3 per cent of budget, below the BC average of eight per cent.
Medical Staff and Employees
Seven thousand people work for NHA. They hold about 4,000 full-time equivalent positions.
Facilities
Within NHA, there are over two dozen acute care facilities, 14 long term care facilities, public health units, and offices providing specialized services.
Service Delivery
In the 2004/2005 operating year:
- Physicians across NHA performed over 24,000 surgeries.
- NHA welcomed the arrival of almost 3,000 babies across the region.
- Facilities across NHA provided 544 acute care bed spaces, and more than 64,000 (in-patient) overnight stays were recorded.
- NHA facilities scheduled over 110,000 outpatient visits (including specialty clinics and rehabilitation).
- NHA emergency departments received almost 255,000 visits.
- Home support workers provided almost 375,000 hours of assistance to clients.
- Home care nurses provided over 60,000 hours of care to individuals at home.
- Care facilities across the region provided 900 residential care bed spaces.
Source: Northern Heath Quick Facts
For more information visit the Northern Health Authority website.
Murray Ridge Nordic Ski Club
Murray Ridge Nordic Ski Club
Cross Country Skiing at Murray Ridge. The Club offers 20 km of groomed and track set cross country trails. A 3.7 km lighted loop and a warm up building are located at the club’s facility off Chalet Drive just prior to the Murray Ridge Ski Hill daylodge and parking lot.
The trails are maintained weekly by a group of volunteers:
- 7.5 km of trails (Beaver and Lynx Trails) groomed every Tues and Friday Nights for skate and classic skiing (Piston Bully Groomer)
- An additional 8 km of trail maintained on a weekend basis using a snowmobile and track setter.
- 3.7 km of lighted trails – no specific night skiing night as all members can turn the lights on whenever they want – thus contact a member
Annual Event – Winter Wellness Triathlon
The Winter Wellness Triathlon is held in January of each year.
Previous years have seen between 60 and 100 people participating in the event. The event combines classic cross country skiing, running, and then skating to make up the triathlon. The skiing is held on the Murray Ridge Nordic Ski Trails and then the run goes from close to the Whiskey Jack Restaurant on the North Road to Fort St. James Secondary School where the skating takes place. We are fortunate to have the Long Track Speed Skating oval maintained by the speed skating club.
The event has both a long and short course. The long is composed of a 13 km ski, 9 km run, and 5 km skate and the short course is a 7 km ski, 4.5 km run, 4.5 km run (9 km run split in half) and then a 3 km skate. People can complete either the long or short course solo or in teams of up to 4 people.
If you are interested in participating in this event contact Shaun Hales @ 250-996-6888.
Murray Ridge Ski Hill
Come ski with us today!
Murray Ridge Ski Hill is open to downhill skiers and snowboarders, and is known for great powder and sunny days. Murray Ridge offers 22 alpine runs with a vertical drop of 1,740 ft and a base elevation of 2,300 ft. This family-oriented hill is excellent for all levels of skiers and riders. A complete rental shop is on-site and offers equipment repairs, waxes and tune-ups. If you are beginning or are continuing to imporve your performance, the Ski and Snowboard school is available daily for all levels and ages. Murray Ridge hosts the annual Great Bathtub Race, with an emphasis on fun rather than competition. If you’re in the area when the race is on, make sure you check it out. If your adventure begins with hot chocolate and a good book, Murray Ridge has a licensed full service lodge facility.
Murray Ridge Ski Hill is located 10 km north of Fort St. James.
Hours of Operation
General hours are Thursday to Monday 9:30 am – 3:30 pm.
Murray Ridge Stats
Season: December to late March
Runs: Novice 27%, Intermediate 33%, Advanced 40%
Number of Trails: 22
Km of Trails: 30
Vertical Drop: 518 m (1,700 ft)
Top Elevation: 1,980 m (6,500 ft)
Annual Snow: 300 cm (118 in)
Trail Map
Black Diamond – Very Difficult
1 – Fort Navigation
2 – Shaw
3 – Newlands
4 – Lodge
5 – Cinnabar 15
6 – Willick
7 – Timber Bay
8 – Jae Rae
18 – Northern Mtn.
19 – Haslinger
Blue Square Intermediate
9 – Stuart Lake
12 – Cassiar
13 – Pinewood
14 – Hat Lake
15- Takla
20 – Nancy Greene
23 – Stones Bay
Green Circle – Beginner/Novice
10 – Tuck
11 – Molstar
16 – Middle River
17 – Apollo
21 – Bunny Hill
22 – X-Country Trails
24 – K&D Trail
Ski Facilities
- T-Bar Tow
- Handle Tow
- Day Lodge
- SB Snowboard Park
- Glade Skiing
- Cross Country Skiing Nearby
Contact Information:
Manager: Daniel Goff
PO Box 866, Chalet Drive
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-8515 Office
250-996-7880 Fax
250-996-8513 Snow Phone
visit our official web site
For information on the Murray Ridge Ski Patrol call 250-996-8515.
Women’s Shelters
The Fireweed Safe Haven is a 7-day/24-hour emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing violence, located in Fort St. James.
Fireweed Women’s Collective Society was formed in 1994 by women interested in education about and prevention of violence against women and children and exploring the possibility of a women’s shelter for the region. Since then, the organizations has been involved in a variety of grassroots projects.
Services
Emergency Shelter
We provide shelter for women & their children who are victims of spousal abuse, provide them with necessary counselling and to make available medical and legal services when needed. The facility is a 7-day/24 hour emergency shelter that can house up to 8 people.
The house is fully secure with video camera surveillance around the perimeter of the building, steel doors, video intercom access camera, two safe rooms located on either side of the house with monitored panic buttons. While staying in the Fireweed Safe Haven, a Crisis Intake Worker provide crisis support and referral to outside agencies while empowering the individual to make positive lifestyle choices for themselves and their children.
Stopping the Violence Counselling
Are you (or were you) in an abusive relationship? Do you have nightmares or flashbacks? Are your past experiences influencing your current relationship? Abuse in relationships can take many forms beyond bruises and broken bones. Yelling, making threats and preventing you from seeing friends and family are also forms of abuse. There are many others.
For appointments, please call the STV Counsellor at 250-996-8083.
Supportive Recovery Bed
Safe housing and support for a woman going to or returning from drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, or for a woman on suicide watch.
Educate the Community
Provide education and develop community awareness around women’s issues in rural communities by sponsoring awareness events.
Contact Information:
Our emergency number is 250-996-8000.
Please call collect if you are not in our dialing area.
Brandi Hanterman: Manager
250-996-8081 Phone
Email:
What Is Abuse?
A woman may experience abuse in many forms in her life including physical, emotional/psychological, verbal, environmental, social, financial, sexual, religious/spiritual, or ritual abuse. Everyone has a right to live free from violence and/or abuse.
Spiritual Abuse
Involves ridiculing a woman’s beliefs, using her beliefs to manipulate her or denying her or her children’s involvement in her spiritual or religious beliefs.
Physical Abuse
Can include slapping, punching, kicking, biting, shoving, choking, using a weapon to threaten or injure the woman and children. It can included any unwanted physical contact or physical neglect, and it may result in death of the woman and/or child.
Emotional/Psychological Abuse
Includes various forms of intimidation, harassment, excessive jealousy, control, isolation, and threats.
Environmental Abuse
Includes making a woman feel afraid in her home or environment by destroying property and possessions as a form of intimidation.
Verbal Abuse
Includes constant criticism, blaming, false accusations, name calling, comments about woman’s body, and threats of violence toward the woman or people or things she cares about.
Social Abuse
Includes isolating the woman from her friends and family.
Financial Abuse
Includes preventing a woman from having financial independence, economically exploiting her, or preventing her from having any control over the family’s money and purchase decisions.
Sexual Abuse
Includes any forced sexual activity. It can also include infecting a woman with a sexually transmitted disease by engaging in unsafe sexual practice. May also include unwanted pregnancies.
Funding
The Fireweed Collective Society Board of Directors would like to gratefully acknowledge the volunteers, funding agencies, and working partnerships because “You believe in us; we believe in us.”
- Vancouver Foundation
- BC Real Estate Foundation
- District of Fort St. James
- Nak’azdli Band
- Tl’azt’en Nation
- Fort St. James Drug and Alcohol Services Society
- Nechako Valley Community Services Society
- Stuart Lake Community Services Society
- Omenica Safe Homes Society
- Ministry of Community, Aboriginal & Women’s Services
- Northern Health Authority Support Recovery
- Justice Canada
- Residents & Businesses of Fort St. James
Provincial Parks
This Provincial Park, less than 10 km from Fort St. James, features camping, sandy beach, a day use area, covered picnic area, playground, volleyball, and a boat launch.
Only 15 km from town, this provincial park features beachfront camping and a boat launch.
15 km round trip hiking trail with view points.
Volunteer BC
Volunteer BC is a provincial association of volunteer centres, provincial voluntary organizations and individuals working together to strengthen the growth and development of voluntary action in British Columbia.
Currently, there are over 30 volunteer centres in British Columbia, with several others in the development stage. These centres play a key role in promoting and supporting effective volunteering in our communities. Volunteer centres work with a broad range of organizations across the voluntary sector including human and social services, health care, education, arts, sports and recreation. They provide recruitment, referral and support services to these organizations, disseminate information on volunteer management and programming, provide training for volunteers and managers of volunteers, and advocate on issues related to volunteerism and volunteer programs.
Check out the Volunteer BC website for more information about their programs.
Volunteers Now
VolWeb.ca is a web-based registration system designed to connect volunteers to event organizers across B.C. to support events from local festivals to international sporting tournaments – such as the Grey Cup, the World Junior Hockey Championships, the Hyack Community Festival and BC Games.
VolWeb.ca helps individuals to build their volunteer resume, provides valuable communication links to volunteer resources and gives you access to online discussion boards and live web meetings.
Volunteerism is something that everyone can participate in – Everyone has a gift to give.
Check out the VolWeb website for more information about their programs.
Volunteer Canada
Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, Volunteer Canada has been committed to supporting volunteerism and civic participation through ongoing programs and special projects.
National in scope, Volunteer Canada’s board members, partners and members represent hundreds of different communities across Canada. Our membership includes over 86 volunteer centres established throughout the country in all provinces and the Yukon Territory. We also work in close collaboration with the federation of over 110 volunteer centres in Quebec. Managers and directors of volunteers represent a vital aspect of volunteerism in Canada and make up an important aspect of our organization’s community.
By developing resources and national initiatives, we actively engage in research, training and other national initiatives designed to increase community participation across the country. Volunteer Canada provides leadership on issues and trends in the Canadian volunteer movement.
Check out the Volunteer Canada website for more information about their programs.
Sewer and Drainage
The Fort St. James Sewer System serves Fort St. James and Nak’azdli Reserve.
