by Carl BR Johnson
May 11, 2013
Photo by William Stodalka — Dawson Creek has one of the youngest councillors in the province on a City Council, Duncan Malkinson.
The Peace Region has been growing and getting younger while doing so, according to figures released by Statistics Canada.
The region has been an increase of people in their twenties.
Dawson Creek saw its population swell from 10,994 to 11,583, a 5.4 per cent increase from 2006 to 2011 according to the Census Profile released this week.
The Mile Zero City’s largest member increases contain 955 people in the 25-29 year-old range and 925 people in the 20-24 year old group.
And Fort St. John’s population is increasing the same way, with a 5.4 per cent increase in its population census profile in that same time period.
The Energetic City’s population in 2006 was 17,697 and in 2011 it was recorded as increasing to 18,699 – an addition of more than 1,000 people.
Fort St. John’s population range of 25-29 year olds had 2,190 people in that group with the second largest population range containing 1,765 people in the 30-34 year old range.
With the presence of the oil and gas industry in B.C. and Alberta, the theory for the overabundance of young people could lie with the oil workers who call this region home.
Not only does does the industry have direct employees who live here, but they also create many spinoff jobs for other industries such as pipe-fitting, welding and mechanical support services.
Councillor Byron Stewart, acting Mayor of Fort St. John while Lori Ackerman is temporarily away, believes that the large young population group increases in the area are due in large part to the presence of vast resource reserves.
“I think the population increase is solely based on the oil and gas industry that we have happening in the area,” said Stewart.
“Oil and gas draws a younger population, predominantly male, and there’s the opportunity for employment and a promising future in our area.”
Stewart believes that most of the young men moving to Fort St. John are primarily from the areas of Canada with lower rates of employment.
“There are a number of people moving here that are from the eastern parts of Canada,” he said.
“We’re a beautiful city and we’ve come a long way in providing opportunities not just for the working male that comes looking for the high dollar in employment but we’ve also got a thriving arts and culture.”
Councillor Charlie Parslow, acting mayor of Dawson Creek for May and June, agreed with his Fort St. John counterpart that oil and gas has played a huge role in Dawson Creek’s young population increase.
“Without oil and gas we wouldn’t have seen that kind of growth here,” said Parslow.
“A lot of who we’re seeing move to Dawson Creek are from the Lower Mainland of B.C.”
Parslow also stated that housing prices are also a major draw to Dawson Creek because the same size house in the lower mainland goes for, “a fraction of the price.”
“Many who have moved here from the Lower Mainland tell me that they like the amenities that Dawson offers … and the culture here.”
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