Mackenzie, British Columbia

Mackenzie is a district municipality within the Fraser-Fort George Regional District in central British Columbia, Canada. The community is located at the south end of Williston Lake. The townsite, established by Alexandra Forest Industries (acquired by BC Forest Products in 1967) and Cattermole Timber (partnered with Jujo Paper in 1970 to create Finlay Forest Industries), was named for Sir Alexander MacKenzie (1764–1820).

Mackenzie
District of Mackenzie[1]
Mackenzie seen from Morfee Mountain
Mackenzie seen from Morfee Mountain
Nickname: 
"Mack-Town"
Mackenzie is located in British Columbia
Mackenzie
Mackenzie
Location of Mackenzie
Mackenzie is located in Canada
Mackenzie
Mackenzie
Mackenzie (Canada)
Coordinates: 55°19′28″N 123°05′34″W / 55.32444°N 123.09278°W / 55.32444; -123.09278
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional DistrictFraser-Fort George
Incorporated1966
Government
 • MayorJoan Atkinson
 • Governing bodyDistrict of Mackenzie Municipal Council
 • MP (Prince George-Peace River)Bob Zimmer
 • MLA (Prince George-Mackenzie)Mike Morris
Area
 • Total159.09 km2 (61.42 sq mi)
Elevation
700 m (2,300 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total3,714
 • Density22.6/km2 (59/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
Postal code span
Area code250 / 778 / 236
Highways Hwy 39
Websitedistrictofmackenzie.ca

Economy edit

Mackenzie's main industries are logging, lumber and tourism. Duz Cho Logging, sawmills, such as the now closed Canfor Corporation Mackenzie sawmill (successor to BCFP's lumber division) and the currently still running Conifex Timber[2] (successor to FFI), and the Paper Excellence[3] kraft pulp mill (successor to BCFP's pulp division), were major employers in town. As of July 2019, the Canfor sawmill ceased production indefinitely as part of a province-wide curtailment of operations and in 2020 the pulp mill was also permanently shut down. The nearby Centerra Gold Mount Milligan copper-gold operation[4] provides secondary economic activity for the town.

Transportation edit

Mackenzie is located on Highway 39, 28 km (17 mi) from Highway 97. There is a scheduled bus service to Chetwynd and Prince George, although since Greyhound pulled out of Canada the new bus service is not very frequent. It is also served by a small airport. There is no scheduled passenger service but charter services are available.[5]

Demographics edit

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Mackenzie had a population of 3,281 living in 1,515 of its 1,837 total private dwellings, a change of -11.7% from its 2016 population of 3,714. With a land area of 154.19 km2 (59.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 21.3/km2 (55.1/sq mi) in 2021.[6]

Religion edit

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Mackenzie included:[7]

Ethnicity edit

Panethnic groups in the District of Mackenzie (1986−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[7] 2016[8] 2011[9] 2006[10] 2001[11] 1996[12] 1991[13][14] 1986[15][16][17]: 102 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 2,840 83.28% 3,165 84.85% 3,010 84.08% 3,980 87.76% 4,590 87.6% 5,505 91.98% 5,010 86.53% 4,765 86.01%
Indigenous 405 11.88% 440 11.8% 440 12.29% 315 6.95% 210 4.01% 165 2.76% 360 6.22% 370 6.68%
Southeast Asian[b] 80 2.35% 30 0.8% 15 0.42% 20 0.44% 10 0.19% 0 0% 10 0.17% 0 0%
South Asian 45 1.32% 70 1.88% 50 1.4% 175 3.86% 415 7.92% 265 4.43% 290 5.01% 355 6.41%
East Asian[c] 10 0.29% 0 0% 0 0% 40 0.88% 15 0.29% 10 0.17% 40 0.69% 15 0.27%
African 10 0.29% 10 0.27% 10 0.28% 10 0.22% 0 0% 35 0.58% 45 0.78% 15 0.27%
Middle Eastern[d] 0 0% 20 0.54% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 25 0.43% 10 0.18%
Latin American 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.19% 10 0.17% 10 0.17% 10 0.18%
Other/multiracial[e] 0 0% 10 0.27% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total responses 3,410 103.93% 3,730 100.43% 3,580 102.08% 4,535 99.91% 5,240 100.65% 5,985 99.8% 5,790 99.9% 5,540 99.96%
Total population 3,281 100% 3,714 100% 3,507 100% 4,539 100% 5,206 100% 5,997 100% 5,796 100% 5,542 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Climate edit

Mackenzie has a subarctic climate that has influences from the Pacific Ocean resulting in less cold winters than expected for its northerly latitude compared to other Canadian locations. It has warm summer days, but the cool nights ensure that only three months go above 10 °C (50 °F) in mean temperatures. Winters are very cold on occasion, although relatively short for a subarctic climate with a January mean of −9.2 °C (15.4 °F) as the coldest month.