SD91: Elementary and Secondary Schools
School District 91: Elementary and Secondary Schools Local Schools
Continuing Education
Fort St. James
Adult Education
Enrollment: 250
David Hoy Elementary
Fort St James, BC Kindergarten to Grade 7
Sowchea Elementary
Fort St James, BC Kindergarten to Grade 7
Fort St. James Secondary School
Fort St. James, BC Grade 8-12
Enrollment: 350
Regional Schools
Fort Fraser Elementary
Fort Fraser, BC Kindergarten to Grade 7
Enrollment: 105
Mouse Mountain Elementary
Rural – Fraser Lake, BC Kindergarten to Grade 3
Enrollment: 100
Fraser Lake Elementary-Secondary
Fraser Lake, BC Grade 4-12
Enrollment: 320
eBus Academy®
Province-wide (online) Kindergarten to Grade 12
Enrollment: 659
Eugene Joseph Elementary-Secondary
(Affiliated but not part of SD 91)
Tachie, BC Kindergarten to Grade 7
Enrollment: 80
Evelyn Dickson Elementary
Vanderhoof, BC Kindergarten to Grade 7
Enrollment: 257
Mapes Elementary
Rural – Vanderhoof, BC Kindergarten to Grade 7
Enrollment: 40
Prairiedale Elementary
Rural – Vanderhoof, BC Kindergarten to Grade 3
Enrollment: 80
Sinkut View Elementary
Rural – Vanderhoof, BC Grade 4 to 7
Enrollment: 84
W.L. McLeod Elementary
Vanderhoof, BC
Kindergarten to Grade 7
Enrollment: 247 *French Immersion offered
Nechako Valley Secondary School
Vanderhoof, BC Grade 8 to 12
Enrollment: 700
Valhalla High School
Vanderhoof, BC
Alternate school system for high school level students
SD91: French Immersion
School District 91: French Immersion
The French Immersion program is open to all students. If you want your child to develop proficiency in Canada’s two official languages, and to learn about another culture, French Immersion has a great deal to offer. Children benefit from learning in two languages – their thinking and reasoning skills improve, and English language skills are enhanced.
Many parents also believe that French Immersion will give their child additional career opportunities. We live in an increasingly global economy, so proficiency in more than one language will be an advantage for career development and will give students a competitive advantage in the job market. The French Immersion program is open to any student in kindergarten or starting grade 1. Out-of-district families are accommodated when possible. A child needs prior knowledge of French to enter the French Immersion program after the beginning of grade 1.
What about English?
While there may be an initial lag in some English skills in the primary years, immersion students rapidly catch up to students in regular programs during the intermediate years.
Home support?
Many parents ask:“If I don’t speak French at home, how can I help my child in French Immersion?” The French Immersion program is designed for children of non-French speaking parents. Your involvement and support for your child’s education is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your child is successful in school – that is true no matter what program your child is taking. Reading to your child in English is one important role you can play.
Percentage of French used by grade level?
In grades K-2 English may be used at the outset to establish routines. After this, English is used only if necessary and in exceptional circumstances.
French Immersion is offered at:
W.L. McLeod (250) 567-2267
Muriel Mould Primary (250) 692-7505
William Konkin Elementary (250) 692-3146.
Please feel free to contact the school that is closest to you for more information.
SD91: Aboriginal Education Programs & Services
School District 91: Aboriginal Education Programs & Services
Many aboriginal events happen in our schools including:
- Cultural programs
- Carrier Language
- Academic support
- Home-school coordination
- Curriculum integration
- Trips
- Conferences
- Guests
- Aboriginal days
- Students performances
Please contact your school to find out more about what’s happening.
SD91: Student Support & Special Education
School District 91: Student Support Services & Special Education Services
The purposes of this page is to provide access to information on district policy, ministry policy and resources for parents and educators. The links below connect to different resources.
Student Support Services and Special Education Services within School District 91 (Nechako Lakes) function within the mainstream as an integral part of the regular school framework.
Wherever possible, students are educated with their peers within the regular classroom setting.
Alternate settings can be arranged where the classroom setting does not make sense either for that child or for the other students in the classroom.
Services provided include programs in the following areas:
- Physically Dependent
- Deaf and Hard Of Hearing
- Blind and Visually Handicapped
- Physically Handicapped
- Chronic Health Impairments
- Autistic
- Moderate To Severe/Profound Intellectual Disability
- Severe Behavior
- Mildly Mentally Handicapped
- Severe Learning Disabled
- Moderate Behavior Disorders
- Alternate/Rehabilitation
- Gifted
- English As A Second Language
- Speech and Language Disorders
- Hospital/Homebound
- Assessment/Counselling
- Learning Assistance
For more information contact:
Student Services District Staff
Assistant Superintendant
Charlene Seguin
(250) 567-2284
Counsellors
Allan Whidden
Lisa Ketlo
(250) 699-1104
Pam Hachey
(250) 567-7446
Todd Blattner
(250) 567-4413 ext. 2241
Teacher of Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Paul Woolnough
(250) 567-2291
*Speech & Language Pathologists *
Barb Williams
Winifred Comeau
Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders partner
Elizabeth Lemay
Contact Us
For information on your child’s program please contact the school principal
For information on programs and resources please contact:
Charlene Sequin
Assistant Superintendant in charge of Special Education
(250) 567-2284
Claire McKay
District Vice-Principal for Special Education
(250) 996-1600
College of New Caledonia - Nechako Region
The *College of New Caledonia-Nechako Region *(CNC-Nechako) serves 12 multicultural communities of varying size with a total population of over 20 000 in a geographical area covering 1 105 900 hectares – half the size of Vancouver Island. First Nations comprise 8 of the regional communities served. The First Nation communities include members from Nad’leh Whuten, Saik’uz, Nak’azdli, Tl’azt’en, Stellat’en, and Takla.
Focusing on quality programs and services, CNC-Nechako has been serving adult learners and our communities for more than 30 years. The role of CNC-Nechako is to equip learners to identify and meet the complex and evolving needs of their communities in ways that are culturally appropriate, economically and socially relevant, and wholly reflective of the adult learner.
For more information visit the CNC-Nechako website
or contact the College of New Caledonia:
Fort St. James Campus
Box 1557, 179 Douglas
Fort St. James B.C., V0J 1P0
Phone: (250) 996-7019
Fax: (250) 996-7014
E-mail:
Fraser Lake Campus
298 McMillan Avenue
Fraser Lake, B.C., V0J 1S0
Phone: (250) 699-6249
Fax: (250) 699-6247
E-Mail:
Vanderhoof Campus (Nechako Main Campus)
3231 Hospital Road
Vanderhoof, B.C., V0J 3A2
Phone: (250) 567-3200
Fax: (250) 567-3217
E-Mail:
Career & Trades Training
Stuart Nechako Region: Career & Trades Training
Open the door to great career opportunities!
Open the door to great career opportunities and job satisfaction!
What do you want to achieve…
To advance in your current career?
To learn new skills to make a career change?
