Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
2284877
222144038
2008-06-27T19:39:51Z
Sillyfolkboy
6935794
/* Geography and climate */ fix ginkgo spelling + wikilink
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{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = District Municipality of Tumbler Ridge
|settlement_type = Town
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Canada
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = [[British Columbia]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of British Columbia Regional Districts|Regional District]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Peace River Regional District|Peace River]]
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|leader_title =Mayor
|leader_name =Mike Caisley
|leader_title1 =Governing body
|leader_name1 =Tumbler Ridge District Council
|leader_title2 =[[Members of the Canadian House of Commons|MP]]
|leader_name2 =Jay Hill
|leader_title3 =[[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|MLA]]
|leader_name3 =Blair Lekstrom
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|established_title = Incorporated
|established_date = [[9 April]] [[1981]] (district)
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|population_total = 2,454
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|postal_code =V0C 2W0
|area_code =+1-250
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|website = [http://www.tumblerridge.ca/ District of Tumbler Ridge]
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The '''District Municipality of Tumbler Ridge''' is a small town in the foothills of the [[Rocky Mountains]] in northeastern [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], and a member [[municipality]] of the [[Peace River Regional District]]. The municipality of {{Km2 to mi2|1574|spell=Commonwealth||precision=0}}, with its population of 2,454 people, incorporates a townsite and a large area of mostly [[Crown land]].<ref>BC Stats, ''Community Facts'', 2006.</ref> The housing and municipal infrastructure, along with regional infrastructure connecting the [[new town]] to other municipalities, were 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 project.
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|Denison Mines Inc.]] and the [[Teck Cominco|Teck Corporation]] who were to operate the Quintette mine and the Bullmoose mine, respectively. Declining global coal prices after 1981, and [[East Asian financial crisis|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. Since 2000 rising coal prices have led to the opening of new mines in and near the municipality by [[Northern Energy & Mining Inc.]] and [[Western Canadian Coal]].
After dinosaur footprints, fossils, and bones were discovered in the municipality, along with fossils of [[Triassic]] fishes and [[cretaceous]] plants, the Peace Region Paleontology Research Centre opened in 2003. The research centre and a dinosaur museum were funded in part by the federal [[Western Economic Diversification Canada]] to decrease economic dependence on the coal industry. Economic diversification has also occurred with oil and gas exploration, forestry, and recreational tourism. Nearby recreational destinations include numerous trails, mountains, waterfalls, snowmobiling areas and [[List of British Columbia Provincial Parks|provincial parks]], such as the [[Monkman Provincial Park]], [[Bearhole Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area|Bearhole Lake Provincial Park]], and the [[Gwillim Lake Provincial Park]].
==History==
Archaeological evidence show a human presence dating back 3,000 years.<ref>Helm (2001), 67</ref> The nomadic [[Sekani]], followed by the [[Dunneza]] and then the [[Cree]], periodically lived in temporary settlements around the future municipality.<ref>Helm (2001), 68–69</ref> 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''.<ref>Helm (2000), 45.</ref> Permanent settlers were squatters, five families by 1920, who maintained [[Animal trapping|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.<ref>Helm (2000), 49, 76.</ref> 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.<ref>Helm (2000), 76.</ref>
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 [[British Columbia Highway 97#John Hart Highway|Highway 97]], a power line from the [[W. A. C. Bennett Dam]] at [[Hudson's Hope, British Columbia|Hudson's Hope]], and a [[branch line|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.<ref>Halseth (2002), 38–39.</ref> Coordinated through the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs the town, regional infrastructure, and mining plants were all built simultaneously. When the municipality was incorporated in April 1981 the area was completely forested.<ref name=AHN30Dec81>"Tumbler Ridge looks ready for the builders", ''Alaska Highway News'', [[December 30]], [[1981]].</ref> During that year building sites and roadways were cleared<ref name=AHN30Dec81/> and in the winter the water and sewerage system was built. In 1982, houses and other buildings were constructed. Full production at the mines was reached the following year.
