Northern Rockies | |
|---|---|
| Northern Rockies Regional Municipality[2] | |
 Bison on theAlaska Highway | |
 Flag  Logo | |
Major communities | |
 Location in British Columbia | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District municipality[1] | February 6, 2009 |
| Administrative office | Fort Nelson |
| Government | |
| • Type | District municipality |
| • Mayor | Rob Fraser |
| • Councillors | List
|
| Area (2011)[3] | |
• Total | 85,014.52 km2 (32,824.29 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[4] | |
• Total | 4,478 |
| • Density | 0.05267/km2 (0.1364/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain[5]) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (not observed) |
| Postal code | V0C 1R0 |
| Area code | 250 |
| Website | www |
TheNorthern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), formerly theNorthern Rockies Regional District (NRRD),[6] and before that theFort Nelson–Liard Regional District, is a single-tiermunicipality in northeasternBritish Columbia, Canada. Although described as aregional municipality in its official name, and existing on the same administrative level as aregional district, it is actually classified as adistrict municipality.[1] The NRRM's offices are located inFort Nelson, formerly an incorporated town that amalgamated with the NRRD on February 6, 2009, to form the NRRM.[7][8] With thePeace River Regional District as the southern part, it was the northern part of thePeace River-Liard Regional District, which was split into two on October 31, 1987.
The NRRM lies on the east slope of theRocky Mountains and comprises approximately 10% of the total area of the province of British Columbia, encompassing 85,014.52 square kilometres (32,824.29 sq mi).[3] Its southern boundary is the 58thparallel of latitude[6] and is bisected by theAlaska Highway from its southeast to its northwest. The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is primarily made up of heavily forested areas and mountainous terrain.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is the first of its kind in British Columbia in which an entire formerregional district is governed and headed by a single municipal government. Its council comprises a mayor and six councillors. Bill Streeper was the NRRM's first mayor.
With a 2016 population of 3,366,[9] Fort Nelson is the largest community in the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. All of the NRRM's offices and officials are based out of Fort Nelson.
Fort Nelson First Nation is an aboriginal band situated directly outside of the town ofFort Nelson and a signatory nation ofTreaty 8. The reserve is home to about 700 residents, making Fort Nelson First Nation one of the largest reservations in northernBritish Columbia.Dene andCree are the most prevalentAboriginal Canadian backgrounds found on the Fort Nelson First Nation reserve. The nation works closely with oil and gas producers to ensure safe and sustainable development in theHorn River Basin based on the fact that much of the new development in the Horn River Basin is occurring on traditional Fort Nelson First Nation land. The band operates Echo-Dene and theLiard Hot Springs lodge, as well as Chalo School, a kindergarten to grade twelve accredited educational institution. Liz Logan is the Chief Councillor of the Fort Nelson First Nation, reelected in August 2014. The FNFN Band Council consists of seven councillors, an increase from six. The chosen councillors then decided amongst themselves the Chief Councillor.[10][11]
The Prophet River First Nation is the southernmost community in the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. Prophet River's main industries revolve around commercial services and provisions to the local and nearby oil and gas industry. Lynette Tsakoza is currently the chief of Prophet River First Nation which is a member of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association.[12]
Tetsa River is a small community based on theAlaska Highway that is known for its eco-tourism and camping.Fishing,rafting,hunting, and other eco-tourism related activities are commonly practiced recreational attractants to the region. Tetsa River offers a popular fishing derby every August, in which residents from all over the region compete.
Toad River is the largest regional community north of Fort Nelson in terms of population. The community is home to a highway maintenance camp, a small school accredited by the region's school district (School District 81), a community hall, two campgrounds, and two lodges. Toad River's economy relies primarily on tourism, and is a popular destination for travellers on the Alaska Highway.
Muncho Lake is a community that is situated on the Muncho Lake Provincial Park. The park is known for its blue-coloured lake which attracts tourists to the area every year. Muncho Lake is situated on theAlaska Highway.
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Northern Rockies had a population of 3,947 living in 1,692 of its 2,268 total private dwellings, a change of-18.8% from its 2016 population of 4,862. With a land area of 84,759.31 km2 (32,725.75 sq mi), it had a population density of0.0/km2 (0.1/sq mi) in 2021.[13]
As acensus division in the 2021 census, Northern Rockies had a population of4,478 living in1,918 of its2,523 total private dwellings, a change of-17% from its 2016 population of5,393. With a land area of 84,858.88 km2 (32,764.20 sq mi), it had a population density of0.1/km2 (0.1/sq mi) in 2021.[14]
| Panethnic group | 2021[4] | 2016[15] | 2011[16] | 2006[17] | 2001[18] | 1996[19] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| European[a] | 2,670 | 60.75% | 3,465 | 65.44% | 4,080 | 73.51% | 4,610 | 75.51% | 4,620 | 80.91% | 4,830 | 82.49% |
| Indigenous | 1,410 | 32.08% | 1,485 | 28.05% | 1,235 | 22.25% | 1,185 | 19.41% | 1,050 | 18.39% | 890 | 15.2% |
| Southeast Asian[b] | 130 | 2.96% | 210 | 3.97% | 50 | 0.9% | 75 | 1.23% | 15 | 0.26% | 0 | 0% |
| South Asian | 70 | 1.59% | 30 | 0.57% | 145 | 2.61% | 155 | 2.54% | 0 | 0% | 30 | 0.51% |
| African | 50 | 1.14% | 35 | 0.66% | 0 | 0% | 50 | 0.82% | 10 | 0.18% | 0 | 0% |
| East Asian[c] | 40 | 0.91% | 45 | 0.85% | 0 | 0% | 20 | 0.33% | 0 | 0% | 65 | 1.11% |
| Latin American | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.19% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 20 | 0.35% | 25 | 0.43% |
| Middle Eastern[d] | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Other[e] | 0 | 0% | 25 | 0.47% | 15 | 0.27% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total responses | 4,395 | 98.15% | 5,295 | 98.18% | 5,550 | 99.5% | 6,105 | 99.32% | 5,710 | 99.83% | 5,855 | 99.98% |
| Total population | 4,478 | 100% | 5,393 | 100% | 5,578 | 100% | 6,147 | 100% | 5,720 | 100% | 5,856 | 100% |
According to the2021 census, religious groups in the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality included:[4]
The class of the municipality is a district municipality.
Places adjacent to Northern Rockies Regional Municipality | ||||||||||||||||
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59°00′00″N123°45′00″W / 59.00000°N 123.75000°W /59.00000; -123.75000
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