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Tumbler Ridge

Tumbler Ridge is a district municipality in the foothills of the B.C. Rockies in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. With a population of 2,399 (2021) living in a townsite, the municipality encompasses an area of 1,558 km2 (602 sq mi) of mostly Crown land.[3] The townsite is located near the confluence of the Murray River and Flatbed Creek and the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 29 and includes the site of the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Airport. It is part of the Peace River South provincial electoral district and the Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies federal riding.

Tumbler Ridge
District of Tumbler Ridge[1]
Motto: 
"Invitatio Prosperitati"
Coordinates: 55°08′00″N 121°00′00″W / 55.13333°N 121.00000°W / 55.13333; -121.00000
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional DistrictPeace River
IncorporatedApril 9, 1981 (district)
Government
 • MayorDarryl Krakowka
 • Governing bodyTumbler Ridge District Council
 • MPBob Zimmer
 • MLAMike Bernier
Area
 • Total1,558.97 km2 (601.92 sq mi)
Elevation
830 m (2,720 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total2,399[2]
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
Postal code span
V0C 2W0
Area code250 / 778 / 236
Highways Hwy 29
Hwy 52
WebsiteDistrict of Tumbler Ridge

Tumbler Ridge is a planned community with the housing and infrastructure construct built simultaneously in 1981 by the provincial government to service the coal industry as part of the British Columbia Resources Investment Corporation's Northeast Coal Development. In 1981, a consortium of Japanese steel mills agreed to purchase 100 million tonnes of coal over 15 years for US$7.5 billion from two mining companies, Denison Mines Inc. and the Teck Corporation, who were to operate the Quintette mine and the Bullmoose mine respectively. Declining global coal prices after 1981, and weakening Asian markets in the late 1990s, made the town's future uncertain and kept it from achieving its projected population of 10,000 people. The uncertainty dissuaded investment and kept the economy from diversifying. When price reductions were forced onto the mines, the Quintette mine was closed in 2000 production and the town lost about half its population. Coal prices began to rise after the turn of the century, leading to the opening of the Peace River Coal Trend mine by Northern Energy & Mining Inc. (now owned by Anglo American Met Coal) and the Wolverine Mine, originally owned by Western Canadian Coal, which was purchased by Walter Energy in 2010.[4] Walter went bankrupt in 2015, and their Canadian assets—including the Wolverine Mine—were purchased by Conuma Coal in 2016.[5]

After dinosaur footprints and fossils were discovered in the municipality, along with fossils of Triassic fishes and Cretaceous plants, the Peace Region Paleontology Research Center opened in 2003, followed by a dinosaur museum. The study of the area led to a recognition of its geological importance and listing in the UNESCO Global Geopark Network. Nearby recreational destinations include numerous trails, mountains, waterfalls, snowmobiling areas and provincial parks, such as Monkman Provincial Park, Bearhole Lake Provincial Park, and Gwillim Lake Provincial Park.

History edit

Archaeological evidence show a human presence dating back 3,000 years.[6] The nomadic Sekani, followed by the Dunneza and then the Cree, periodically lived in temporary settlements around the future municipality.[7] Formal exploratory and surveying expeditions were conducted by S. Prescott Fay, with Robert Cross and Fred Brewster in 1914, J.C. Gwillim in 1919, Edmund Spieker in 1920, and John Holzworth in 1923. Spieker coined the name Tumbler Ridge, referring to the mountains northwest of the future town, by altering Gwillim's map that named them Tumbler Range.[8] Permanent settlers were squatters, five families by 1920, who maintained trap lines. In the 1950s and 1960s, oil and natural gas exploration and logging was conducted through the area, and 15 significant coal deposits were discovered.[9] Coal prices rose after the 1973 oil crisis leading to 40 government studies examining the viability of accessing the coal, given the 1,130 km (700 mi) to the nearest port and the mountainous barrier.[10]

With these coal deposits in mind, a purchasing agreement was signed in 1981 by two Canadian mining companies, a consortium of Japanese steel mills, and the governments of British Columbia and Canada. As part of the deal, the provincial government committed, under the North East Coal Development plan, to build a new town near the deposits, two highways off Highway 97, a power line from the W. A. C. Bennett Dam at Hudson's Hope, and a branch rail line through the Rocky Mountains. An alternative of using work camps staffed by people from Dawson Creek and Chetwynd was also considered. Massive initial investments were required as planning for the new town began in 1976 with the objective of having a fully functioning town ready before residents arrived.[11]

The community's 1977 conceptual plan estimated a population of 3,568 residents in 1981, 7,940 in 1985, and 10,584 in 1987, after which the level was expected to stabilize.[12] The planners of the community advised the mining companies to hire workers who were married, believing they would live in Tumbler Ridge longer and reduce employment turnover.[13] Coordinated through the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the community, regional infrastructure, and mining plants were all built simultaneously. When the municipality was incorporated in April 1981 the area was completely forested.[14] During that year building sites and roadways were cleared[14] and in the winter the water and sewer system was built. In 1982, houses and other buildings were constructed. Full production at the mines was reached the following year. The population rose to 3,833 people in 1984.[15] The 1986 Canadian census, the first census to recognize Tumbler Ridge as a census subdivision, recorded 4,566 residents.[16]

In 1984, world coal prices were dropping and the Japanese consortium requested a reduction in the price of coal from the Tumbler Ridge mines. As price reduction requests continued, the concern over the viability of the mines led the BC Assessment Authority to lower the 1987 property assessments for the Quintette mine from CAD$156 million to $89 million and the Bullmoose mine $70 million to $43 million.[17] This lowered their taxes as they tried to enforce the purchasing agreement at the Supreme Court of Canada. Their 1990 ruling required the Quintette Operations Company to reduce coal prices and reimburse the Japanese consortium $4.6 million. The company responded by reducing production, cutting employment, and applying for court protection from creditors. This allowed Teck to acquire 50% interest and take over management of the Quintette mine, but it was unable to stop further job losses.[18] Tumbler Ridge's population, which had peaked in 1991 at 4,794 people, began to decline.[19]

As most residents left town, apartment blocks were closed and the mine companies bought back all but 11 houses in the town. After 30% of the workforce had been laid off, new contracts with the Japanese consortium were signed in 1997, allowing re-hirings to begin, but with lower export levels.[17] The North East Coal Development was projected to create a net benefit of CAD$0.9 billion (2000), but incurred a net loss of $2.8 billion and half the expected regional employment.[20]

 
Tumbler Ridge's population trend, 1984–2006, BC Stats[21][16][19]

The population declined as many residents were unable to find other work in the town, even as a sawmill for specialty woods opened in 1999. After Teck closed the Quintette mine in August 2000 and shifted production to the lower cost Bullmoose mine, the municipal council established the Tumbler Ridge Revitalization Task Force to investigate ways to boost and diversify the economy. The Task Force negotiated the return of the housing stock from the mines to the free market, grants from the province to become debt-free,[22] and stabilized funds from the province for healthcare and education.[23] The discovery of dinosaur tracks in 2000 by two local boys while playing near a creek, led to major fossil and bone discoveries from the Cretaceous Period. To survey and study the finds, government funding was secured to found both the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre. Tumbler Ridge' population was recorded as 1,932 people in 2001.

