COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROFILE

Transcription

1 COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROFILE

2 ADVENTURE STARTS HERE A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Imagine a place where you can step out your backdoor and walk in a forest or sit on the beach on your lunch hour. Where you can take a break from weekend chores and go skiing at the ski hill down the street. Where, on a hot summer evening, you can go for a canoe on the lake or a kayak in the river without even leaving town. Where you can drop your blanket on the grass for music in the park, where your kids can be part of the team, where you don t have to get up at 4am for ice time. This is Clearwater, part of the Canada you imagined. 125 kilometers north of Kamloops on the highway between Vancouver and Edmonton, Clearwater is the gateway to world famous Wells Gray Provincial Park, a vast wilderness full of outdoor adventure and spectacular scenery. In the center of town is Dutch Lake, an often mirror calm jewel that both locals and visitors alike enjoy for its swimming, fishing and watersports. The Raft, Clearwater and North Thompson rivers come together here in the traditional territory of the Simpcw people, with iconic Raft Peak and the alpine meadows of Trophy Mountains framing out an impressive picture. Clearwater came to life over 70 years ago as a logging and milling town, with the forest sector still thriving, partnering with Tourism as the two main industries. Beneath all the history and nature lies a very young town. Only incorporated 11 years ago, Clearwater has a new shopping centre, a modern hospital, several recreation facilities as well as biking, hiking and skiing, healthy living programs, and a transit system. A long list of volunteer, arts, and community groups will keep you as social and as busy as you desire. With a reasonable cost of living, excellent amenities, and its proximity to Kamloops and its airport, Clearwater is a great place to start a business, invest in an existing one, or move your homebased career to. Come here to find that balance in life. On behalf of Council, the business sector and our citizens, I welcome you to Clearwater. Mayor Merlin Blackwell

3 Welcome to Clearwater, BC Located in the heart of British Columbia and Wells Gray Country, Clearwater BC is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park and is surrounded by the Trophy Mountains, Raft Peak, Grizzly Peak and Dunn Peak. This rural community is the place for all seasons! Whether you plan to locate your business here, invest in the area, relocate your family or enjoy the abundant recreational opportunities, Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada has it all! Population District of Clearwater 2,324 * Wells Gray Country population 1,493 Total population DOC/WGC 3,817 *Only municipality. All other communities are unincorporated. Source: Statistics Canada 2016 Census GDP Growth Rate Estimated growth rate per annum is 0.52% Source: Thompson Nicola Regional District Unemployment Rate October 2018 Unemployment Thompson/Okanagan 5.9% Source: Work BC Labour Market Information Average Earnings and Family Income Median family income in 2016 All census families $64,655 Source: Statistics Canada 2016 Census Climate Facts Average Mean Temperature January C Average Mean Temperature July C Source Environment Canada

4 Accessibility Distance and Travel Time to Major Urban Markets Highway City Km Miles Travel Time We are centrally located within a one-and-a-halfhour drive to Kamloops BC, on Highway #5 (Yellowhead Highway) home to one airport. Kamloops, BC hrs Calgary, AB hrs Edmonton, AB hrs Kelowna, BC hrs Vancouver, BC hrs Bus Railway Clearwater & Area Transit Phone Fixed Route Local Service Providing 3 trips daily, Monday Friday, between Blackpool and Vavenby, with stops in Clearwater, Birch Island and other places. Valley Connector Fixed Route Kamloops Service: Weekly Tuesdays & Thursdays service from Vavenby to Kamloops. Door-to-Door Service Specifically for seniors and people with disabilities. This service must be pre-booked. Community Loop Inner community loop between shopping areas every hour Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 10am 3pm The Canadian National Railway runs through the North Thompson Valley, passing through the communities of Clearwater, Birch Island, and Vavenby. Private rail sidings service in Vavenby at the Canfor mill and the old Weyerhaeuser industrial site. Air Regional Airport & Air Cargo Services: Kamloops International Airport: Kelowna Chartered Flights: Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd Phone: clearwater@yhl.ca Charter, Air Ambulance, tour and contract services Air Taxi/Private Charter: Wells Gray Air Phone: wellsgrayair.com Emergency Services RCMP Volunteer Fire Department Wells Gray Search and Rescue Clearwater RCMP Detachment 205 Dutch Lake Road Clearwater BC V0E 1N2 Phone: (non-emergency) 336 Clearwater Village Road Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2 Phone: (non-emergency) districtofclearwater.com 40 E Old North Thompson Hwy Box 213, Clearwater BC V0E 1N0 Phone/Fax: wellsgraysar.ca