To return to the workforce after starting a family?
The Nechako Career Centre offers free advice and assistance on planning your educational and career goals. In addition to advising, the Nechako Career Centre also provides assessment testing, a resource library, job board and more!
CNC – Nechako’s main campus is located in Vanderhoof with an office in Fort St James and Fraser Lake.
Check out what is being offered at CNC – Nechako or email for more information.
Adult Education
Complete your:
- Grade 12 – Adult Dogwood
- Upgrading and course prerequisites
You choose courses and schedules that work around your job and family demands. We provide you with instruction and support that suits your learning style. You get employability and leadership skills that help you find a job.
Fort St James
College of New Caledonia: 250-996-7019
Fort St. James Adult Centre: 250-996-7712
Fraser Lake
College of New Caledonia: 250-699-6261
Fraser Lake Learning Centre: 250-699-6261
Vanderhoof
College of New Caledonia: 250-567-3200
Nechako Learning Centre: 250-567-4744
Industry Training Authority
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) is a provincial government agency legislated to govern and develop the industry training system in BC.
The ITA is working with industry, people pursuing training, and training providers to develop an approach that will effectively meet industry training needs, now and in the future. Improved approaches to skills training will position BC for economic success, and provide opportunities to individual British Columbians.
Some trades and industry occupations in British Columbia are facing skills shortages that have the potential to limit the growth of specific industries and the provincial economy. The ITA aims to address this challenge by increasing the number of people in industry training by 30 percent over the next three years, as well as by improving completion rates and creating greater flexibility within the industry training system.
The ITA is working with stakeholders to ensure there is a clear focus on industry and labour market needs. People pursuing training are being provided with more flexible options to gain skills and credentials, through such approaches as modular training and competency-based evaluation. New credentials are being developed to better meet current needs.
Visit the ITA Industry Training Programs page to find program descriptions and outlines for each of the trade and industry career choices offered in British Columbia.
Work Futures BC
Work Futures BC provides a comprehensive description of close to 200 occupations as they relate directly to the B.C. labour market. It is for learners, individuals interested in changing careers or re-entering the labour market, and for career practitioners.
Education Planner
For complete program information on public post-secondary education in BC go to Education Planner. It contains a searchable database and is like having all of the calendars at your fingertips.
Get the latest information on undergraduate program availability, application dates, tuition costs, admission requirements, lengths, and much more at 27 of BC’s post-secondary institutions.
Pre-school and Daycares
Children’s Programs
Books for Babies
A community-based literacy program focusing on the importance of reading to newborns. Reading kits are provided to all new parents in the community.
Tiny Tots @ Your Library
A parent-child group program is offered at the Fort St. James Bicentennial Library. This program includes rhymes, songs and stories and is designed for children from birth to 36 months and their parents. Two 10-week sessions, Thursdays from 10-11:30, are offered annually. Registration required.
Story Time
A drop-in story time is offered at the Fort St. James Bicentennial Library every Wednesday (year round) from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. for children ages 3 to 6. Sessions include storytelling, songs, finger rhymes, craft activities, felt board stories and puppet shows.
Summer Reading Program
Every summer in July and August the Fort St. James Bicentennial Library offers the Summer Reading Program for children ages 7 to 12. During 6 sessions over the summer, children participate in reading, craft, and outdoor activities designed around the annually-changing theme.
Teen Summer Reading Program
An online reading program where teens ages 13 to 18 post book reviews and receive feedback and prizes for their participation. To access the Teen Summer Reading Webpage click here or go to http://www.teensrc.ca
For more information on children’s programs, contact Diana Uhrich at the library.
Our Building
New Library Building
In 2006 Fort St. James celebrated its 200th birthday. The District of Fort St. James proclaimed the construction of a new library as the official project of the bicentennial , and the opening of the new library was a key event in a year-long calendar of celebrations and special events.
Our new building allows us to provide more programs, quiet areas for reading, research and computer access, and accessibility for all our patrons.
We are still a public library. Changing our name to Bicentennial means our community will continue the celebration and the sense of pride we share in our history and our strengths for years to come.
But it looks finished to me…..
Now that the doors are open, we can celebrate the successful completion of Phase 1 – the building phase. Phase 2 is the finishing and completion stage. The library may look finished, but there are still things that need to be done.
What’s needed to finish the library?
- Window Coverings
- Furniture, including folding tables and storage shelving
- Office equipment
- Mechanics for an elevator lift, so disabled patrons can access the mezzanine
- Flooring for the mezzanine area
- Completing the landscaping around the building
Please consider making a donation to your library. All donations are tax deductible and donors will be recognized. To make a donation, please talk to the librarian or a library board member.
Thank you to all the Financial Supporters of the the New Library
Memory donations
In Memory of Kora Prince and Matthew Karey contributed by Joyce and John Helweg
In Memory of John and Marion Rasmussen contributed by Danny Rasmussen, Laura and Brian Amyot, Jimmy and Pat Kuharchuk, Kenny and Lynn Rasmussen, and Alan and Anna-Marie Rasmussen
*The Library Board and Staff would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to everybody who helped to make this project a success.*
Northern Interior Fire Training Centre
Fort St. James, British Columbia
Working together to provide fire training in the north
Our Mission: “To provide quality fire training opportunities to a broad client base at an affordable cost”
Contact the Fire Training Centre at 250-996-8670 contact the College of New Caledonia at 250-996-7019.
For upcoming program listings and registration information, see the College of New Caledonia website.
About the Facility
The centre is located on one acre of secured property in Fort St. James and features a 2,400 square foot, two-storey concrete building used for live burn training. The structure is equipped with thermo-couplers with exterior digital readouts located throughout. The main floor has two burn pads, protected with state of the art refractory tiles, as well as a spectator viewing room. The stairwell can be used for simulated below grade fires. There is an exterior staircase to a second floor balcony. The second floor has a center hallway, one lined burn room and one search and rescue room.
Training Programs Offered:
The Northern Interior Fire Training Centre offers year-round training.