In 1984, as the secondary school and recreation centre opened, 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.<ref>Halseth (2002).</ref> 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 $4.6 million. The company responded by reducing production, cutting employment, and applying for court protection from creditors. This allowed Teck to acquire 50% interest and take over management of the Quintette mine, but it was unable to stop further job losses.<ref>"More layoffs in northeast B.C.", CBC News, [[June 24]], [[1999]].</ref> As most residents left town, apartment blocks were closed and the mine companies bought back all but 11 houses in the town. After 30% of the workforce had been laid off, new contracts with the Japanese consortium were signed in 1997, allowing re-hirings to begin, but with lower export levels.<ref>Halseth, 2002.</ref> The North East Coal Development was projected to create a net benefit of [[CAD$]]0.9 billion (2000), but incurred a net loss of $2.8 billion and half the expected regional employment.<ref>Gunton, 505.</ref>
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 town 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,<ref>"Tumbler Ridge gets $6-million bail out", CBC News, [[October 27]], [[2000]].</ref> and stabilized funds from the province for healthcare and education.<ref>Halseth (2002), 182, 192.</ref> 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.
Since the Bullmoose mine exhausted its supply of coal in 2003, world coal prices have increased making exploration and mining in Tumbler Ridge economically feasible again. Western Canadian Coal opened new open-pit mining operations creating the Dillon mine using Bullmoose mining infrastructure, the Brule mine using new infrastructure (projected 11-year life span),<ref>Ministry of Environment, [[July 6]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>Environmental Assessment
Office, [[June 9]] [[2006]].</ref> and the Wolverine mine.<ref>Western Canadian Coal, October 2003.</ref> Despite the number of projects, population has been slow to return to the town.
==Demographics==
[[Image:Tumbler Ridge BC population.png|right|thumb|Tumbler Ridge's population trend, 1984–2006, BC Stats<ref>1984 & 1985 figures from Halseth (2002), 86.</ref><ref name=census86>BC Stats, Municipal Census Populations, 1986–1996.</ref><ref name=census96>BC Stats, Municipal Census Populations, 1996–2006.</ref>]]
Population projections in 1977 were for 3,568 residents in 1981, 7,940 in 1985, and 10,584 in 1987, after which the level was expected to stabilize.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 25.</ref> However, requests for lower coal prices shortly after the production began placed a persistent insecurity over the viability of the mines, and therefore the town, discouraging long term investments. Temporary work camps, where workers numbered between 200 and 2,000, were used during the construction of the town and mines. The planners of the town advised the mining companies to hire workers who were married, believing they would live in Tumbler Ridge longer and reduce employment turn-over.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 32</ref> The population rose slowly to 3,833 people in 1984, nearly half the projected level.<ref>Halseth (2002), 86.</ref> The [[Canada 1986 Census|1986 Canadian census]], the first census to include Tumbler Ridge, recorded 4,566 residents after which in-migration ended and the population level began to fluctuate.<ref name=census86/> The population peaked in 1991 at 4,794 people but then declined to a low of 1,932 people in 2001.<ref name=census86/><ref name=census96/> Since then, population growth has been led by new mining activities and increased exploration following higher world energy prices.
