International migration boosts Peace region’s population amid economic uncertainty, report finds

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — International migration is furthering the growth of the Peace region, according to a new report.

Released by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), BC Check-up Live is an annual report focusing on the demographics and affordability trends throughout the province.

A new press release from the CPABC on Thursday, August 28th suggested northeast B.C. grew by 1.8 per cent – or to 72,015 people calling the region home – between July 2023 and July 2024.

Alan Bone, a partner at Fort St. John’s Eclipse LLP accounting firm, says there is a lot to be happy about in the region, although economic issues do remain.

“Our economy is facing some headwinds due to international trade disruptions and slowing investment now that Site C is complete,” said Bone in a press release. “Investing in the region’s long-term economic growth is essential to attract new residents.”

The region broke a new record for international migration, with a net growth of 1,381 residents between July 2023 and July 2024, the majority occurring within both Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.

The North East Immigrant Services Society (NEISS) is an organization assisting with settling newcomers to Canada in Fort St. John.

NEISS Board member Dina Shababat said the organization was founded in 2024, and has assisted with helping immigrants from South America, parts of Europe, India and Bangladesh in the past year.

“[In] the last five months, we had a lot of new applications,” Shababat told Energeticcity.ca. “When you come to a new place, you don’t know where to go, where to start. We can help with that.”

Additionally, interprovincial and intraprovincial migration reduced northeast B.C.’s population by 474 residents and 113 residents, respectively.

The report also says home sales were up 12.9 per cent in Fort St. John throughout the first half of 2025, with year-to-date sales also high (17.1 per cent) in the South Peace region.

“Housing in the region remains some of the most affordable in the province,” said Bone in the release. “It’s a major reason why home sales and prices have been resilient in 2025, despite economic uncertainty.”

The 2025 BC Check up Live report is available at the CPABC’s website.