Climate data for Mackenzie Airport
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 9.2 9.9 14.9 23.8 31.4 31.9 36.0 35.5 32.3 23.7 12.4 8.4 36.0
Record high °C (°F) 9.8
(49.6)
11.1
(52.0)
16.3
(61.3)
24.4
(75.9)
34.6
(94.3)
31.9
(89.4)
35.0
(95.0)
35.0
(95.0)
30.7
(87.3)
23.0
(73.4)
13.3
(55.9)
8.3
(46.9)
35.0
(95.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −5.6
(21.9)
−3.0
(26.6)
3.3
(37.9)
9.7
(49.5)
16.0
(60.8)
20.2
(68.4)
22.2
(72.0)
21.5
(70.7)
15.2
(59.4)
7.6
(45.7)
−1.2
(29.8)
−4.8
(23.4)
8.4
(47.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −9.2
(15.4)
−7.7
(18.1)
−2.7
(27.1)
3.3
(37.9)
8.9
(48.0)
13.3
(55.9)
15.2
(59.4)
14.3
(57.7)
9.1
(48.4)
3.3
(37.9)
−4.3
(24.3)
−8.2
(17.2)
2.9
(37.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12.9
(8.8)
−12.3
(9.9)
−8.5
(16.7)
−3.2
(26.2)
1.8
(35.2)
6.4
(43.5)
8.2
(46.8)
7.0
(44.6)
3.0
(37.4)
−1.1
(30.0)
−7.4
(18.7)
−11.6
(11.1)
−2.6
(27.3)
Record low °C (°F) −44.5
(−48.1)
−43.8
(−46.8)
−40.0
(−40.0)
−25.6
(−14.1)
−8.9
(16.0)
−4.0
(24.8)
−1.0
(30.2)
−4.3
(24.3)
−8.9
(16.0)
−21.5
(−6.7)
−35.6
(−32.1)
−45.1
(−49.2)
−45.1
(−49.2)
Record low wind chill −52.8 −43.1 −42.8 −24.4 −14.7 −3.2 0.0 −4.8 −10.8 −29.5 −48.0 −50.4 −52.8
Average precipitation mm (inches) 70.5
(2.78)
45.6
(1.80)
32.6
(1.28)
30.6
(1.20)
48.0
(1.89)
56.9
(2.24)
61.8
(2.43)
49.0
(1.93)
52.4
(2.06)
71.8
(2.83)
71.6
(2.82)
60.9
(2.40)
651.7
(25.66)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2.5
(0.10)
5.6
(0.22)
8.0
(0.31)
16.1
(0.63)
47.0
(1.85)
56.9
(2.24)
61.8
(2.43)
49.0
(1.93)
51.9
(2.04)
57.1
(2.25)
10.3
(0.41)
4.0
(0.16)
370.2
(14.57)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 77.9
(30.7)
47.3
(18.6)
27.4
(10.8)
15.3
(6.0)
1.0
(0.4)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.6
(0.2)
15.2
(6.0)
63.5
(25.0)
64.0
(25.2)
312.3
(123.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 16.7 13.0 11.5 10.1 13.1 13.5 13.4 11.8 12.2 16.3 16.7 16.3 164.8
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 1.4 2.7 3.1 7.4 12.8 13.9 13.3 12.4 11.2 13.8 4.7 1.9 98.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 17.0 12.6 9.4 4.9 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 5.2 15.6 16.2 82.4
Average relative humidity (%) 78.3 69.7 56.6 45.6 40.7 43.7 46.0 47.3 54.6 66.7 80.3 82.0 59.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 35.4 67.4 151.0 201.3 239.7 249.0 273.5 254.2 163.8 93.4 35.4 28.5 1,792.7
Percent possible sunshine 14.6 24.9 41.2 47.6 47.8 47.9 52.5 54.7 42.7 28.7 14.0 12.7 35.8
Source: [18]

Recreation edit

In the winter, Mackenzie hosts dog sled racing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling competitions, and maintains 32 km of groomed cross-country ski trails. Morfee Mountain overlooks Mackenzie and is suitable for hiking and off-road vehicle usage. Mackenzie has a swimming pool, indoor skating rink, a curling rink, and two beaches on Morfee Lake; First Beach is used primarily for recreational swimming, and Second Beach includes a boat launch. Mackenzie is home to Little Mac Ski Hill, a small local ski hill and mountain-bike park located east of town and a 45-minutes drive from Powder King ski resort. The nearby lakes and forests are suitable for fishing and hunting.

 
Mackenzie's welcome sign

Mackenzie Golf and Country Club is a semi-private, nine-hole golf course with a driving range. It is situated within walking distance of most of the town.

Community facilities edit

Community facilities include a recreation centre that houses the public library, gym, swimming pool, ice rink, and community hall. There is also an art centre, a museum, two shopping malls, and two schools: Mackenzie Secondary School (which also serves McLeod Lake), and Morfee Elementary School. The schools are operated by the Prince George School District (No. 57).

Mackenzie also has several religious establishments, including a Sikh temple, St. Peter's Catholic,[19] Mackenzie Baptist and Hope Trinity (converging the Anglican, Lutheran and United faiths) churches and Living Joy Christian Centre.[20]

Mackenzie has been served by CHMM-FM, a not-for-profit radio station since 2003.

Mackenzie has its own Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, a provincial courtroom, a volunteer fire department, and a municipal hospital.

Tourist attractions edit

 
World largest tree crusher

Mackenzie is situated less than 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Williston Lake reservoir, the largest man-made lake in British Columbia.[21] Mackenzie is also the home of the world's largest tree crusher.

Notable people edit

Image gallery edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References edit

  1. ^ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. ^ Conifex Timber web site.
  3. ^ P&P Canada article on Paper Excellence acquisition of Mackenzie Pulp Operations
  4. ^ Mount Milligan web site
  5. ^ "Northern Rockies & Alaska Highway". Destination BC. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  8. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  11. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  12. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  13. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  14. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  16. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "Canada's aboriginal population by census subdivisions from the 1986 Census of Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  19. ^ Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George
  20. ^ Living Joy Christian Centre web site
  21. ^ Atlas of Canada. Lakes Archived 26 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit