(UPDATE) PRRD exempts 800+ properties from paying North Peace Leisure Pool tax

Updated, October 30th, 1:30 p.m.: The story was amended to clarify the worth of the properties under consideration. Details about the last time this bylaw was approved, in 2023, have also been added.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The regional district has exempted hundreds of rural properties from paying taxes towards the North Peace Leisure Pool in Fort St. John. 

During the October 16th meeting, the Peace River Regional District board of directors discussed and approved the North Peace Leisure Pool Service Boundary Amendment Bylaw. 

The bylaw is discussed and voted upon regularly, and details portions of Electoral Area B which are exempt from taxation for the North Peace Leisure Pool. 

According to a report from staff, a total of 848 properties will now be exempt from the bylaw, which are assessed at approximately $444.58 million. Of this, 208.06 million are residential, 215.79 million are major industrial and $3.76 million are utility properties. The remaining $16.97 million are considered to be business properties and ‘other’ properties that do not fall into the aforementioned categories. 

The amendment bylaw has been passed regularly since 1998, and outlines which properties in the region are considered too far away from the North Peace Leisure Pool to benefit from it or use it on a regular basis. 

The last time this came before the PRRD board was on October 26th, 2023. According to the minutes for that meeting, 786 properties assessed at approximately $319.28 million were excluded – meaning a total of 62 new properties are being added in the 2025 amendment. 

The aquatic facility is located in Fort St. John on 100th Street. 

Director and mayor of Fort St. John Lilia Hansen expressed her opposition to the bylaw, explaining that despite how remote some properties may be compared to the pool, all the residents of the area benefit from it. 

“[The pool] is something that helps us attract and retain professionals, whether they’re coming to our hospitals or clinics, perhaps to come to a garage or shop,” Hansen said. 

“Fort St. John is a more attractive community because we have the leisure pool.”

Others on the board, such as Electoral Area B director Reid Graham disagreed, noting even residents who do pay taxes to the aquatic facility are required to pay a fee to access it. 

“A lot of the [people and properties] that are exempted…are exempted for a reason, they’re just so remote, they’re not using the facility, if they are it might be a one-off thing a year, and they’re paying to get into the facility anyway,” Graham said. 

Ultimately, despite Hansen voting against the bylaw, it was given approval by the board of directors. 

Following this, the bylaw was given three readings and sent to the City of Fort St. John, Electoral Area B and Electoral Area C. These three participants in the bylaw must provide written approval, and then the bylaw can be submitted to the province’s Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs for statutory approval. 

To read the complete amendment bylaw, see below.