Things to Do
Arts & Culture
Tap into arts, culture and entertainment in the heart of the city! Creativity and activity go hand in hand in Fort St. John with diverse opportunities and events that everyone can enjoy as a participant or a spectator. Families and individuals have plenty of opportunities to create, perform, be entertained and hone their skills. Arts and cultural groups attract thousands of enthusiastic participants and appreciative audiences in dance, music, visual arts, theatre, heritage preservation and more.
North Peace Cultural Centre
Located in the heart of the city, the North Peace Cultural Centre (NPCC) is a popular entertainment venue, hosting live theatre, concerts, conferences, dance recitals, school productions and more. Check out their website for a list of all upcoming events, and to get your tickets!
10015 – 100 Avenue
Fort St. John, BC V1J 1Y7
Phone: 250-785-1992
City Parks
Fort St. John is home to many city parks and green spaces for you to enjoy. From play time to picnics, we have a space for everyone! Centrally located Centennial Park is a main gathering place for community events and even hosts the local Farmer’s Market in the spring and summer months. Centennial Park is ideally situated next to the swimming pool and the Rotary Spray Park so you can cool off on those hot summer days!
Kin Park offers access to free outdoor exercise equipment, bike jumps and ball diamonds, as well as playground equipment and picnic tables for lunch time.
There is an off-leash dog park located at Toboggan Hill Park. For easy access, there is a parking lot across the street from the Fire Hall on 93 Street at 93 Avenue. The fenced area is a short walk up the hill. These are just a few of our amazing green spaces in Fort St. John!
Trails
The City of Fort St. John maintains an extensive network of walking and cycling trails within city limits. Explore the energetic city by foot and experience the beauty of nature within the city!
City Recreation
Fort St. John is home to many state-of-the-art sports and recreation facilities!
The Pomeroy Sport Centre boasts Canada’s newest Olympic-sized indoor speed skating oval, two NHL-sized ice surfaces, a heated walking track (the Northern Vac Track), and meetings rooms. The venue and amenities are available for rental.
The North Peace Arena is home to the Fort St. John Flyers and the Fort St. John Huskies. This arena is also available for private rental.
Kids Arena Fieldhouse offers opportunities to participate in seasonal sports year-round! The facility is open for the public to rent, and the City of Fort St. John offers recreation programs for kids as well. Packages for birthday are also offered.
The North Peace Leisure Pool consists of a leisure pool and a 25-meter lap pool with two dive platforms. The leisure pool has a zero beach at one end and a maximum depth of 1.5 meters (5 feet) at the other end. It has waves, a rapid channel, and spray and squirt features. Don’t forget about the two full-sized water slides!
Events
For the latest event news, access our Events Calendar and/ or Annual City Events.
History & Heritage
In Fort St. John, we are proud of our roots, and our long history in the Peace Region. Alexander Mackenzie was the first European explorer to document the area in 1793 when he passed through the region, travelling by canoe, in search of a route to the Pacific Ocean. The following year, a trading post was established by the North West Company, making Fort St. John the oldest non-First Nations settlement on the British Columbia mainland.
Originally established in 1794 as Rocky Mountain Fort, it was used as a trading post for the Beaver and Sikanni First Nations, and as a supply depot to further expeditions into BC. Since then, Fort St. John has undergone five location changes to adapt to the needs of a growing community. Although there is no absolute record, Fort St. John is thought to have been named when one of the Hudson’s Bay company posts was opened on Saint Jean Baptiste Day.
To learn more about our history and heritage, including information on the pioneering people of the region, and the Pioneer Pathway Walking Tour, or take a tour of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.
Outdoor Adventures
Fort St. John attracts travellers from around the world with our access to exciting wilderness adventure.
We always have something for you to do whether it's summer or winter. The natural beauty of Fort St. John and the surrounding Peace Valley provides a varied terrain ideal for numerous seasonal outdoor activities.
Visit Tap, Know & Go to learn more.
In winter, why not strap into your cross-country skis and see what the Beatton Provincial Park has to offer, with 12km of groomed trails. snowshoe enthusiasts are welcome too!
Snowmobiling at Redfern-Keily Provincial Park in the Rocky Mountains is another great winter activity. What’s a better way to experience the Northern scenery while enjoying a horse-drawn sleigh ride during a sunny winter day.
In the summer, the Peace Valley and rolling hills offer endless picturesque opportunities for scenic drives, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. The Peace River presents great opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, atv-ing, and boating, [include external links] whichever you are interested in our team will point you in the right direction! As well, we are home to some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities in North America and often referred to as “The Serengeti of the North”.
Hunting
To be able to hunt in BC, there is a hunting licence fee, and appropriate hunting tags must be purchased for specific animals. These tags can be bought at the Government Agent’s Office and Backcountry. The BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis must be followed when hunting (this is in hard copy or available and online). The time of year, area, type and size of the animal are all specified in this synopsis.
Fishing
Before fishing anywhere in BC, you must have a valid BC fishing licence. Annual, 8-day, or 1-day licences are available at a range of prices depending on residency and age. Fishing licences in Fort St. John can be purchased from Backcountry, Wal-Mart, or the Government Agent’s Office. There are many boating and fishing locations in the area, but be sure to consult the Freshwater Fishing Regulations (this is in hard copy or available online) for restrictions since they vary depending on the body of water.
We hope you enjoy exploring the Peace River and the beautiful sites that Fort St. John has to offer. Come and visit the Fort St. John Visitor Centre for more activities in the community.
Dining & Shopping
Fort St. John has a small city feel with big city amenities! Explore all the options for your shopping and services needs. There is a diverse restaurant scene in Fort St. John. No matter what your taste buds are interested in, we have a place that will tempt your palate!