{| cellpadding="1" border="0" style="float: left; margin: 0em 1em 1em 0em; width: 250px; border: 1px #bbbbbb solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- align="center" bgcolor=#EDD5A3
| colspan="3" | [[Canada 2006 Census]]<ref name=statscan>Statistics Canada, ''2001 Community Profiles''.</ref><ref name=statscan06/>
|- align="center" {{bgcolor-gold}}
| || Tumbler Ridge||British Columbia
|- align="center"
|Median age||42.2 years||40.8 years
|- align="center"
|Under 15 years old||18%||17%
|- align="center"
|Over 65 years old||11%||15%
|- align="center"
|Protestant (2001)||43%||31%
|- align="center"
|Catholic (2001)||29%||17%
|}
The [[Canada 2006 Census]] reported 2,454 residents living in 1,045 households and 765 families.<ref name=statscan06>Statistics Canada, ''2006 Community Profiles''.</ref> This was 27% more people than the previous census five years earlier when the town was at its lowest population level since opening. The median age increased from 38.8 years in 2001 to 42.2 in 2006, as the proportion of the population aged over 65 rose from 5% to 11%. In 2006, of those over 15 years of age, 62% were married, higher than the 54% provincial average. The town has few [[visible minorities]] as 94% of Tumbler Ridge residents were Canadian-born and 93% had English as their [[first language]].<ref name=statscan06/> Though not included as a minority, 9% of residents claimed to have an Aboriginal identity.<ref name=statscan06/> 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.<ref name=statscan/>
[[Image:Tumbler Ridge BC crime.png|right|thumb|Crime rate in Tumbler Ridge, 1984–2005<ref name=crimestats>Police Services Division, pp. 101, 106–110, 151, 154.</ref>]]
In 2005, the five officer Tumbler Ridge [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] municipal detachment reported 346 [[Criminal Code of Canada]] offenses. This translated into a crime rate of 137 Criminal Code offenses per 1,000 people, higher than the provincial average of 119 offenses. During that year, the RCMP reported lower crime rates in Tumbler Ridge, compared with the provincial averages, in all categories except bicycle thefts, property damage, impaired driving, and cannabis-related offenses. Until 2005, the town had a lower crime rate than the province, except between 2001–2003 after the Quintette mine closure and a large out-migration from the town. In 2004 the Tumbler Ridge RCMP reported no robbery or shoplifting offenses, and only 4.5 theft-from-motor-vehicle offenses per 1,000 people compared with 20 provincially.<ref name=crimestats/>
==Geography and climate==
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.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 85.</ref> The site, above the floodplain of the Murray River, has well-drained soils with easy access to aquifers with potable water.<ref>PLEDA, 76.</ref> The rocks, mostly [[shale]] and [[mudstone]] but lacking quartzite, make the mountains less rugged than their neighbouring ranges.<ref>Helm (2000), 6.</ref> The terraces grow [[Lodgepole Pine]], [[Picea glauca|White Spruce]], [[Populus tremuloides|Trembling Aspen]] trees. Moose and elk are common.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 86–87.</ref><ref>Helm (2001), 349.</ref> Escarpments to the east and north could pose a snow avalanche threat but are kept forested for stability.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 86.</ref> In 2006, the town was evacuated for several days as four [[wildfire|forest fires]] approached the town.<ref>"More layoffs in northeast B.C." CBC News, [[July 4]], [[2006]].</ref>
Major coal deposits indicate the site was a swampy forest during the [[Cretaceous]].<ref>Helm (2000), 5.</ref> Paleontologists have discovered tracks or fossils from [[ankylosauria]], [[ornithopod]]s (including a [[Hadrosaurus]]), and [[theropod]]s.<ref>Helm (2001), 57–61.</ref> Fossils of Cretaceous plants such as ferns, redwoods, cycads, and [[ginkgo]], and [[Triassic]] fishes and reptiles such as [[coelacanth]], [[weigeltisaurus]], and [[ichthyosaur]] have been recovered.<ref>Helm (2001), 53–55, 61–63.</ref>
The town experiences a continental climate. Arctic air masses move predominantly southwestly from the Mackenzie Valley towards the [[Rocky Mountains]] and through the mountains north of town.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978) 88–89.</ref> 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.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 95.</ref>
{| cellpadding="1" border="0" style="float: right; margin: 0em 1em 1em 0em; width: 250px; border: 1px #bbbbbb solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- align="center" bgcolor=#B8BFFE
| colspan="3" | Weather<ref>Fern Duperreault, Environment Canada, as cited in Helm (2001), 9.</ref><ref>Tumbler Ridge (2004), 6.</ref>
|- align="center" bgcolor=lavender
|Time||Average temperature||Average precipitation
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ffffff
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ffffff
|January||−11.1 °C (12.0 °F)||40.2 mm (1.6 in)
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ffffff
|July||14.8 °C (58.6 °F)||78.6 mm (3.1 in)
|- align="center" bgcolor=lavender
| colspan="3" |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.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 97.</ref> The coal mining facilities were well separated from the townsite to minimize the feeling of a company town.<ref>Halseth (2002).</ref> 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.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 99.</ref> The apartment blocks were planned for areas with clusters of trees and excellent viewscapes, but close to the town plaza.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 97, 99.</ref> 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.<ref>Thompson et al. (1978), 99.</ref>
==Infrastructure==
[[Image:Tumbler Ridge BC outline.PNG|thumb|right|The municipal border (red) encompass 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 [[British Columbia Highway 97#John Hart Highway|Highway 97]] and intersect in Tumbler Ridge: [[British Columbia Highway 52|Highway 52]] (Heritage Highway) which runs 98 km (61 mi) south at Arras, and [[British Columbia Highway 29|Highway 29]] which runs 90 km (56 mi) southeast from Chetwynd. At the intersection Highway 29 ends but Highway 52 continues south through Tumbler Ridge, then unpaved, it runs northeast to [[British Columbia Highway 2|Highway 2]] near the [[Alberta]] border. In town, the 28 km (17 mi) of paved roads<ref>Reed Construction, 23.</ref> 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 and Grande Prairie.<ref>Tumbler Ridge (2006), ''Flying to Tumbler Ridge''.</ref> The rail line into town is a 132 km (82 mi) [[Railway electrification system|electrified branch line]] through the Rocky Mountains constructed by [[BC Rail]] to transport coal to the Ridley Terminal at the [[Port of Prince Rupert]]. The branch line includes two tunnels: the 9 km (6 mi) Table Tunnel and the 6 km (4 mi) Wolverine Tunnel.
The town funds its own 21-member volunteer fire department, water treatment system, and sewage disposal system. [[Water supply|Drinking water]] is drawn from two springs south of the townsite where it is stored in a 7 million litre reservoir before being [[Chlorination|chlorinated]] and pumped into town. The storm sewers empty into the Murray River, but the [[Sewage treatment|sanitary sewage]] is processed through a [[Aerated lagoon|lagoon]] system and released into the Murray River north of town.<ref>PLEDA, 76.</ref> Both the town and the province, through the [[Northern Health|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==
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|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 Cominco|Teck Corporation]] (51%), Lornex (39%), 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.<ref>Halseth (2002), 111.</ref> 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]].
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.<ref>Halseth (2003), 145.</ref> 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 seriously investigate a diversification. Since then employment has been generated in tourism (attractions from dinosaur fossil discoveries, outdoor recreation, and nearby provincial parks), forestry, and oil and gas exploration. Although, increasing world energy prices have brought mining back to Tumbler Ridge. In 2003 Western Canadian Coal opened the Dillon mine using the infrastructure from the Bullmoose mine and is constructing new infrastructure for the larger Brule mine. The company has also opened the Wolverine and Hermann mines between the former Bullmoose and Quintette plants.<ref>Western Canadian Coal, Properties, 2007.</ref><ref>Western Canadian Coal, Wolverine Group, 2007.</ref>
==Culture, recreation and media==
After dinosaur [[trackway]]s were discovered in 2000, and bones in 2002, the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation began excavations and opened the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre.<ref>McCrea (2003).</ref> Fossils and bones are displayed at both locations. Tours and educational programs related to dinosaur, the trackways, and the wilderness are offered.<ref>Tumbler Ridge Museum (2008).</ref>
[[Image:Kinuseo Falls.jpg|thumb|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.<ref>Helm (2001), 261.</ref> Two other [[List of British Columbia Provincial Parks|provincial parks]] are just outside the municipal boundaries: [[Bearhole Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area|Bearhole Lake Provincial Park]] and [[Gwillim Lake Provincial Park]].
Annual events held in Tumbler Ridge include the Grizfest, Emperor's Challenge, and Windy Ridge Hillclimb. The Grizfest Music Festival (formerly the Grizzly Valley Days) is a two-day concert in August which includes a parade, dance, art show, and other community-wide events.<ref>Grizfest, 2007.</ref> The Emperor’s Challenge Mountain Half Marathon, held every August, is a 21 km (13 mi) [[Half marathon|marathon]] that ascends through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.<ref>Emperor's Challenge, 2007.</ref> The Windy Ridge Hillclimb is a snowmobile race along Babcock Mountain held every March.