The community went through a second boom-and-bust cycle beginning in 2004 with the increase in world coal prices. Western Canadian Coal opened new open-pit mining operations creating the Brule (Dillon) mine using some of the Bullmoose mining infrastructure, between the townsite and Chetwynd,[24][25] and the Wolverine mine.[26] These mines were purchased by Walter Energy in 2010, but world coal prices began to drop again in 2011 and in April 2014, Walter put their Canadian operations into care and maintenance, laying off nearly 700 people.[27] Similarly, Anglo American placed their Trend mine in care and maintenance in 2015.[28] These second generation coal mines were not as dominant in town affairs as Quinette and Bullmoose were such that, while as of 2016 there were no operating coal mines, the town had achieved some success in other activities, such as wind power, forestry and tourism.[29] Most significantly, the area around Tumbler Ridge was listed as North America's second UNESCO Global Geoparks promoting its geological significance.[30]

On June 8, 2023, the community of Tumbler Ridge was evacuated due to the 2023 Canadian wildfires.[31]

Demographics edit

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
20011,851—    
20062,454+32.6%
20112,710+10.4%
20161,987−26.7%
20212,399+20.7%
Canada 2016 Census[32]
Tumbler Ridge British Columbia
Median age 39.4 years 43.0 years
Under 15 years old 20% 15%
Over 65 years old 14% 18%
Household size 2.3 2.4

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tumbler Ridge had a population of 2,399 living in 1,093 of its 1,551 total private dwellings, a change of 20.7% from its 2016 population of 1,987. With a land area of 1,557.41 km2 (601.32 sq mi), it had a population density of 1.5/km2 (4.0/sq mi) in 2021.[33]

The 2016 Canadian Census reported Tumbler Ridge's median age increased from 38.8 years in 2001 to 39.4 in 2016. In 2006, of those over 15 years of age, 62% were married, higher than the 54% provincial average.[34] Reflecting the nature of the industrial jobs available in town, in 2001, only 12% of residents between 20 and 64 years of age completed university, half of the provincial average, and 26% did not complete high school, much higher than the 19% provincial average.[32]

As of the 2021 Census, the municipality is 78% European, 14% Indigenous, 3% Filipino, 2% Black and 2% Chinese.[35]

Religion edit

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Tumbler Ridge included:[36]

Geography and climate edit

The townsite is located on a series of southern-facing gravel terraces on a ridge of Mount Bergeron, overlooking the confluence of the Murray and Wolverine Rivers.[37] The site, above the floodplain of the Murray River, has well-drained soils with easy access to aquifers with potable water.[38] The rocks, mostly shale and mudstone but lacking quartzite, make the mountains less rugged than their neighbouring ranges.[39] The terraces grow Lodgepole Pine, White Spruce, Trembling Aspen trees. Moose and elk are common.[40][41] Escarpments to the east and north could pose a snow avalanche threat but are kept forested for stability.[42] In 2006, the town was evacuated for several days as four forest fires approached the town.[43]

Major coal deposits indicate the site was a swampy forest during the Cretaceous.[44] Paleontologists have discovered tracks or fossils from ankylosauria, ornithopods (including a Hadrosaurus), and theropods.[45] Fossils of Cretaceous plants such as ferns, redwoods, cycads, and ginkgo, and Triassic fishes and reptiles such as coelacanths, Weigeltisaurus, and ichthyosaurs have been recovered.[46]

The town experiences a continental climate. Arctic air masses move predominantly southwest from the Mackenzie Valley towards the Rocky Mountains and through the mountains north of town.[47] The town is in a rain shadow behind Mount Bergeron, though much of the precipitation is lost in the mountains beforehand. Town planners laid out the roads so that they run along wind breaks, and buildings and parks are located in wind shadows.[48]

Weather[49][50]
Time Average temperature Average precipitation
January −11.1 °C (12.0 °F) 40.2 mm (1.6 in)
July 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) 78.6 mm (3.1 in)
Average annual precipitation: 519 mm (20.4 in)

After examining other resource towns in Canada, the planners followed socio-spatial guidelines and principles in physical planning.[51] The coal mining facilities were well separated from the townsite to minimize the feeling of a company town.[17] An attempt to mitigate potential lifestyle conflicts between families and childless households was made by separating the low-density, single-family dwellings from the low-rise apartments.[52] The apartment blocks were planned for areas with clusters of trees and excellent viewscapes, but close to the town plaza.[53] The low-density residences that were more likely to have children living in them were oriented around elementary schools and parks. Cul-de-sacs were avoided in favour of better linkages and pedestrian access.[52]

Climate edit

Bullmoose is a weather station near Tumbler Ridge, situated on the northern slopes of Bullmoose Mountain, at an elevation of 1102 m (3615 ft). Bullmoose has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc), with long, snowy winters and short, mild summers.

Climate data for Bullmoose, British Columbia (1981-2010): 1102m
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)
13.0
(55.4)
15.0
(59.0)
21.0
(69.8)
31.0
(87.8)
30.0
(86.0)
30.5
(86.9)
30.5
(86.9)
32.5
(90.5)
23.0
(73.4)
13.0
(55.4)
17.0
(62.6)
32.5
(90.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9)
−2.0
(28.4)
0.3
(32.5)
6.7
(44.1)
12.4
(54.3)
16.3
(61.3)
18.9
(66.0)
18.3
(64.9)
12.9
(55.2)
6.3
(43.3)
−1.0
(30.2)
−3.1
(26.4)
6.9
(44.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −8.0
(17.6)
−6.6
(20.1)
−4.2
(24.4)
1.7
(35.1)
6.9
(44.4)
11.0
(51.8)
13.3
(55.9)
12.8
(55.0)
8.2
(46.8)
2.5
(36.5)
−4.7
(23.5)
−7.4
(18.7)
2.1
(35.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12.6
(9.3)
−11.2
(11.8)
−8.7
(16.3)
−3.4
(25.9)
1.5
(34.7)
5.6
(42.1)
7.8
(46.0)
7.2
(45.0)
3.4
(38.1)
−1.2
(29.8)
−8.5
(16.7)
−11.6
(11.1)
−2.6
(27.2)
Record low °C (°F) −39.5
(−39.1)
−38.0
(−36.4)
−34.0
(−29.2)
−24.0
(−11.2)
−15.0
(5.0)
−2.0
(28.4)
−0.5
(31.1)
−3.0
(26.6)
−8.0
(17.6)
−27.5
(−17.5)
−42.5
(−44.5)
−36.5
(−33.7)
−42.5
(−44.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 69.1
(2.72)
49.8
(1.96)
49.6
(1.95)
37.1
(1.46)
45.0
(1.77)
94.2
(3.71)
91.2
(3.59)
72.3
(2.85)
65.8
(2.59)
82.8
(3.26)
81.5
(3.21)
54.4
(2.14)
792.7
(31.21)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 63.9
(25.2)
43.1
(17.0)
43.8
(17.2)
24.4
(9.6)
6.3
(2.5)
0.3
(0.1)
0.0
(0.0)
0.9
(0.4)
5.9
(2.3)
31.9
(12.6)
66.4
(26.1)
48.3
(19.0)
335.2
(132)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 13.2 10.5 10.2 8.3 10.5 14.0 14.5 13.6 14.4 16.1 15.0 11.5 151.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 12.5 9.7 9.1 5.4 1.7 0.1 0.0 0.2 1.8 7.3 12.5 10.5 70.8
Source: Environment Canada[54]

Infrastructure and services edit

 
The municipal border (red) encompasses over 1500 km2 (600 sq mi) of land. The townsite is on the northern end of the municipality where the rivers converge.

Two highways diverge from Highway 97 and intersect in Tumbler Ridge: Highway 52 (Heritage Highway) which runs 98 km (61 mi) south at Arras, and Highway 29 which runs 90 km (56 mi) southeast from Chetwynd. At the intersection Highway 29 ends but Highway 52 continues south past Tumbler Ridge, then unpaved, it runs northeast to Highway 2 near the Alberta border. In town, the 28 km (17 mi) of paved roads[55] are laid out in a curvilinear pattern that use two arterial roads, MacKenzie Way and Monkman Way, to connect each section of town. Service roads from the townsite to the mines and forestry areas are maintained by the industries but are unpaved.

The unmanned Tumbler Ridge Airport, with its 1,219 m (4,000 ft) asphalt runway, is used by chartered and local flights. The closest airports with regularly scheduled flights are in Dawson Creek, Fort St John and Grande Prairie.[56] The rail line into town is a 132 km (82 mi) formerly electrified branch line through the Rocky Mountains constructed by BC Rail to transport coal to the Port of Prince Rupert. The branch line includes two major tunnels: the 9 km (6 mi) Table Tunnel and the 6 km (4 mi) Wolverine Tunnel.

Fire rescue services are provided by the town's own 16-member composite fire department. Police services are provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police which maintains a five officer detachment within the municipality. BCEHS maintains an on-call ambulance service as well as a Community Paramedicine Program. Tumbler Ridge Search and Rescue provide backcountry emergency response to the surrounding areas around Tumbler Ridge. The town operates a water treatment system and sewage disposal system. Drinking water is drawn from two drilled wells south of the townsite where it is stored in a 7 million litre reservoir before being chlorinated and pumped into town.[57] The storm sewers empty into the Murray River, but the sanitary sewage is processed through a lagoon system and released into the Murray River north of town.[38] Both the town and the province, through the Northern Health Authority, operate the Tumbler Ridge Community Health Centre. The closest hospitals with over-night beds are in Chetwynd and Dawson Creek. The two public schools, Tumbler Ridge Elementary School and Tumbler Ridge Secondary School are run by the School District 59 Peace River South. Post-secondary courses, programs, and industry training are offered by Northern Lights College at the secondary school and community centre.

Economy edit

 
Quintette Coal Mine, Tumbler Ridge

Tumbler Ridge was built to provide a labour force for the coal mining industry, which has remained the dominant employer throughout the town's history. The mining companies had a contract to sell 100 million tons of coal to a consortium of Japanese steel mills over 15 years for US$7.5 billion (1981). The Quintette Operating Corporation (QOC) was formed by partnership between Denison Mines (50%), Mitsui Mining (20%), Tokyo Boeki (20%), and other smaller firms, and began blasting at the Quintette mine in October 1982. The Bullmoose Operating Corporation was formed by the Teck Corporation (51%), Lornex (39%), and Nissho Iwai (10%) and worked the smaller Bullmoose mine. The economic viability of the mining companies were in question since the world coal prices began falling in the early 1980s and the Japanese consortium requested reduced prices. After the Supreme Court ruled that the coal prices must be reduced, the QOC filed for court protection from its creditors allowing the Teck Corporation to take over management in 1992. By 1996, even as lay-offs continued, over half the town's labour force were employed at one of the two mines.[58] New contracts with the Japanese consortium, signed 1997, moved production to the lower cost Bullmoose mine but guaranteed production until 2003 when that mine was expected to be exhausted. The Quintette mine was closed altogether on August 31, 2000. Since then, three other coal mines opened but were unprofitable: Walter Energy's Willow Creek, Brule and Wolverine mines.[59] HD Mining International pursued opening another coal mine, the Murray River project, but encountered labour challenges.[60][61][62]

While there was an intent by the town's planners to move to a more diversified economy, the few initiatives in this direction were not supported by the industries or local decision-makers.[63] Uncertainty about the town's future had been a serious concern to residents since the 1984 price reduction demands, but it was not until the closure of the Quintette mine that the town pursued diversification initiatives, such as tourism (attractions from dinosaur fossil discoveries, outdoor recreation, and nearby provincial parks), forestry, and oil and gas exploration.

Culture, recreation and media edit

After dinosaur trackways were discovered in 2000, and bones in 2002, the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation began excavations and opened the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre.[64] Fossils and bones are displayed at both locations. Tours and educational programs related to dinosaur, the trackways, and the wilderness are offered.[65] In Fall 2014 Tumbler Ridge was designated a full member of UNESCO's Global Geopark Network. Comprising 7,822 km2, the geopark highlights the geological heritage of the area such as Cretaceous dinosaur tracks and bone bed and fossils of Triassic fishes and marine reptiles.[66][67]

 
Kinuseo Falls in the Monkman Provincial Park

Tumbler Ridge's location among the Rocky Mountains has allowed for the development of numerous trail systems for motorized and non-motorized recreation. The trails and open areas span numerous mountains. Kinuseo Falls along the Murray River in the Monkman Provincial Park is the most popular destination for visitors to Tumbler Ridge.[68] Two other provincial parks are just outside the municipal boundaries: Bearhole Lake Provincial Park and Gwillim Lake Provincial Park.

Annual events held in Tumbler Ridge include the Grizfest Music Festival and the Emperor's Challenge. The Emperor's Challenge is a 21 km (13 mi) half marathon up Roman Mountain that has been held in August since 1998.[69] The Grizfest Music Festival (formerly Grizzly Valley Days) is a two-day event held on the August or September long weekend that includes a concert, parade, displays and other community-wide events.[70]

Tumbler Ridge has one newspaper published in the community, the locally owned and operated Tumbler Ridgelines[71]. It started after the publisher of the Tumbler Ridge News (formerly Community Connections) died in 2017.[72] The Tumbler Ridge Observer formerly covered the town and was published by the Peace River Block Daily News in Dawson Creek. No radio station, or television station broadcasts from the town but there are local repeaters for stations from larger centres.

Government and politics edit

 
Tumbler Ridge district hall

The District of Tumbler Ridge's council-manager form of municipal government is headed by a mayor (who also represents Tumbler Ridge on the Peace River Regional District's governing board) and a six-member council; these positions are subject to at-large elections every four years. Keith Bertrand was elected mayor on October 21, 2018, succeeding one-term mayors Don McPherson (2014-2018),[73] Darwin Wren (2011-2014)[74] and Larry White (2008-2011),[75] who had all succeeded long-time mayor Mike Caisley. Residents of the District also elect one school trustee to School District 59.[76]

Tumbler Ridge federal election results[77]
Year Liberal Conservative New Democratic Green
2021 5% 58 66% 732 12% 136 2% 26
2019 7% 86 73% 844 7% 84 4% 43
Tumbler Ridge provincial election results[78]
Year New Democratic Liberal Green
2020 14% 95 56% 390 0% 0
2017 24% 149 76% 461 0% 0

For representation in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Tumbler Ridge is part of the Peace River South electoral district which has been represented by Mike Bernier of the BC Liberal Party since 2013. Prior to Bernier, the riding was represented by Blair Lekstrom who was elected in the 2001 provincial election, with 72% support from the town's polls[79] and re-elected in 2005 with 64%[80] and in 2009 with 70% support.[81] Before Lekstrom, Peace River South was represented by Jack Weisgerber as a member of the Social Credit Party of British Columbia (1986–1994) and Reform Party of British Columbia (1994–2001). In 1996, as leader of the Reform Party, Weisgerber won re-election despite the Tumbler Ridge polls placing him second to the New Democratic Party candidate.[82]

Federally, Tumbler Ridge is in the Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies riding, represented in the House of Commons of Canada by Conservative Party Member of Parliament Bob Zimmer. Before Zimmer, who was elected in May 2011, the riding was represented by Jay Hill since 1993. The riding was represented by Frank Oberle of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1972 to 1993. Oberle served as Canada's Minister of Science and Technology in 1985 and Minister of Forestry in 1989.[83]

Notes edit

  1. ^ (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". 9 February 2022.
  3. ^ BC Stats, Community Facts, 2006.
  4. ^ Crust, Julie (3 December 2010). "Walter Energy seals $3.3 billion Western Coal buy". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Walter Energy's B.C. coal mines bought by new U.S. entity". vancouversun. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  6. ^ Helm (2001), 67
  7. ^ Helm (2001), 68–69
  8. ^ Helm (2000), 45.
  9. ^ Helm (2000), 49, 76.
  10. ^ Helm (2000), 76.
  11. ^ Halseth (2002), 38–39.
  12. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 25.
  13. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 32
  14. ^ a b "Tumbler Ridge looks ready for the builders", Alaska Highway News, December 30, 1981.
  15. ^ Halseth (2002), 86.
  16. ^ a b BC Stats, Municipal Census Populations, 1986–1996.
  17. ^ a b c Halseth (2002).
  18. ^ "More layoffs in northeast B.C.", CBC News, June 24, 1999.
  19. ^ a b BC Stats, Municipal Census Populations, 1996–2006.
  20. ^ Gunton, 505.
  21. ^ 1984 & 1985 figures from Halseth (2002), 86.
  22. ^ "Tumbler Ridge gets $6-million bail out", CBC News, October 27, 2000.
  23. ^ Halseth (2002), 182, 192.
  24. ^ Ministry of Environment, July 6, 2006.
  25. ^ Environmental Assessment Office, June 9, 2006.
  26. ^ Western Canadian Coal, October 2003.
  27. ^ Carter, Mike. . Tumbler Ridge News. Tumbler Ridge News, Ltd. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  28. ^ Ernst, Trent. . Tumbler Ridge News. Archived from the original on 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  29. ^ Halseth, Greg; Markey, Sean; Ryser, Laura; Hanlon, Neil (2017). "Exploring New Development Pathways in a Remote Mining Town: The Case of Tumbler Ridge, BC Canada". Journal of Rural & Community Development. 12 (2–3): 1–23.
  30. ^ Ernst, Trent. . Tumbler Ridge News. Archived from the original on 2016-01-12. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  31. ^ "More than 2,000 ordered to evacuate from B.C.'s Tumbler Ridge in UNESCO Global Geopark due to nearby wildfire". CBC. 8 June 2023.
  32. ^ a b Statistics Canada, 2016 Community Profiles.
  33. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  34. ^ Statistics Canada, 2006 Community Profiles.
  35. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Tumbler Ridge, District municipality (DM) [Census subdivision], British Columbia". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  36. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  37. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 85.
  38. ^ a b PLEDA, 76.
  39. ^ Helm (2000), 6.
  40. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 86–87.
  41. ^ Helm (2001), 349.
  42. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 86.
  43. ^ "More layoffs in northeast B.C." CBC News, July 4, 2006.
  44. ^ Helm (2000), 5.
  45. ^ Helm (2001), 57–61.
  46. ^ Helm (2001), 53–55, 61–63.
  47. ^ Thompson et al. (1978) 88–89.
  48. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 95.
  49. ^ Fern Duperreault, Environment Canada, as cited in Helm (2001), 9.
  50. ^ Tumbler Ridge (2004), 6.
  51. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 97.
  52. ^ a b Thompson et al. (1978), 99.
  53. ^ Thompson et al. (1978), 97, 99.
  54. ^ "Bullmoose, British Columbia". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 (in English and French). Environment Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  55. ^ Reed Construction, 23.
  56. ^ Tumbler Ridge (2006), Flying to Tumbler Ridge.
  57. ^ Jacklin, James (March 2004). "Assessment of the Tumbler Ridge Drinking Water Supply" (PDF). BC Ministry of Environment.
  58. ^ Halseth (2002), 111.
  59. ^ Andrew Nikiforuk (December 3, 2020). "BC's Coal Mining Has Failed to Deliver, Finds Report". The Tyee.
  60. ^ "B.C. mine's temporary foreign workers case in Federal Court: Unions challenge hiring of Chinese workers for B.C. coal mine". CBC News. April 9, 2013.
  61. ^ "Temporary foreign worker case involving B.C. coal mine dismissed". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. May 22, 2013.
  62. ^ "Harper says foreign worker program is being fixed". CBC News. May 7, 2013.
  63. ^ Halseth (2003), 145.
  64. ^ McCrea (2003).
  65. ^ Tumbler Ridge Museum (2008).
  66. ^ "Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark (Canada)". Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  67. ^ Geary, John (November 2016). "Travels in Geology: Tumbler Ridge: Finding dinosaurs — and their predecessors and descendants — in northeastern British Columbia". Earth. 16 (11): 42–48.
  68. ^ Helm (2001), 261.
  69. ^ Giancola, Dillon (August 13, 2018). "Kris Swanson wins 20th Emperor's Challenge". Alaska Highway News.
  70. ^ Grizfest, 2007.
  71. ^ "Tumbler RidgeLines". Tumbler RidgeLines. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  72. ^ Newton, Chris (Apr 10, 2017). "Tumbler Ridge News closing its doors". energeticcity.ca.
  73. ^ Preprost, Matt (October 25, 2018). "Incumbents fall, newcomers rise in elections across Northeast B.C.". Alaska Highway News. Fort St. John, British Columbia. p. A1.
  74. ^ Stodalka, William (November 17, 2014). "Incumbents fall, newcomers rise in elections across Northeast B.C.". Alaska Highway News. Fort St. John, British Columbia. p. A1.
  75. ^ "Election results throughout the Peace". Alaska Highway News. Fort St. John, British Columbia. November 17, 2008. p. A1.
  76. ^ School District 59 (2005).
  77. ^ "Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in block 1661)". Elections Canada. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  78. ^ "Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in nlock 1661)". Elections BC. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  79. ^ Elections BC (2001).
  80. ^ Elections BC (2005).
  81. ^ Elections BC (2009).
  82. ^ Elections BC (1996).
  83. ^ Dakers, Diane (October 23, 2005). "Ottawa memoir sheds light on dysfunctional system". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. D10.

References edit

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External links edit

  • Official website  

tumbler, ridge, district, municipality, foothills, rockies, northeastern, british, columbia, canada, member, municipality, peace, river, regional, district, with, population, 2021, living, townsite, municipality, encompasses, area, mostly, crown, land, townsit. Tumbler Ridge is a district municipality in the foothills of the B C Rockies in northeastern British Columbia Canada and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District With a population of 2 399 2021 living in a townsite the municipality encompasses an area of 1 558 km2 602 sq mi of mostly Crown land 3 The townsite is located near the confluence of the Murray River and Flatbed Creek and the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 29 and includes the site of the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Airport It is part of the Peace River South provincial electoral district and the Prince George Peace River Northern Rockies federal riding Tumbler RidgeDistrict municipalityDistrict of Tumbler Ridge 1 FlagMotto Invitatio Prosperitati Coordinates 55 08 00 N 121 00 00 W 55 13333 N 121 00000 W 55 13333 121 00000CountryCanadaProvinceBritish ColumbiaRegional DistrictPeace RiverIncorporatedApril 9 1981 district Government MayorDarryl Krakowka Governing bodyTumbler Ridge District Council MPBob Zimmer MLAMike BernierArea Total1 558 97 km2 601 92 sq mi Elevation830 m 2 720 ft Population 2021 Total2 399 2 Time zoneUTC 7 MST Postal code spanV0C 2W0Area code250 778 236HighwaysHwy 29 Hwy 52WebsiteDistrict of Tumbler RidgeTumbler Ridge is a planned community with the housing and infrastructure construct built simultaneously in 1981 by the provincial government to service the coal industry as part of the British Columbia Resources Investment Corporation s Northeast Coal Development In 1981 a consortium of Japanese steel mills agreed to purchase 100 million tonnes of coal over 15 years for US 7 5 billion from two mining companies Denison Mines Inc and the Teck Corporation who were to operate the Quintette mine and the Bullmoose mine respectively Declining global coal prices after 1981 and weakening Asian markets in the late 1990s made the town s future uncertain and kept it from achieving its projected population of 10 000 people The uncertainty dissuaded investment and kept the economy from diversifying When price reductions were forced onto the mines the Quintette mine was closed in 2000 production and the town lost about half its population Coal prices began to rise after the turn of the century leading to the opening of the Peace River Coal Trend mine by Northern Energy amp Mining Inc now owned by Anglo American Met Coal and the Wolverine Mine originally owned by Western Canadian Coal which was purchased by Walter Energy in 2010 4 Walter went bankrupt in 2015 and their Canadian assets including the Wolverine Mine were purchased by Conuma Coal in 2016 5 After dinosaur footprints and fossils were discovered in the municipality along with fossils of Triassic fishes and Cretaceous plants the Peace Region Paleontology Research Center opened in 2003 followed by a dinosaur museum The study of the area led to a recognition of its geological importance and listing in the UNESCO Global Geopark Network Nearby recreational destinations include numerous trails mountains waterfalls snowmobiling areas and provincial parks such as Monkman Provincial Park Bearhole Lake Provincial Park and Gwillim Lake Provincial Park Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 2 1 Religion 3 Geography and climate 3 1 Climate 4 Infrastructure and services 5 Economy 6 Culture recreation and media 7 Government and politics 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksHistory editArchaeological evidence show a human presence dating back 3 000 years 6 The nomadic Sekani followed by the Dunneza and then the Cree periodically lived in temporary settlements around the future municipality 7 Formal exploratory and surveying expeditions were conducted by S Prescott Fay with Robert Cross and Fred Brewster in 1914 J C Gwillim in 1919 Edmund Spieker in 1920 and John Holzworth in 1923 Spieker coined the name Tumbler Ridge referring to the mountains northwest of the future town by altering Gwillim s map that named them Tumbler Range 8 Permanent settlers were squatters five families by 1920 who maintained trap lines In the 1950s and 1960s oil and natural gas exploration and logging was conducted through the area and 15 significant coal deposits were discovered 9 Coal prices rose after the 1973 oil crisis leading to 40 government studies examining the viability of accessing the coal given the 1 130 km 700 mi to the nearest port and the mountainous barrier 10 With these coal deposits in mind a purchasing agreement was signed in 1981 by two Canadian mining companies a consortium of Japanese steel mills and the governments of British Columbia and Canada As part of the deal the provincial government committed under the North East Coal Development plan to build a new town near the deposits two highways off Highway 97 a power line from the W A C Bennett Dam at Hudson s Hope and a branch rail line through the Rocky Mountains An alternative of using work camps staffed by people from Dawson Creek and Chetwynd was also considered Massive initial investments were required as planning for the new town began in 1976 with the objective of having a fully functioning town ready before residents arrived 11 The community s 1977 conceptual plan estimated a population of 3 568 residents in 1981 7 940 in 1985 and 10 584 in 1987 after which the level was expected to stabilize 12 The planners of the community advised the mining companies to hire workers who were married believing they would live in Tumbler Ridge longer and reduce employment turnover 13 Coordinated through the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs the community regional infrastructure and mining plants were all built simultaneously When the municipality was incorporated in April 1981 the area was completely forested 14 During that year building sites and roadways were cleared 14 and in the winter the water and sewer system was built In 1982 houses and other buildings were constructed Full production at the mines was reached the following year The population rose to 3 833 people in 1984 15 The 1986 Canadian census the first census to recognize Tumbler Ridge as a census subdivision recorded 4 566 residents 16 In 1984 world coal prices were dropping and the Japanese consortium requested a reduction in the price of coal from the Tumbler Ridge mines As price reduction requests continued the concern over the viability of the mines led the BC Assessment Authority to lower the 1987 property assessments for the Quintette mine from CAD 156 million to 89 million and the Bullmoose mine 70 million to 43 million 17 This lowered their taxes as they tried to enforce the purchasing agreement at the Supreme Court of Canada Their 1990 ruling required the Quintette Operations Company to reduce coal prices and reimburse the Japanese consortium 4 6 million The company responded by reducing production cutting employment and applying for court protection from creditors This allowed Teck to acquire 50 interest and take over management of the Quintette mine but it was unable to stop further job losses 18 Tumbler Ridge s population which had peaked in 1991 at 4 794 people began to decline 19 As most residents left town apartment blocks were closed and the mine companies bought back all but 11 houses in the town After 30 of the workforce had been laid off new contracts with the Japanese consortium were signed in 1997 allowing re hirings to begin but with lower export levels 17 The North East Coal Development was projected to create a net benefit of CAD 0 9 billion 2000 but incurred a net loss of 2 8 billion and half the expected regional employment 20 nbsp Tumbler Ridge s population trend 1984 2006 BC Stats 21 16 19 The population declined as many residents were unable to find other work in the town even as a sawmill for specialty woods opened in 1999 After Teck closed the Quintette mine in August 2000 and shifted production to the lower cost Bullmoose mine the municipal council established the Tumbler Ridge Revitalization Task Force to investigate ways to boost and diversify the economy The Task Force negotiated the return of the housing stock from the mines to the free market grants from the province to become debt free 22 and stabilized funds from the province for healthcare and education 23 The discovery of dinosaur tracks in 2000 by two local boys while playing near a creek led to major fossil and bone discoveries from the Cretaceous Period To survey and study the finds government funding was secured to found both the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre Tumbler Ridge population was