- FS440-Live Fire Level I
- FS441-Live Fire Level II
- Live Burn Orientation
- FS100-Auto Extrication Level I
- FS101-Auto Extrication Level II
- Public Fire Education
- Fire Extinguisher use and Handling
- FSTRIT100-Rapid Intervention Team
- Hazmat Awareness with Spill Control
- S101-Fire Service Instructor – I
Emergency Preparedness
An emergency or natural disaster can happen anytime, anwhere.
The District has an Emergency Plan to guide response to major emergencies and disasters. There are also Provincial and Federal entities that play a role in emergency planning and response.
Personal emergency preparedness is also important. It goes a long way toward safeguarding your family – residents should be prepared to take care of themselves for the first 72 hours of an emergency, allowing government agencies to respond effectively to any emergency situation.
There are also volunteer opportunities with the Volunteer Fire Department, Extrication Society and Search and Rescue.
For further information, please contact the Fort St. James Fire Department:
Weekdays 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Closed Statutory Holidays)
374 Manson Street
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J1P0
Contact Information:
Phone: 250-996-8670
Fax: 250-996-7474
Frequently Asked Questions
Come back soon to find out answers to our Frequently Asked Questions
Recreation & Culture Guides
The District of Fort St. James “Eureka! Discover Summer 2010” Summer Recreation Guide is available for viewing or download and provides you with information on leisure-time activities for people of all ages, interests, and skill levels.
Recreation Facilities
Recreation Facilities
The Fort Forum Arena offers ice for Hockey, Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Public Skating and other recreation groups October through March. Four dressing rooms, concession, skate sharpening are all available.
The Curling Rink, run by the Fort St. James Curling Club, has three sheets of ice, and a licenced bar.
Stuart Lake Golf Club, open May to September, has nine holes and a lounge
Cottonwood Marina has berths for vessels, 24-hour security and sheltered boat launch. Open mid-May through mid-September
Poison Control
Poison Control – available 24 hours 1-800-567-8911
Utilities Billing
Water, Sewer & Garbage are billed quarterly for all properties in the District of Fort St. James. A 10 per cent discount is available for utilities paid on or before the due date.
Sports in BC
Sport BC
Sport BC is a non-profit society founded in 1966. As the provincial federation for sport, They represent more than 80 sport organizations including 64 Provincial Sport Organizations. This also encompasses some 800,000 sport participants in British Columbia; athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers.
For four decades, Sport BC has been a leader on the provincial scene, advocating for sport, fostering the growth of organized sport, and reminding all of the positive impact that sport has on our communities and our lives. Service and advocacy are at the heart of what they do, working daily to help sport organizations across the province to grow and succeed. Sport BC’s belief in the bar” is reflected in our unwavering commitment to setting higher standards, bringing forth new innovations and initiatives, and doing even more to champion the cause of sport.
For more information visit the .
Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts Sport and Recreation Branch
The Sport and Recreation Branch develops, implements and partners in strategies to address systemic issues and opportunities for sport and physical activity. These strategies focus on the settings in which sport and physical activity occur – communities, schools, homes, workplaces and organized sport. The Branch develops, implements and advises on public policy that guides government decision-making in respect to sport and physical activity. It also develops and maintains inter- and intra-government partnerships to ensure that B.C.’s sport interests are well-represented in health, social and economic activities.
For more information visit the” Sport and Recreation Branch website”:http://www.hls.gov.bc.ca/sport/.
Other Contacts around Town
Nak’azdli Band Council
Highway 27 North at Kwah Road
Box 1329
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
Chief: Fred Sam
250-996-7171 Phone
250-996-8010 Fax
view the website
Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed on Statutory Holidays
37 3rd Avenue, PO Box 820
Burns Lake, British Columbia
V0J 1E0
Contact Information:
250-692-3195 / 1-800-320-3339 Phone
250-692-3305 Fax
View our website
Fort St. James Chamber of Commerce
115 Douglas Avenue
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information
250-996-7023 Phone
250-996-7047 Fax
view our website
Northern Interior Health Unit
250 Stuart Drive East
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-7178 Phone
Stuart Lake Hospital
600 Stuart Drive East
Box 1060
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
250-996-8201 Phone
250-996-8777 Fax
Northern Health Contacts
Fort St. James Medical Clinic
270 Stuart Drive East
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
250-996-8291 Phone
250-996-8212 Fax
Fort Outreach Employment Services
Box 1209
#242-250 Stuart Drive
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information
250-996-8251 Phone
250-996-8898 Fax
Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm
view our website
School District No. 91 – Nechako
153 E. Connaught Street
P.O. Box 129
Vanderhoof, British Columbia
V0J 3A0
Contact Information:
Superintendent of Schools: Charlene Seguin
250-567-2284 or 1-800-903-4771 Phone
250-567-4639 Fax
view the website
College of New Caledonia
Box 1557, 179 Douglas
Fort St. James British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
250-996-7019 Phone
250-996-7014 Fax
view the website
Make an Escape Plan
Make an Escape Plan
When a fire occurs, there is no time for planning. So sit down with your family today and make a step-by-step plan for escaping a fire.
Know 2 Ways Out
Draw a diagram of your home, showing every door and window. Plan two ways out of every room, especially the bedrooms. Then walk through each escape route, checking for barriers. Make sure everyone can unlock all locks and open all windows and doors quickly, even in the dark.
Escape a 2 Storey House
If you must escape from a second-storey window, be sure you have a safe way to reach the ground. Make special arrangements for small children and people with disabilities.
Get Out Fast
In case of a fire, don’t stop for anything. Do not try to take possessions or pets. Just get out. Call the fire department from a neighbour’s phone after you are out.
Do Not Go Back
Make sure everyone in your family knows that once they are out, they must not go back for any reason. If people are trapped, firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them.
Call the Fire Department After You Escape
Everyone should gather at one meeting place outside, preferably at the front, where the fire department will arrive. Each family member should know how to place an emergency telephone call from a neighbour’s home.