Tumbler Ridge has one newspaper published in the community, the locally owned and operated ''Tumbler Ridge News'' (formerly ''Community Connections''). Another newspaper, the ''Tumbler Ridge Observer'' also covers the town but is published by the ''Peace River Block Daily News'' in Dawson Creek. Two newsletters, ''Tumbler Coffee Break'' and ''Around the Ridge'', are circulated in the town.<ref>Halseth et al., (2004), 7–8.</ref> No radio station broadcasts from the town and the only television station that does so is the Community Channel Advertising run by the local chamber of commerce.<ref>Dawson Creek & District Chamber of Commerce (2003).</ref>
== Government and politics ==
[[Image:TumblerRidgeTownHall.jpg|right|thumb|Tumbler Ridge town 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 [[Bloc voting|at-large]] elections every three years. As of January 2008, the mayor is Mike Caisley, elected in November 2005. One [[Board of education|school board]] trustee, for representation on [[School District 59 Peace River South|School District 59]],<ref>School District 59 (2005).</ref> is also elected by the town. The city funds a volunteer fire department.
Tumbler Ridge is part of the [[Peace River South]] provincial electoral district, represented by [[Blair Lekstrom]] in the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]. In the [[British Columbia general election, 2001|2001 provincial election]], he was elected as the district's [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] with 72% support from the town's polls<ref>Elections BC (2001).</ref> and re-elected in [[British Columbia general election, 2005|2005]] with 64% support.<ref name=2005polls>Elections BC (2005).</ref> 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 [[British Columbia general election, 1996|1996,]] as leader of the [[Reform Party of British Columbia|Reform Party]], Weisgerber won re-election despite the Tumbler Ridge polls placing him second to the [[New Democratic Party of British Columbia|New Democratic Party]] candidate.<ref>Elections BC (1996).</ref>
Federally, Tumbler Ridge is in the [[Prince George—Peace River]] riding, represented in the [[Canadian House of Commons]] by [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]] [[Member of Parliament]] [[Jay Hill]]. Before Hill, who was first elected in [[Canadian federal election, 1993|1993]], the riding had been represented by [[Frank Oberle, Sr.|Frank Oberle]] of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] since 1972. Oberle served as Canada's Minister of Science and Technology in 1985 and Minister of Forestry in 1989.
{|border=1 align=left cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="width: 48%" {{Election city polls FPTP begin|locale = city| title=[[Canadian federal election, 2006|Canadian federal election 2006]]: Tumbler Ridge polls in <!--needs to be on two lines-->
Prince George—Peace River<ref>Elections Canada (2004).</ref>}}|}
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/Conservative/row}}
| style="width: 160px" |[[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
| style="width: 85px" |Jay Hill
|align="right"|530
|align="right"|61%
|align="right"|60%
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/NDP/row}}
|[[New Democratic Party|New Democrat]]
|Malcolm Crockett
|align="right"|144
|align="right"|17%
|align="right"|17%
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/Liberal/row}}
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|Nathan Bauder
|align="right"|134
|align="right"|15%
|align="right"|16%
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/Green/row}}
|[[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|Hilary Crowley
|align="right"|51
|align="right"|5.9%
|align="right"|6.4%
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/Independents/row}}
|Independent
|Donna Young
|align="right"|11
|align="right"|1.3%
|align="right"|0.9%
{{Election city polls FPTP end
|votes=870
|locale%=57%
|riding%=53%}}
|}
{|border=1 align=center cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="width: 46%" {{Election city polls FPTP begin|locale = city| title=[[British Columbia general election, 2005|B.C. election 2005]]: Tumbler Ridge polls in
<!--needs to be on two lines-->
Peace River South<ref name=2005polls/>}}|}
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/BC Liberal/row}}
| style="width: 125px" |[[British Columbia Liberal Party|BC Liberal]]
| style="width: 90px"|Blair Lekstrom
|align="right"|472
|align="right"|64%
|align="right"|58%
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/NDP/row}}
|[[New Democratic Party of British Columbia|New Democrat]]
|Pat Shaw
|align="right"|214
|align="right"|29%
|align="right"|33%
{{Canadian_politics/party_colours/Green/row}}
|[[Green Party of British Columbia|Green]]