recorded as 1 932 people in 2001 The community went through a second boom and bust cycle beginning in 2004 with the increase in world coal prices Western Canadian Coal opened new open pit mining operations creating the Brule Dillon mine using some of the Bullmoose mining infrastructure between the townsite and Chetwynd 24 25 and the Wolverine mine 26 These mines were purchased by Walter Energy in 2010 but world coal prices began to drop again in 2011 and in April 2014 Walter put their Canadian operations into care and maintenance laying off nearly 700 people 27 Similarly Anglo American placed their Trend mine in care and maintenance in 2015 28 These second generation coal mines were not as dominant in town affairs as Quinette and Bullmoose were such that while as of 2016 there were no operating coal mines the town had achieved some success in other activities such as wind power forestry and tourism 29 Most significantly the area around Tumbler Ridge was listed as North America s second UNESCO Global Geoparks promoting its geological significance 30 On June 8 2023 the community of Tumbler Ridge was evacuated due to the 2023 Canadian wildfires 31 Demographics editHistorical populationsYearPop 20011 851 20062 454 32 6 20112 710 10 4 20161 987 26 7 20212 399 20 7 Canada 2016 Census 32 Tumbler Ridge British ColumbiaMedian age 39 4 years 43 0 yearsUnder 15 years old 20 15 Over 65 years old 14 18 Household size 2 3 2 4In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada Tumbler Ridge had a population of 2 399 living in 1 093 of its 1 551 total private dwellings a change of 20 7 from its 2016 population of 1 987 With a land area of 1 557 41 km2 601 32 sq mi it had a population density of 1 5 km2 4 0 sq mi in 2021 33 The 2016 Canadian Census reported Tumbler Ridge s median age increased from 38 8 years in 2001 to 39 4 in 2016 In 2006 of those over 15 years of age 62 were married higher than the 54 provincial average 34 Reflecting the nature of the industrial jobs available in town in 2001 only 12 of residents between 20 and 64 years of age completed university half of the provincial average and 26 did not complete high school much higher than the 19 provincial average 32 As of the 2021 Census the municipality is 78 European 14 Indigenous 3 Filipino 2 Black and 2 Chinese 35 Religion edit According to the 2021 census religious groups in Tumbler Ridge included 36 Irreligion 1 430 persons or 59 7 Christianity 935 persons or 39 0 Other 25 persons or 1 0 Geography and climate editThe townsite is located on a series of southern facing gravel terraces on a ridge of Mount Bergeron overlooking the confluence of the Murray and Wolverine Rivers 37 The site above the floodplain of the Murray River has well drained soils with easy access to aquifers with potable water 38 The rocks mostly shale and mudstone but lacking quartzite make the mountains less rugged than their neighbouring ranges 39 The terraces grow Lodgepole Pine White Spruce Trembling Aspen trees Moose and elk are common 40 41 Escarpments to the east and north could pose a snow avalanche threat but are kept forested for stability 42 In 2006 the town was evacuated for several days as four forest fires approached the town 43 Major coal deposits indicate the site was a swampy forest during the Cretaceous 44 Paleontologists have discovered tracks or fossils from ankylosauria ornithopods including a Hadrosaurus and theropods 45 Fossils of Cretaceous plants such as ferns redwoods cycads and ginkgo and Triassic fishes and reptiles such as coelacanths Weigeltisaurus and ichthyosaurs have been recovered 46 The town experiences a continental climate Arctic air masses move predominantly southwest from the Mackenzie Valley towards the Rocky Mountains and through the mountains north of town 47 The town is in a rain shadow behind Mount Bergeron though much of the precipitation is lost in the mountains beforehand Town planners laid out the roads so that they run along wind breaks and buildings and parks are located in wind shadows 48 Weather 49 50 Time Average temperature Average precipitationJanuary 11 1 C 12 0 F 40 2 mm 1 6 in July 14 8 C 58 6 F 78 6 mm 3 1 in Average annual precipitation 519 mm 20 4 in After examining other resource towns in Canada the planners followed socio spatial guidelines and principles in physical planning 51 The coal mining facilities were well separated from the townsite to minimize the feeling of a company town 17 An attempt to mitigate potential lifestyle conflicts between families and childless households was made by separating the low density single family dwellings from the low rise apartments 52 The apartment blocks were planned for areas with clusters of trees and excellent viewscapes but close to the town plaza 53 The low density residences that were more likely to have children living in them were oriented around elementary schools and parks Cul de sacs were avoided in favour of better linkages and pedestrian access 52 Climate edit Bullmoose is a weather station near Tumbler Ridge situated on the northern slopes of Bullmoose Mountain at an elevation of 1102 m 3615 ft Bullmoose has a subarctic climate Koppen Dfc with long snowy winters and short mild summers Climate data for Bullmoose British Columbia 1981 2010 1102mMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 13 0 55 4 13 0 55 4 15 0 59 0 21 0 69 8 31 0 87 8 30 0 86 0 30 5 86 9 30 5 86 9 32 5 90 5 23 0 73 4 13 0 55 4 17 0 62 6 32 5 90 5 Mean daily maximum C F 3 4 25 9 2 0 28 4 0 3 32 5 6 7 44 1 12 4 54 3 16 3 61 3 18 9 66 0 18 3 64 9 12 9 55 2 6 3 43 3 1 0 30 2 3 1 26 4 6 9 44 4 Daily mean C F 8 0 17 6 6 6 20 1 4 2 24 4 1 7 35 1 6 9 44 4 11 0 51 8 13 3 55 9 12 8 55 0 8 2 46 8 2 5 36 5 4 7 23 5 7 4 18 7 2 1 35 8 Mean daily minimum C F 12 6 9 3 11 2 11 8 8 7 16 3 3 4 25 9 1 5 34 7 5 6 42 1 7 8 46 0 7 2 45 0 3 4 38 1 1 2 29 8 8 5 16 7 11 6 11 1 2 6 27 2 Record low C F 39 5 39 1 38 0 36 4 34 0 29 2 24 0 11 2 15 0 5 0 2 0 28 4 0 5 31 1 3 0 26 6 8 0 17 6 27 5 17 5 42 5 44 5 36 5 33 7 42 5 44 5 Average precipitation mm inches 69 1 2 72 49 8 1 96 49 6 1 95 37 1 1 46 45 0 1 77 94 2 3 71 91 2 3 59 72 3 2 85 65 8 2 59 82 8 3 26 81 5 3 21 54 4 2 14 792 7 31 21 Average snowfall cm inches 63 9 25 2 43 1 17 0 43 8 17 2 24 4 9 6 6 3 2 5 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 4 5 9 2 3 31 9 12 6 66 4 26 1 48 3 19 0 335 2 132 Average precipitation days 0 2 mm 13 2 10 5 10 2 8 3 10 5 14 0 14 5 13 6 14 4 16 1 15 0 11 5 151 9Average snowy days 0 2 cm 12 5 9 7 9 1 5 4 1 7 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 8 7 3 12 5 10 5 70 8Source Environment Canada 54 Infrastructure and services edit nbsp The municipal border red encompasses over 1500 km2 600 sq mi of land The townsite is on the northern end of the municipality where the rivers converge Two highways diverge from Highway 97 and intersect in Tumbler Ridge Highway 52 Heritage Highway which runs 98 km 61 mi south at Arras and Highway 29 which runs 90 km 56 mi southeast from Chetwynd At the intersection Highway 29 ends but Highway 52 continues south past Tumbler Ridge then unpaved it runs northeast to Highway 2 near the Alberta border In town the 28 km 17 mi of paved roads 55 are laid out in a curvilinear pattern that use two arterial roads MacKenzie Way and Monkman Way to connect each section of town Service roads from the townsite to the mines and forestry areas are maintained by the industries but are unpaved The unmanned Tumbler Ridge Airport with its 1 219 m 4 000 ft asphalt runway is used by chartered and local flights The closest airports with regularly scheduled flights are in Dawson Creek Fort St John and Grande Prairie 56 The rail line into town is a 132 km 82 mi formerly electrified branch line through the Rocky Mountains constructed by BC Rail to transport coal to the Port of Prince Rupert The branch line includes two major tunnels the 9 km 6 mi Table Tunnel and the 6 km 4 mi Wolverine Tunnel Fire rescue services are provided by the town s own 16 member composite fire department Police services are provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police which maintains a five officer detachment within the municipality BCEHS maintains an on call ambulance service as well as a Community Paramedicine Program Tumbler Ridge Search and Rescue provide backcountry emergency response to the surrounding areas around Tumbler Ridge The town operates a water treatment system and sewage disposal system Drinking water is drawn from two drilled wells south of the townsite where it is stored in a 7 million litre reservoir before being chlorinated and pumped into town 57 The storm sewers empty into the Murray River but the sanitary sewage is processed through a lagoon system and released into the Murray River north of town 38 Both the town and the province through the Northern Health Authority operate the Tumbler Ridge Community Health Centre The closest hospitals with over night beds are in Chetwynd and Dawson Creek