Practice Your Plan
At least twice a year, have a fire drill in your home. Appoint someone as the monitor, to sound the alarm and make sure everyone participates.
The majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping. So start the drill, go to your bedroom, close the door, and wait for the monitor to sound the alarm.
Make your exit drill as realistic as possible. Practice both escape routes. Pretend that certain exits are blocked by fire, that there are no lights, and that the hallways are filling with smoke.
Remember, a fire drill is not a race. Get out quickly, but carefully.
Be Ready for Hazards on the Way Out
Test Every Door – Before opening a door, make sure there is no fire on the other side. Kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up high and use the back of your hand to touch the door, the door knob, and the space between the door and the frame. If any of these feels hot, use your second way out.
Crawl Low – Smoke contains deadly gases and is hot, so it will fill the room from the top down. If you encounter smoke using your primary exit, use your alternate route instead. If you must exit through smoke, the best air will be several inches off the floor. Get down on your hands and knees, and crawl quickly to the exit.
Stuart Lake
Fort St. James Recreation: Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake is one of the largest natural fresh water lakes located in British Columbia, Canada providing over 275 kilometres of shoreline to explore. The northern village of Fort St. James and many of the local community parks in the region rest on the southeast shores of the 90 kilometre long lake.
The largest width of Stuart Lake extends 6 to 10 kilometres from shore to shore. The community of Fort St. James is the easiest point to access the lake via a paved road. With a good off road map the lake is also accessed at various points on the lake by some active and deactivated gravel logging roads.
The lake is a popular recreation destination for many locals and visitors but what makes Stuart Lake even more special is that it is part of a chain of lakes extending over 300 kilometres long connecting Stuart with the Trembleur and Takla Lakes. Stuart lake is the main starting point for many.
Together the lakes provide some of the best rugged wilderness scenery in the north of BC via lakes and rivers . The remote, untouched country is a transportation route explored by mostly boaters and canoe enthusiasts. It is also a route explored by Salmon. The Stuart-Trembleur-Takla Lake System is BC’s longest migration route for Salmon.
The Tachie River connects Trembleur Lake to Stuart Lake. The river should be approached with caution as it is over 26 km long and consists of fast moving currents spotted with small rapids. The 22 kilometre Middle River connects the Takla to Trembleur Lakes and is recognized as a BC Heritage River.
The chain of lakes work together providing over 630 kilometres of shoreline to explore. The route is rustic and rugged with few amenities along the waterway. There are some small parks and protected coves for anchorage along the boating route. Be aware that heavy winds funnel down the chain of lakes which makes the route difficult and dangerous at times. Plan your route around the weather.
The Stuart-Trembleur-Takla Lake System provides some remote wilderness scenery when fishing, boating and canoeing. Sports Fishing is huge here with the lake being home to many rainbow trout, kokanee and char. Many of the Fort St. James local parks like the Cottonwood, Paarens and Sowchea Parks have boat launches accessing the chain of lakes from Stuart Lake.
Throughout the chain of lakes are many coves, points and islands to moor a boat. There are a few ideal spots to moor your vessel and take out the binoculars to view some of the wildlife in the area… and there is plenty to see including grizzly bear, wolf, mule and white-tail deer, lynx, fox, beaver, marten, otter, and wolverine.
The most popular marine parks on the chain lake system are the Stuart Lake Marine Park which enjoys four lakeside recreation sites and the 3 marine parks on BC’s 5th largest lake – the 96 kilometre long Takla Lake.
Where to go to access Stuart Lake: The lake can be accessed via paved roads and gravel logging roads. Most access Stuart Lake from the community of Fort St. James, BC, Canada via paved roads. The village of Fort St James has parks with boat launches accessing Stuart Lake connecting to the other lakes. Some of the more popular parks with boat launches in the community include the Cottonwood, Paarens and Sowschea Parks.
With a good off road map book the lake is easily accessed at various points along the chain of lakes via active and deactivated gravel logging roads. Should be attempted by a 4×4 vehicle only..
- All types of recreational boating
- Moor your boat at Cottonwood Marina (see below) or one of the private marinas
- Swim or sunbathe at one of the sandy beaches
- Fish for rainbow trout, lake trout and whitefish
- Strap on your water skis
- Explore remote islands, beaches and caves
- See ancient aboriginal pictographs
- Jet boat on Stuart River or Tachie River
- Camp at Paarens Beach or Sowchea Bay Provincial Parks
- Snowmobiling on the frozen lake surface
- Ice fishing
- Ice sailing
- Dog sledding
- Visit one of several lodges
- Much more!
Cottonwood Marina
Located at 1995 Lakeshore Drive in Fort St. James, Cottonwood Marina offers sheltered mooring and boat launch for your recreational watercraft. We offer reasonable monthly rates, and a 10% discount if you prepay for the full season. Open mid-May through mid-September. Contact the District Office for further information: (250) 996-8233.
Natural Gas
Pacific Northern Gas supplies natural gas to approximately 39,100 residential, commercial and industrial customers in its operating region. The Company has four large industrial customers: Methanex Corporation, West Fraser Mills Ltd., Alcan Smelters & Chemicals Ltd and B.C. Hydro and Power.
Visit their website for commercial and residential rates.
Water
The Fort St. James Community Water System is one of the largest public aquifer systems in Canada. This water system serves Fort St. James and Nak’azdli Reserve.
Housing & Real Estate
Want to know where a property is located?
Check out these community maps:
- Fort St James Community Map 1
- Fort St James Community Map 2 (Stones Bay)
- Fort St James Community Map 3 (Tachie Rd)
Real Estate Online
Visit the” MLS Online website for real estate listings in our area.
Housing Prices
Housing prices are relatively low in Fort St James, with many properties listed at lower than $100,000. With the recent expansion of the local sawmills, many new people have arrived in town, so there are few listed homes at this time. However there are many serviced building locations available in the District of Fort St James municipal boundaries.