5 OPEN FOR BUSINESS The Business Community Clearwater Municipal Tax Rates 2018 Residential Utilities Supportive Housing Major Industry Light Industry Business/Other Managed Forest Land Recreation/Non-Profit Farm Source: District of Clearwater 2018 Annual Tax Rate Bylaw No.183 Major Employers/ # of Employees Borrow Enterprises Ltd...23 Buy Low Foods...65 Canfor Clusko Logging Clearwater...49 District of Clearwater...18 Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department...21 Jim s Market/Shell/ A&W...22 (includes full time, part time and casuals) Kurt Dodd Consulting...15 On Call Services...15 School District # Thompson Resource Management... 6 Wells Gray Inn...50 Wadlegger Logging...24 Yellowhead Community Services PERMITS ISSUED Building Permits 2018 Total value of $7,810,120 Building Inspection Planning & Development services are provided under contract to the District of Clearwater by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD). Land Availability Wells Gray Country: Total Land Area (ha)...732,680 * TNRD Agricultural Land Reserve in TNRD (ha) ,538 ** District of Clearwater: Total Land Area (ha)...5,694 * Vacant Commercial Land (ha) Vacant Industrial/Commercial Parcels *Source: Govt. of BC, Local Govt. Stats 2013 **Source: Agricultural Land Commission 192 BUSINESS LICENSES Business Licences A Business License can be obtained through the District of Clearwater office. As of December 2018, 192 local and out of town businesses were issued a Business License. Housing Average Cost Home Sold $241,593 * Average Rental 3 Bedroom Home... $1,100/mth Vacancy Rates... <1% *local Realtor office For information on economic development contact: District of Clearwater CAO / Economic Development Officer Leslie Groulx Phone: lgroulx@docbc.ca District of Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell Phone: mblackwell@docbc.ca Average Cost Home Sold 2018 $241,593 Visit our website at districtofclearwater.com

6 DUTCH LAKE COMMUNITY CENTRE Community Services Banking Health Care Royal Bank of Canada 74 Young Road Brookfield Mall Phone: Dr Helmcken Memorial Hospital 640 Park Road Phone: No. of Hospital Beds: 6 Average Occupancy Rate: 74.5%* Interior Savings Credit Union Murtle Crescent Phone: Source: Interior Health, Hospital Facility Profile 2015/16 The Medical Centre 258 Park Drive Phone: Clearwater Dental Clinic 258 Park Drive Phone: Education Services Vavenby Elementary School (K 7) 3157 Galiano Road, Vavenby Phone: Raft River Elementary School (K 7) 801 Clearwater Village Road Phone: Clearwater Secondary School (gr 8 12) 440 Murtle Crescent Phone: Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Clearwater Satellite Campus Dutch Lake Community Centre 209 Dutch Lake Road Phone: tru.ca This TRU satellite campus offers a range of credit courses such as computer certificate courses, the Home Support Residential Care Program, and other TRU programs such as Traffic Control. It also provides services such as General Education Development (GED) exams, Accuplacer Entrance exams and LPI English Placement exams. Dutch Lake Community Centre (DLCC) 209 Dutch Lake Road Municipal Hall Community Services: yellowheadcs.ca dlcc@yellowheadscs.ca The facility is home to the following organizations and businesses: District of Clearwater municipal hall, Yellowhead Community Services, Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce, North Thompson Arts Council, Service Canada outreach program, Thompson-Nicola Regional District (Services Coordinator), Thompson Rivers University (Clearwater Regional Centre), Tourism Wells Gray, and Wells Gray Community Forest Corporation. WorkBC Clearwater Employment Services Centre Phone: Young Road clearwateremployment.ca info@clearwateremployment.ca N O RT H A R T S C O U N C I L THOMPSON