The two public schools Tumbler Ridge Elementary School and Tumbler Ridge Secondary School are run by the School District 59 Peace River South Post secondary courses programs and industry training are offered by Northern Lights College at the secondary school and community centre Economy edit nbsp Quintette Coal Mine Tumbler RidgeTumbler Ridge was built to provide a labour force for the coal mining industry which has remained the dominant employer throughout the town s history The mining companies had a contract to sell 100 million tons of coal to a consortium of Japanese steel mills over 15 years for US 7 5 billion 1981 The Quintette Operating Corporation QOC was formed by partnership between Denison Mines 50 Mitsui Mining 20 Tokyo Boeki 20 and other smaller firms and began blasting at the Quintette mine in October 1982 The Bullmoose Operating Corporation was formed by the Teck Corporation 51 Lornex 39 and Nissho Iwai 10 and worked the smaller Bullmoose mine The economic viability of the mining companies were in question since the world coal prices began falling in the early 1980s and the Japanese consortium requested reduced prices After the Supreme Court ruled that the coal prices must be reduced the QOC filed for court protection from its creditors allowing the Teck Corporation to take over management in 1992 By 1996 even as lay offs continued over half the town s labour force were employed at one of the two mines 58 New contracts with the Japanese consortium signed 1997 moved production to the lower cost Bullmoose mine but guaranteed production until 2003 when that mine was expected to be exhausted The Quintette mine was closed altogether on August 31 2000 Since then three other coal mines opened but were unprofitable Walter Energy s Willow Creek Brule and Wolverine mines 59 HD Mining International pursued opening another coal mine the Murray River project but encountered labour challenges 60 61 62 While there was an intent by the town s planners to move to a more diversified economy the few initiatives in this direction were not supported by the industries or local decision makers 63 Uncertainty about the town s future had been a serious concern to residents since the 1984 price reduction demands but it was not until the closure of the Quintette mine that the town pursued diversification initiatives such as tourism attractions from dinosaur fossil discoveries outdoor recreation and nearby provincial parks forestry and oil and gas exploration Culture recreation and media editAfter dinosaur trackways were discovered in 2000 and bones in 2002 the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation began excavations and opened the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre 64 Fossils and bones are displayed at both locations Tours and educational programs related to dinosaur the trackways and the wilderness are offered 65 In Fall 2014 Tumbler Ridge was designated a full member of UNESCO s Global Geopark Network Comprising 7 822 km2 the geopark highlights the geological heritage of the area such as Cretaceous dinosaur tracks and bone bed and fossils of Triassic fishes and marine reptiles 66 67 nbsp Kinuseo Falls in the Monkman Provincial ParkTumbler Ridge s location among the Rocky Mountains has allowed for the development of numerous trail systems for motorized and non motorized recreation The trails and open areas span numerous mountains Kinuseo Falls along the Murray River in the Monkman Provincial Park is the most popular destination for visitors to Tumbler Ridge 68 Two other provincial parks are just outside the municipal boundaries Bearhole Lake Provincial Park and Gwillim Lake Provincial Park Annual events held in Tumbler Ridge include the Grizfest Music Festival and the Emperor s Challenge The Emperor s Challenge is a 21 km 13 mi half marathon up Roman Mountain that has been held in August since 1998 69 The Grizfest Music Festival formerly Grizzly Valley Days is a two day event held on the August or September long weekend that includes a concert parade displays and other community wide events 70 Tumbler Ridge has one newspaper published in the community the locally owned and operated Tumbler Ridgelines 71 It started after the publisher of the Tumbler Ridge News formerly Community Connections died in 2017 72 The Tumbler Ridge Observer formerly covered the town and was published by the Peace River Block Daily News in Dawson Creek No radio station or television station broadcasts from the town but there are local repeaters for stations from larger centres Government and politics edit nbsp Tumbler Ridge district hallThe District of Tumbler Ridge s council manager form of municipal government is headed by a mayor who also represents Tumbler Ridge on the Peace River Regional District s governing board and a six member council these positions are subject to at large elections every four years Keith Bertrand was elected mayor on October 21 2018 succeeding one term mayors Don McPherson 2014 2018 73 Darwin Wren 2011 2014 74 and Larry White 2008 2011 75 who had all succeeded long time mayor Mike Caisley Residents of the District also elect one school trustee to School District 59 76 Tumbler Ridge federal election results 77 Year Liberal Conservative New Democratic Green2021 5 58 66 732 12 136 2 262019 7 86 73 844 7 84 4 43Tumbler Ridge provincial election results 78 Year New Democratic Liberal Green2020 14 95 56 390 0 02017 24 149 76 461 0 0For representation in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Tumbler Ridge is part of the Peace River South electoral district which has been represented by Mike Bernier of the BC Liberal Party since 2013 Prior to Bernier the riding was represented by Blair Lekstrom who was elected in the 2001 provincial election with 72 support from the town s polls 79 and re elected in 2005 with 64 80 and in 2009 with 70 support 81 Before Lekstrom Peace River South was represented by Jack Weisgerber as a member of the Social Credit Party of British Columbia 1986 1994 and Reform Party of British Columbia 1994 2001 In 1996 as leader of the Reform Party Weisgerber won re election despite the Tumbler Ridge polls placing him second to the New Democratic Party candidate 82 Federally Tumbler Ridge is in the Prince George Peace River Northern Rockies riding represented in the House of Commons of Canada by Conservative Party Member of Parliament Bob Zimmer Before Zimmer who was elected in May 2011 the riding was represented by Jay Hill since 1993 The riding was represented by Frank Oberle of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1972 to 1993 Oberle served as Canada s Minister of Science and Technology in 1985 and Minister of Forestry in 1989 83 Notes edit 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 July 13 2014 Retrieved November 2 2014 Census Profile 2021 Census of Population 9 February 2022 BC Stats Community Facts 2006 Crust Julie 3 December 2010 Walter Energy seals 3 3 billion Western Coal buy Reuters Reuters Retrieved 15 October 2015 Walter Energy s B C coal mines bought by new U S entity vancouversun Retrieved 2020 12 02 Helm 2001 67 Helm 2001 68 69 Helm 2000 45 Helm 2000 49 76 Helm 2000 76 Halseth 2002 38 39 Thompson et al 1978 25 Thompson et al 1978 32 a b Tumbler Ridge looks ready for the builders Alaska Highway News December 30 1981 Halseth 2002 86 a b BC Stats Municipal Census Populations 1986 1996 a b c Halseth 2002 More layoffs in northeast B C CBC News June 24 1999 a b BC Stats Municipal Census Populations 1996 2006 Gunton 505 1984 amp 1985 figures from Halseth 2002 86 Tumbler Ridge gets 6 million bail out CBC News October 27 2000 Halseth 2002 182 192 Ministry of Environment July 6 2006 Environmental Assessment Office June 9 2006 Western Canadian Coal October 2003 Carter Mike Temporary layoffs for 415 people at Wolverine and 280 employees at Brazion effective immediately Tumbler Ridge News Tumbler Ridge News Ltd Archived from the original on 2015 12 08 Retrieved 15 October 2015 Ernst Trent PRC winding down by end of year Tumbler Ridge News Archived from the original on 2016 01 12 Retrieved 2015 10 15 Halseth Greg Markey Sean Ryser Laura Hanlon Neil 2017 Exploring New Development Pathways in a Remote Mining Town The Case of Tumbler Ridge BC Canada Journal of Rural amp Community Development 12 2 3 1 23 Ernst Trent The Best Thing to Happen to Tumbler Ridge Since Coal Tumbler Ridge News Archived from the original on 2016 01 12 Retrieved 15 October 2015 More than 2 000 ordered to evacuate from B C s Tumbler Ridge in UNESCO Global Geopark due to nearby wildfire CBC 8 June 2023 a b Statistics Canada 2016 Community Profiles Population and dwelling counts Canada provinces and territories and census subdivisions municipalities British Columbia Statistics Canada February 9 2022 Retrieved February 20 2022 Statistics Canada 2006 Community Profiles Government of Canada Statistics Canada 9 February 2022 Profile table Census Profile 2021 