City recognizes over 25 years of Peace River Agreement funding
July 20, 2022
This summer, the City of Fort St. John is recognizing more than 25 years of funding from the Province of BC through the Peace River Agreement, and the Fair Share agreements which preceded it.
Fort St. John invests the annual grant funding from the Province to cover a significant portion of the City’s infrastructure upgrades and capital projects. In 2022, investments of $25.9 million in Peace River Agreement funding and reserves accounted for 89 percent of the City’s capital projects budget. This means that capital projects are funded by the Peace River Agreement, other grants, and water and sewer reserves, not by local property taxes.
Mayor Lori Ackerman said, “As stewards of this funding, the City has invested over $375 million since 1994 to support Fort St. John’s development as a healthy, vibrant community and thriving economic hub for residents, businesses, and industry.”
Recent projects funded through the PRA include the Centennial Park Festival Plaza, 100 Street Corridor redevelopment, new Fire Training Centre, new RCMP Detachment building, and upgrades to the Fire Hall, North Peace Arena, Kids Arena Fieldhouse, Surerus Park and Kin Park. The funding has also been used to upgrade over 65 km of roads since the ‘90s, and to replace important city equipment and infrastructure.
In 2022, the City is recognizing this funding through:
- a microsite that celebrates the history of the funding and its impact
- a mail-out
- installation of temporary and permanent signs for PRA-funded projects
- a community video
- a social media campaign
- announcements during the opening events for PRA-funded facilities
About the City of Fort St. John
Located on the world-famous Alaska Highway, on the traditional territory of the Dane-zaa, signatories of Treaty 8, and the Métis Nation BC Region 7, Fort St. John is the largest city in Northeastern BC. The City of Fort St. John provides local government administration, infrastructure and services to a community of 21,000 full-time residents, in addition to many thriving industries and part-time residents.
Fort St. John is known as “The Energetic City” because of its young, growing population and its diverse resource base of oil, natural gas, forestry and agriculture. This vibrant, ambitious City offers abundant economic opportunities and a high quality of life for its community. Learn about the City at fortstjohn.ca.
About the Peace River Agreement (PRA)
The Peace River Agreement (PRA) provides a significant source of revenue for eight local governments in Northeast BC, recognizing the industrial activities occurring outside municipal boundaries. Signed in 2015, this 20-year agreement allows local governments to fund necessary improvements to infrastructure and to provide services to industries, employees and residents in their communities.
Since 1994, Fort St. John has invested over $375 million in PRA funding to increase the vibrancy and livability of the City. Recent PRA investments in capital projects include the 100 Street Corridor Project, Kin Park Redevelopment and the new RCMP Detachment. These projects are funded primarily through this government partnership, not by local property taxes.
As stewards of this funding, the City reports annually to the Province of BC on priorities and investments. Learn more about the Peace River Agreement at fortstjohn.ca/peace-river-agreement.
-30 -