7 Community Services, continued Water Supply The District of Clearwater provides potable water to 992 properties. The balance of Clearwater is on well or private water systems. TNRD operates the water system for the community of Vavenby. All other areas within the Clearwater and Wells Gray Country (Upper Clearwater, Blackpool, Birch Island) are on well or small private water systems. Sewer The District of Clearwater provides sanitary services to 248 properties, sanitary sewer lift stations, and consists of both fore-main and gravity. Septage The District of Clearwater operates a septage receiving station year round. Senior Services The Wells Gray Country Seniors Society is a very active group of seniors meeting at the Seniors Room at the DLCC (Dutch Lake Community Centre, 209 Dutch Lake Road, Clearwater). The society has a busy schedule: monthly Seniors Luncheon, Wells Gray Writers Circle, Seniors Book Club, Games Day, Bunco and planned bus trips. Contact: Lynne Frizzle at Evergreen Acres Senior Citizens Home Society is home to 24 low income units located at 144 Evergreen Place eacreshousing@gmail.com Childcare Facilities Child care programs such as licensed daycare, playschool, After School Care, Spring Camp and Summer Fun Days are offered through Yellowhead Community Services (YCS). Other programs for families with children such as Parent Child Mother Goose, Clearwater Playgroup, Early Years Centre Room, Success by Six, Infant Massage, The Literacy Program, Trusted Third Party for the Ministry of Social Development and Housing, The Food Security Program, Business Services and Clearwater Youth Group are also offered through this organization. 620 Park Drive, Phone: yellowheadcs.cainfo@yellowheadcs.ca ORGANIZATIONS Aboriginal Organizations North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Society Simpcw First Nations Barriere Auxiliaries Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Star Lake Women s Institute Chamber of Commerce Clearwater & District Chamber of Commerce Clubs/Societies 00RP Lady Elk st Wells Gray Scouts Central North Thompson Rod and Gun Club Clearwater Rotary Club every Wednesday at 7am (Wells Gray Inn) Clearwater Ski Club Clearwater & District Highway Rescue Society Clearwater/ Vavenby Lions Evergreen Acres Senior Citizens Home Society Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC Girl Guides of Canada Information Wells Gray Murtle River Nordics OAPA Friendly Club Raft River Rockhounds Royal Order of Elks # Wells Gray Outdoors Club Wells Gray Riders Association Community Centres/Halls Blackpool Community Hall Clearwater Ski Hill Elks Lodge Royal Canadian Legion-Branch Upper Clearwater Hall Vavenby Community Hall Community Facility Dutch Lake Community Centre North Thompson Sportsplex Community Forest Wells Gray Community Forest Corporation Community Services Clearwater and District Hospice Society Clearwater & District Hwy Rescue Society Clearwater Employment Services Clearwater Farmers Market Clearwater Food Bank Clearwater Newcomers Club Clearwater Safe Home Program Clearwater Victim Services Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department Wells Gray Country Seniors Society Seniors Coordinator Lynne Frizzle YCS Women s Program Stopping the Violence Yellowhead Community Service First Responders BC Ambulance Service Emergency Social Services Fire Department Blackpool Clearwater Vavenby Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Wells Gray Search & Rescue Library Clearwater Library Places of Worship Baha I Faith Clearwater Christian Church Clearwater Community Baptist Church Clearwater Living Streams Christian Fellowship Clearwater New Life Assembly Clearwater Seventh Day Adventist Clearwater United Church Guru Tegh Bahadur Sikh Temple Kingdom Hall of Jehovah s Witnesses St. James Catholic Church Vavenby Christian Church Post Offices Canada Post Clearwater Canada Post Vavenby

8 AMENITIES Clearwater Ski Hill Community Parks Rotary Sports Park, Tennis & Basketball Courts, Skate Park Splash Park Raft River Viewing Park Dutch Lake Beach Boat Launch North Thompson Provincial Park Wells Gray Provincial Park Farmers Market (May October) Library Art Gallery North Thompson Arts Council Multi-use Trails Walking Hiking Biking Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital 9 hole Golf Courses Lacarya Golf Course Wells Gray Golf Candle Creek Trails Mountain Bike Hiking X-Country Ski Sportsplex Hockey Arena Skating Curling Rink Kayaking Whitewater Rafting ADVENTURE STARTS HERE EVENTS Clearwater Winter Festival Clearwater Hockey Days Family Day Birch Leg Cross Country Ski Race Figure Skating Carnivals Easter Egg Hunt at the Firehall Clearwater Youth Week Bike to Work/ School Rotary May Day Parade National Aboriginal Day Celebrations Canada Day Celebrations Summer Music Night First Fish Ceremony Children s Art Festival Star Gazing Festival Simpcw School Program Halloween Fire Works Santa Skate Rotary Christmas Tree Light Up ACTIVITIES SUMMER Boats Tour, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Disc Golf, Golf, Hiking, AMENITIES Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting & Floating, Paddle Boarding, Swimming, Trail Rides, Walking ACTIVITIES WINTER Back-Country Skiing, Cross Country & Downhill Skiing, Curling, Hockey (Drop In and Minor Hockey), Ice climbing, Ice fishing, Skating, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling ALL YEAR Recreation/Healthy Living Program Visit districtofclearwater.com for full menu CONTACTS District of Clearwater CAO & Economic Development Officer Leslie Groulx Phone: Cell: lgroulx@docbc.ca districtofclearwater.com Wells Gray Country Services Committee Coordinator (TNRD Area A) Sherri Madden Phone: smadden@tnrd.ca wellsgraycountry.ca Clearwater & District Chamber of Commerce Anne (Goldie) Krawec Phone: manager@clearwaterbcchamber.com clearwaterbcchamber.com Community Futures Blair Gray Phone: info@communityfutures.net communityfutures.net Tourism Wells Gray Association Tourism & Marketing Manager Stephanie Molina Phone: stephanie@wellsgray.ca wellsgray.ca Information Wells Gray (Wells Gray Park Info-Centre) Visitor and General Information (May October) Phone: info@wellsgray.ca CLEARWATER Map Credit: Thompson-Nicola Film Commission tnrdfilm.com