Census of Population Tumbler Ridge District municipality DM Census subdivision British Columbia www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 30 March 2023 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 2022 10 26 Census Profile 2021 Census of Population www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 2022 11 11 Thompson et al 1978 85 a b PLEDA 76 Helm 2000 6 Thompson et al 1978 86 87 Helm 2001 349 Thompson et al 1978 86 More layoffs in northeast B C CBC News July 4 2006 Helm 2000 5 Helm 2001 57 61 Helm 2001 53 55 61 63 Thompson et al 1978 88 89 Thompson et al 1978 95 Fern Duperreault Environment Canada as cited in Helm 2001 9 Tumbler Ridge 2004 6 Thompson et al 1978 97 a b Thompson et al 1978 99 Thompson et al 1978 97 99 Bullmoose British Columbia Canadian Climate Normals 1981 2010 in English and French Environment Canada Retrieved February 2 2024 Reed Construction 23 Tumbler Ridge 2006 Flying to Tumbler Ridge Jacklin James March 2004 Assessment of the Tumbler Ridge Drinking Water Supply PDF BC Ministry of Environment Halseth 2002 111 Andrew Nikiforuk December 3 2020 BC s Coal Mining Has Failed to Deliver Finds Report The Tyee B C mine s temporary foreign workers case in Federal Court Unions challenge hiring of Chinese workers for B C coal mine CBC News April 9 2013 Temporary foreign worker case involving B C coal mine dismissed The Globe and Mail Toronto May 22 2013 Harper says foreign worker program is being fixed CBC News May 7 2013 Halseth 2003 145 McCrea 2003 Tumbler Ridge Museum 2008 Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark Canada Retrieved August 25 2018 Geary John November 2016 Travels in Geology Tumbler Ridge Finding dinosaurs and their predecessors and descendants in northeastern British Columbia Earth 16 11 42 48 Helm 2001 261 Giancola Dillon August 13 2018 Kris Swanson wins 20th Emperor s Challenge Alaska Highway News Grizfest 2007 Tumbler RidgeLines Tumbler RidgeLines Retrieved December 2 2020 Newton Chris Apr 10 2017 Tumbler Ridge News closing its doors energeticcity ca Preprost Matt October 25 2018 Incumbents fall newcomers rise in elections across Northeast B C Alaska Highway News Fort St John British Columbia p A1 Stodalka William November 17 2014 Incumbents fall newcomers rise in elections across Northeast B C Alaska Highway News Fort St John British Columbia p A1 Election results throughout the Peace Alaska Highway News Fort St John British Columbia November 17 2008 p A1 School District 59 2005 Official Voting Results Raw Data poll by poll results in block 1661 Elections Canada Retrieved March 7 2023 Official Voting Results by polling station poll by poll results in nlock 1661 Elections BC Retrieved March 7 2023 Elections BC 2001 Elections BC 2005 Elections BC 2009 Elections BC 1996 Dakers Diane October 23 2005 Ottawa memoir sheds light on dysfunctional system Times Colonist Victoria British Columbia p D10 References editBC Stats British Columbia Municipal Census Populations 1986 1996 British Columbia Archived from the original on 2012 07 30 Retrieved 2006 12 08 BC Stats British Columbia Municipal Census Populations 1996 2006 British Columbia Archived from the original on 2012 05 29 Retrieved 2006 12 19 BC Stats September 8 2006 Tumbler Ridge District Municipality PDF Community Facts British Columbia Retrieved 2006 12 08 Dawson Creek amp District Chamber of Commerce A Socio economic profile of the South Peace River Region British Columbia Canada PDF 2003 Edition Archived from the original PDF on 2006 11 16 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Elections BC 2001 Peace River South Electoral District PDF Statement of Votes 2001 British Columbia Archived from the original PDF on 2003 10 18 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Elections BC 2005 Peace River South Electoral District PDF Statement of Votes 2005 British Columbia Archived from the original PDF on 2006 03 18 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Elections BC 1996 Peace River South Electoral District PDF 36th Provincial General Election May 28 1996 British Columbia Archived from the original PDF on 2006 09 27 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Elections Canada 2006 Prince George Peace River Thirty ninth General Election 2006 Poll by poll results Official Voting Results Canada Retrieved 2006 12 08 Requires navigation to Prince George Peace River Elections Canada 2011 Prince George Peace River Forty First General Election 2011 Poll by poll results Official Voting Results Canada Retrieved 2011 11 11 Requires navigation to Prince George Peace River Emperor s Challenge EmperorsChallenge com 2007 Retrieved 2008 01 20 Environmental Assessment Office June 9 2006 Brule Mine Project Assessment Report PDF British Columbia Retrieved 2006 12 08 Fire forces hectic evacuation in northern B C CBC News July 4 2006 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Grizfest TumblerRidge ca 2007 Archived from the original on January 11 2008 Retrieved 2008 01 20 Gunton Thomas 2003 Megaprojects and Regional Development Pathologies in Project Planning Regional Studies Routledge 37 5 505 519 doi 10 1080 0034340032000089068 S2CID 154489792 Halseth Greg King Nora Ryser Laura January 2004 Communication Tools and Resources in Rural Canada A Report for Tumbler Ridge British Columbia Initiative on the New Economy PDF Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Retrieved 2006 12 07 Halseth Greg Sullivan Lana 2002 Building community in an instant town A social geography of Mackenzie and Tumbler Ridge British Columbia University of Northern British Columbia Press ISBN 1 896315 10 0 Halseth Greg Sullivan Lana 2003 2004 From Kitimat to Tumbler Ridge A Crucial Lesson Not Learned in Resource Town Planning Western Geography 13 14 132 160 Helm Charles 2000 Beyond Rock and Coal The History of the Tumbler Ridge Area MCA Publishing Helm Charles 2001 Tumbler Ridge Enjoying its History Trails and Wilderness MCA Publishing ISBN 0 9688558 0 6 McCrea Richard Lisa G Buckley 2003 Tumbler Ridge Dinosaur Excavation Summer 2003 Living Landscapes Royal British Columbia Museum Retrieved 2008 01 29 Province Approves Brule Mine Project Press release Ministry of Environment British Columbia July 6 2006 Retrieved 2006 12 08 More layoffs in northeast B C CBC News June 24 1999 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Peace Liard Employment Development Association October 1985 Peace Liard Economic Profile Report Vol 4 Police Services Division Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General ed Police and Crime Summary Statistics 1996 2005 Summary Statistics Police Crime 2006 ed British Columbia ISSN 1198 9971 OCLC 34339976 Retrieved 2006 12 09 Reed Construction 2005 Municipal redbook an authoritative reference guide to local government in British Columbia Municipal Redbook An Authoritative Reference Guide to Local Government in British Columbia and Alberta Burnaby BC ISSN 0068 161X School District 59 Peace River South 2005 Board of School Trustees SD59 bc ca Archived from the original on 2007 09 28 Retrieved 2006 12 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Statistics Canada July 25 2006 Community Highlights for Tumbler Ridge 2001 Community Profiles Canada Retrieved 2006 12 09 Statistics Canada September 12 2007 Community Highlights for Tumbler Ridge 2006 Community Profiles Canada Retrieved 2007 10 06 Thompson Berwick Pratt amp Partners et al March 25 1978 Conceptual Plan Tumbler Ridge Northeast Sector B C A Physical Plan Social Plan Financial Plan Organizational Plan Report Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing British Columbia Tumbler Ridge December 2004 Business Information Package PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2005 05 17 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Tumbler Ridge 2006 Flying to Tumbler Ridge TumblerRidge ca Archived from the original on 2006 06 21 Retrieved 2006 12 09 Tumbler Ridge gets 6 million bail out CBC News October 27 2000 Retrieved 2006 12 08 Tumbler Ridge looks ready for the builders Alaska Highway News 1981 12 30 Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation 2008 Tumbler Ridge Museum and Dinosaur Centre TumblerRidgeMuseum com Retrieved 2008 01 29 Western Canadian Coal October 2003 Wolverine Coal Project Revised Project Description PDF Environmental Assessment Office Retrieved 2006 12 09 Western Canadian Coal 2007 Properties WesternCoal com Archived from the original on 2008 03 02 Retrieved 2008 01 20 Requires navigation to Brazion Group and Wolverine Group categories Western Canadian Coal 2007 Wolverine Group WesternCoal com Archived from the original on 2008 05 17 Retrieved 2008 01 20 External links editOfficial website nbsp Portals nbsp Canada nbsp Geography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tumbler Ridge amp oldid 1202555782, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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