Owning a home in Northern British Columbia remains much more affordable compared with the burden of home ownership in Vancouver. For 2004, the Housing Affordability Index for northern British Columbia was 22.2% compared with 47.1% for Vancouver.
Regional figures provided by BC Stats (2001) are representative of Fort St James. The average value of owner-occupied private dwellings is $130,660 compared with the provincial average of $230,645. The average gross rent in the Bulkley Nechako Region is $558 compared with the province’s average of $750. The average owner’s major payments are $722, while the British Columbia average is $904.
Land Development
The following types of land are available for development in the District of Fort St James, held by private owners, the municipality, or on Crown Land:
- Single family dwelling lots
- Multiple family dwelling lots
- Subdivision lands
- Manufactured home subdivisions
- Light and heavy industrial
- Highway commercial
- Office/Retail Space
There are key locations available for rent or purchase in the downtown area of Stuart Drive, as well as other prime locations. The attractive downtown includes ornamental trees and lighting, and benches where customers can pause outside your business or visit with friends.
Fort St. James Rural
Regional District of Bulkley Nechako
Office Location:
37 3rd Avenue, PO Box 820
Burns Lake, British Columbia V0J 1E0
250-692-3195 Phone
1-800-320-3339 Phone Toll Free
250-692-3305 Fax
View the website
Area “C” Director – Elected Representative
Tom Greenaway
Box 1296
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
250-996-8484 Phone
2006 Statistics Canada Area “C” Community Profile:
2006 Population: 1,355
Land Area (square km): 25,663
Total Private Dwellings: 626
For more information on Area C see Statistics Canada
Local Services Provided by the Regional District of Bulkey-Nechako in Area “C” (Fort St. James Rural):
- Fort St. James Arena Grant
- Building Inspection
- Building Numbering
- Development Services
- Economic Development
- Electoral Area Planning
- Emergency Preparedness
- Environmental Services
- General Government Services
- Grants-in-Aid
- Fort St. James Library Grant
- Liquid/Solid Waste Disposal
- Pump and Haul Sewer Disposal
- Rural Fire Protection
- Rural Government Services
- Television Rebroadcasting
- Weed Control
Communities within the Area
Nak’azdli, Tl’azten, Yekooche, Germansen Landing, Manson Creek, Leo Creek, Takla Landing, Middle River
First Nation Communites
Takla Lake Band, Yekooche First Nation, Tl’azten Nation, Nak’azdli Band
Electoral Area “C” Boundary
Generally, Area “C” is the rural area surrounding Fort St James, including Manson Creek, Germansen Landing, Takla Lake and Leo Creek.
Southern Boundary (Hwy 27): – About 1 km north of Cook Road – About 1 km south of Pitka Creek Forest Service Road
Fitness Centres & Weight Rooms
XS Power Gyms
- 24 Hour Gym
- Weight Loss & Fitness Centre
- Personal Trainer
- Vitamins, Minerals
- Cardio Equipment
- Free Weights
561 Stuart Drive West
P.O. Box 507
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
996-7000 Phone
250-996-7070 Fax
view our website
Family PACE Fitness
250 Stuart Drive E.
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
Terri-Lee MacDougall
250-996-2230 or 250-996-2294 Phone
250-996-8071 Fax
One-hour workout in 30 minutes.
Mt. Pope Hiking Trail
Mt. Pope Hiking Trail
This is one of the more popular hiking trails in the region of Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada because of the big views this hike offers. But the views come at a price because to enjoy the views one must complete a steep hiking trail up a mountain to an old forestry lookout. This hike requires some effort.
The well maintained hiking trail is located in the Mount Pope Provincial Park located north of the community of Fort St. James. The day-use park was established to protect the sensitive limestone bluffs, caves, wildlife and the local flora and fauna in the area. The highlight of the park is the Mt. Pope Hiking Trail.
The 6-7 Km (4.3 mi.) route follows an earthy, pine-needle cushioned trail up Mount Pope via a series of switch backs to a peak providing fantastic 360 degree views. The views capture the valley including the many lakes of the region like the Stuart, Tezzeron, Pinchi and Trembler and the looming Omenica Mounatin Range. To further enhance your visit to the peak there is a gazebo located at the top. An ideal location for a snack after a tough hike.
The one way trail up the mountain is considered difficult and should only be attempted if in good reasonable physical condition. The entire hiking adventure, up and down the mountain, should take 4-5 hours to complete depending on your group’s fitness levels. Along the trail, especially after a steep climb, are a few resting benches. A welcome sight for some.
The bluffs on Mount Pope are also a popular destination for rock climbers although the routes are not as well known as some of the more popular routes in BC, Canada. The local rock climbers in the area have mapped out 39 climbing routes on Mt. Pope. To find out further information please contact the local rock climbing club.
In 1865 one surveyor and a guide for the Western Union Telegraph climbed the local mountain to get a better view of the surrounding land. As each were exploring the slopes for possible routes to lay the telegraph line they got separated. One was lost on the mountain for two days. The locals named the mountain after him. His name was Franklin Pope.
From the large parking lot on Stones Bay Road the trailhead is easily spotted. There is an information billboard in the parking lot with some information about the park and trail. It is important to note there is no water on this trail so please pack some.
Contact information for the local Fort St. James, BC accommodations, tours, guides, golf courses and attractions, realtors, etc. are posted under the links listed to your right. =)
How to get to Mt. Pope Trail: Travel north on the main route through the community of Fort St. James. Take a left onto Stones Bay Road. The trailhead parking lot is 4 kilometres down Stones Bay Road on the right hand side of the road.
Dickenson Mtn. Trail
Up the hill behind the village of Fort St. James, BC is a wonderful short hike called the Mount Dickenson Trail. The moderate grade hiking route leads uphill to a viewpoint on a bluff with spanning views of the valley below.
The route follows an earthy path through a mixed forest of trees, rich with low lying vegetation hiding deadfall trees and the moss covered forest floor. When hiking the trail there are grooves sliced into the trail created by seasonal run-off water carving a path down the mountain. In some seasons this route can get muddy.
The trailhead is only a short drive east of the village up behind the local school on a hill. In the subdivision on the hill is a paved street that ends and then begins again as a gravel road. Hike a short 400 to 500 metres on the gravel road to the trailhead marker located on the right leading up the mountain.
From the trailhead to the views is about 2 KM. The hike is short but steep with some sections of the path more difficult than others. The trail should take no longer than 2-3 hours to complete a round trip adventure. Make note that on our trip we found the trailhead poorly marked and the sign missing.
How to get to Dickenson Mountain: Once in the community of Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada follow Stuart Drive to the hospital and turn left on Pineridge Street. Drive 400 – 500 metres past the end of the paved street to the entrance. Most park on the side of the paved street and walk to the trailhead.
Adopt a Block
_Interested in keeping Fort St. James sparkling clean? _
The Adopt-A-Block program may be the answer and it’s very simple to participate. As an individual, community organization, or local business, just commit to picking up litter a minimum of twice monthly along a section of street or in an area. Garbage bags, gloves and special garbage pick up will be provided by the District. Two Adopt-A-Block signs with your group’s name will be erected on the street or area that has been adopted.
Please call the District Office at 250-996-8233 if you have questions or would like to participate in this program.
Stuart Lake Seniors Recreation Centre
50 and Over Club
259 Simon Fraser Ave
P.O. Box 1568
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
Brigitte Boehnke – President
250-996-8814 or 250-996-2152 Phone
Activities:
- Mon and Friday -Bowling – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Wednesday – Exercise – 1:00
- Lunches are being served Monday to Friday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (minimal fees)
- Potluck Gathering – first Thursday of every month
Fees: $10 per year membership.
Services Provided:
- Seniors’ aerobics
- Potluck dinners
- Carpet bowling
- Social events
- Hall rentals
Nak’azdli Health Centre
Nak’azdli Health Centre
284 Kwah Road
Nak’azdli Reserve
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0
Contact Information:
250-996-7400 Phone
Fire Department
Fort St. James Volunteer Fire Department
The Fire Hall is located at 374 Manson Street, with a satellite hall at 11700 Sowchea Road. The protection area covers all of the District of Fort St. James, Nak’azdli Reserves No. 1 and 2, and a large portion of Regional District of Bulkley Nechako Rural Area “C”.
The Fire Department provides the following services:
- Fire prevention and education
- Vehicle extrication
- Fire suppression
- Fire inspection
- Burning permits
- Emergency planning
- Emergency operations centre
- Fire training
The Department is managed by a full time Fire Chief, with fire protection and suppression provided by volunteers.
To become a volunteer please contact the fire hall: 250-996-8670.
History
In the mid 1940’s, Fort St James was protected by a group of men, utilizing a home built trailer to carry their equipment. The trailer was stored at the Hill residence, and the firefighters vehicles were equipped with a trailer ball to enable them to tow the trailer to the fire scene. Notification of fire calls was done by sounding vehicle horns to alert the firefighters.
Chief Carnell was the first fire chief. The first fire station in 1949 was a one bay garage located on the northeast end of the present firehall lot. This housed a 1949 Ford truck, equipped with a home built 1000 gallon tank and a water pump.
In the mid 1950’s the department recognized a need to reorganize and expand, thus on February 8th, 1955, at 20:15 hours the first official meeting was held and the Fort St. James Volunteer Fire Department was established. At this time the force consisted of nineteen members under the direction of the Fire Chief D. Stalker. Chief Stalker was in office until February 1958, when he moved to Edmonton, Alberta and Chief A. Mitchell took over the position.
In 1955, the Fort St. James Volunteer Fire Department bingo was started as part of the fundraising efforts for the new equipment, building maintenance and making donations to various groups in and around Fort St. James. The Ladies Auxiliary to the Fire Department is also active in fundraising for various projects and also to provide relief for burnt out victims in the Fort St. James Protection area.
Staff
Chief:
Deputy Chief: Kelly Burdeniuk
Office Assistant:
Fire Fighters:
- John Bennison
- Lisa Button
- Kevin Dinwoodie
- Don Fraser
- Maurice Gauthier
- Harvey Goff
- Bob Hughes
- Steve Karey
- Tracey Lotze
- Alexandra Luggi
- Angela McLaren
- Gisele Minkowitz
- Pete Panesar
- Alex Pierre
- Joy Reierson
- Mark Rivard
- Kirstin Rudolph-Smith
- Nick Schemenauer
- Brian Schnepf
- Kelly VanKoughnett
Fort St. James 4H Club
Boys and Girls Club
Ages 6 to 21 years of age
“Learn to do by doing” is the Motto
Learn about raising livestock and pets
Learn about public speaking and demonstration
and much more
Contact Nancy Schlamp
at (250)996-7254
or Jamie Fraser
at (250)996-8747
Funshine - Splash into summer
You may register for Summer Recreation Programs at the District Office.
GUF’ers - “G"reening “U"p “F"ort Saint James
The GUF’ers Mission: To create a more sustainable Fort Saint James
BY…
1. talking to community members and finding out what they need to help them to live a more sustainable life style
2. identifying and trying to remove barriers in the way of sustainability
3. providing the skills and incentives needed to make positive behaviour changes
4. promoting and role modelling positive behaviour changes
5. identifying what the people of FSJ are doing that is already sustainable and celebrating it!
6. helping to create opportunities towards sustainability in FSJ (infrastructure, education, disseminating information)
See our wiki page: http://guffers.wikispaces.com/
Fort St. James Recycling Guide
Stuart Lake Figure Skating Club
The Stuart Lake Figure Skating Club has been in the Fort St. James Community for over 20 years. We currently run programs from ages 3 and up to adult. Our club strives to provide programs and opportunities to develop skills, confidence and how to have fun in figure skating. The SLFSC puts on a carnival for the community every second year, which is enjoyed by many folks in Fort St. James.
Figure Skating usually runs from October until February/March of every year.
Nov 23, 2011
Nov 23, 2010
Mar 12, 2009
