DAWSON CREEK

City of Dawson Creek    Community Fact Sheet    School District No. 59
InvestBC Community Profile    StatsCan Community Profile 2006
Peace River Regional District    PRRD Community Fact Sheet    PRRD Socio-Economic Profile

POPULATION

Dawson Creek has a population of 10,994 (2006 Census). According to BC Stats, the population was estimated at 11,514 (in 2009).

TOP EMPLOYERS

MAJOR EMPLOYMENT AREAS

Louisiana Pacific has operated an oriented strandboard plant in Dawson Creek since 1987.  It is one of the major employers in manufacturing.  Manufacturing in the City consists of small and medium-size businesses producing wood products, steel fabrication and welding. Opportunities are bountiful for value-added processing of wood, oil & gas, and agriculture resources.

Forestry
The 2.9-million-hectare Dawson Creek Forest District provides an estimated 1,700 jobs, ranging from truck drivers and equipment operators to camp crews. Species harvested include spruce, pine, balsam, and aspen, in quantities enough to build more than 33,000 houses annually! An extensive silviculture program is in place.

Local Ministry of Forest staff administer and implement forest and grazing range regulations and license agreements. In addition, they maintain recreation sites, hiking and snowmobile trails, and provide protection from forest fires. Spruce, Pine, Balsam, Aspen and Birch harvested Spruce and Pine planted Provides 1,700 jobs

• Size of Dawson Creek Forest District: 2.9 million hectares
• Size of Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area: 2.278 hectares
• Annual allowable cut in TSA (coniferous): 1,371,533 cubic metres
• Annual allowable cut in TSA (deciduous): 941,500 cubic metres
• Land and Resource Management Plan in place
• Number of logging truck loads harvested in 2001: 61,291
• Forest Service recreation sites: 15
• 30 km of hiking trails, 25 km of cross country skiing and 400 km of snowmobile trails are maintained

Agriculture
The dominant annual crops have been the traditional prairie crops; wheat, oats, barley, and canola. Almost 90% of BC's grain and 95% of BC's canola are produced in the Peace, as well as 90% of the dry field peas and 95% of forage seeds.

The Peace is a prime area for producing exceptional quality grass seeds. As one of Canada's most northern farming regions, the Peace benefits from long daylight hours during the summer, allowing for the production of crops which require a high number of growing degree days.

The long days are also a benefit to the region's 200 beekeepers, producing as much as three times more honey per hive than elsewhere in the province, and totalling, most years, 30% of the provincial honey crop. Peace honey is renowned for its exceptional flavour.

Of all the agricultural production in the Peace, livestock operations show perhaps the greatest potential. Abundance of space and quality feed have recently boosted both the hog and the traditional beef cattle industries, with cow/calf production now the largest in BC. Livestock production also includes dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, with a growing diversification into game farming of bison and reindeer, and exotic livestock including llama, alpaca, fox, ostrich, emu, and wild boar.

The Peace is home to some of the largest bison herds in the province, producing nearly three-quarters of BC's bison.

The only federally inspected slaughter facility in the region is located in Dawson Creek.

According to Statistics Canada’s Census, the industries employing the majority of people in the Dawson Creek area are retail trade, health & social services, accommodation & food, educational services, construction and transportation & warehousing.

For more information about Dawson Creek, please contact the City office at:

City of Dawson Creek
10105 - 12A Street,
Dawson Creek, BC  V1G 3V7
Phone: 250-784-3600
Fax: 250-782-3203
Email:  admin@dawsoncreek.ca