COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROFILE LIVABLE & LOVABLE

Transcription

1 COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROFILE LIVABLE & LOVABLE

2 ADVENTURE STARTS HERE A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Clearwater, the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park is situated in the North Thompson just off the Yellowhead Highway. There are three rivers that border the community, Raft, Clearwater and the North Thompson, plus a lake situated in the community. These bodies of water offer all kinds of waterway activities. The community is surrounded by many great fishing lakes, and the area boasts of over thirty camping locations varying in size. Clearwater is situated approximately half way between Vancouver and Edmonton and is 125kms north of Kamloops. The community has been a logging and milling town for over seventy years, and more recently tourism has become a big part of the economy. The Wells Gray Provincial Park is recognized for the number of water falls, numerous hiking trails, touting the fourth largest water falls in Canada Helmcken Falls, and the world-famous flower meadows Trophy Mountain meadows. A water taxi service located at the Clearwater and Azure Lakes will take you to countless remote camp sites, or maybe you would prefer to canoe these beautiful lakes. The community was incorporated in December 2007, and boast of many amenities modern hospital, shopping centre, several recreational facilities, biking and hiking trails. The community also offers a strong community recreation/healthy living program, seniors programming and a robust transit system. There are over 190 registered businesses, offering a wide variety of services, with room to grow our commercial sector. On behalf of Council, the business sector and our citizens, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Clearwater. Mayor John Harwood

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 June 2017 Unemployment Thompson/Okanagan 5.7% 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 Greyhound Bus Lines Phone Offering service to Kamloops once daily. 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. 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 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 2017 Residential Utilities Supportive Housing Major Industry Light Industry Business/Other Managed Forest Land Recreation/Non-Profit Farm Source: District of Clearwater 2017 Annual Tax Rate Bylaw No.164 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 Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Jim s Market/Shell/ A&W...22 Kurt Dodd Consulting...15 On Call Services...15 School District # Thompson Resource Management... 6 Wells Gray Inn...50 Wadlegger Logging...24 Yellowhead Community Services...70 (includes full time, part time and casuals) 32 PERMITS ISSUED Building Permits 2016 Total value of $3.8mi. 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 As of January 1, 2017, Business Licenses came into effect for all businesses located within or operating in the District of Clearwater. A Business License can be obtained through the District of Clearwater office. As of August 2017, 192 local and out of town businesses have applied for a Business License. Housing Average Cost Home Sold $241,593* Average Rental 3 Bedroom Home... $1,100/mth Vacancy Rates... <1% *local Realtor office Average Cost Home Sold 2017 $241,593 For information on economic development contact: District of Clearwater CAO / Economic Development Officer Leslie Groulx Phone: lgroulx@docbc.ca District of Clearwater Mayor John Harwood Phone: jharwood@docbc.ca Visit our website at districtofclearwater.com

6 DUTCH LAKE COMMUNITY CENTRE Community Services Banking Royal Bank of Canada 74 Young Road Brookfield Mall Phone: Interior Savings Credit Union Murtle Crescent Phone: Health Care Dr Helmcken Memorial Hospital 640 Park Road Phone: No. of Hospital Beds: 6 Average Occupancy Rate: 74.5%* 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 NORTH C A R TS OUNC 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 210 properties, sanitary sewer lift stations, and consists of both foremain and gravity. Septage The District of Clearwater operates a septage receiving station. 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.ca info@yellowheadcs.ca 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 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

8 Amenities Clearwater Ski Hill Community Parks Rotary Sports Park Tennis & Basketball Courts, Skate Park Splash Park Raft River Viewing Park Dutch Lake Beach 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 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 Clearwater Canoe Regatta Simpcw School Program Firehall Open House Halloween Fire Works Santa Skate Rotary Christmas Tree Light Up Activities Summer Boats Tour, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Disc Golf, Golf, Hiking, 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 ADVENTURE STARTS HERE All Year Recreation/Healthy Living Program Visit districtofclearwater.com for full menu