|Ariel Lade
|align="right"|55
|align="right"|7.4%
|align="right"|9.5%
{{Election city polls FPTP end
|votes=741
|locale%=47%
|riding%=56%}}
|}
<br clear=left>
<div />
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==References==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
<div class="references-small">
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/pop/pop/mun/Mun8696a.asp
| title = British Columbia Municipal Census Populations, 1986–1996
| accessdate = 2006-12-08
| author = BC Stats
| publisher = British Columbia}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/pop/pop/mun/Mun9606a.asp
| title = British Columbia Municipal Census Populations, 1996–2006
| accessdate = 2006-12-19
| author = BC Stats
| publisher = British Columbia}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/dd/facsheet/cf267.pdf
| format=PDF
|title = Tumbler Ridge District Municipality
| accessdate = 2006-12-08
| author = BC Stats
| date = [[September 08]] [[2006]]
| work = Community Facts
| publisher = British Columbia}}
*{{cite paper
| author = Dawson Creek & District Chamber of Commerce
| title = A Socio-economic profile of the South Peace River Region, British Columbia, Canada
| version = 2003 Edition
| url = http://dawsoncreek.ca/documents/southpeaceprofile.pdf
| format=PDF
|accessdate = 2006-12-08}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/sov01/pcs.pdf
| format=PDF
| title = Peace River South Electoral District
| accessdate = 2006-12-08
| author = Elections BC
| publisher = British Columbia
| year = 2001
| work = Statement of Votes, 2001}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/sov05/pcs.pdf
| format=PDF
| title = Peace River South Electoral District
| accessdate = 2006-12-08
| author = Elections BC
| publisher = British Columbia
| date = 2005
| work = Statement of Votes, 2005}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/sov05/pcs.pdf
| format=PDF
| title = Peace River South Electoral District
| accessdate = 2006-12-08
| author = Elections BC
| publisher = British Columbia
| date = 1996
| work = 36th Provincial General Election - [[May 28]], 1996}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2006/default.html
| title = Prince George—Peace River
| accessdate = 2006-12-08
| author = Elections BC
| publisher = British Columbia
| date = 2006
| work = Thirty-ninth General Election 2006 — Poll-by-poll results, Official Voting Results}} (Requires navigation to Prince George—Peace River)
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.emperorschallenge.com/
| title = Emperor's Challenge
| publisher = EmperorsChallenge.com
| accessdate = 2008-01-20
| date = 2007}}
*{{cite paper
| author = Environmental Assessment Office
| title = Brule Mine Project Assessment Report
| publisher = British Columbia
| date = [[June 09]] [[2006]]
| url = http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/documents/p252/d22054/1152286592854_faa91f9485494ac593e4ba0d5db23b11.pdf
| format=PDF
| accessdate = 2006-12-08}}
* {{cite news
| title = Fire forces 'hectic' evacuation in northern B.C.
| publisher = CBC News
| date = [[July 04]] [[2006]]
| url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/07/03/tumbler-evacuation.html
| accessdate = 2006-12-08}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.tumblerridge.ca/grizfest/festival_information.php
| title = Grizfest
| publisher = TumblerRidge.ca
| accessdate = 2008-01-20
| date = 2007}}
*{{Citation
| last=Gunton
| first=Thomas
| title= Megaprojects and Regional Development: Pathologies in Project Planning
| journal=Regional Studies: The Journal of the Regional Studies Association
| publisher=Routledge
| volume=37
| issue=5
| year=2003
| pages=505-519}}
* {{cite paper
| author = Greg Halseth, Nora King, and Laura Ryser
| title = Communication Tools and Resources in Rural Canada: A Report for Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia Initiative on the New Economy
| publisher = Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation
| date = January 2004
| url = http://web.unbc.ca/geography/faculty/greg/publications/NewRuralEconomyProject/2004CommToolsTumblerRidge.pdf
| format=PDF
| accessdate = 2006-12-07}}
* {{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Halseth
| Given1 = Greg
| Surname2 = Sullivan
| Given2 = Lana
| Year = 2002
| Title = Building community in an instant town: A social geography of Mackenzie and Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
| Publisher = University of Northern British Columbia Press
| ID = ISBN 1-896315-10-0}}
* {{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Halseth
| Given1 = Greg
| Surname2 = Sullivan
| Given2 = Lana
| Year = 2003/2004
| Title = From Kitimat to Tumbler Ridge: A Crucial Lesson Not Learned in Resource-Town Planning
| Journal = Western Geography
| Volume = 13/14
| Pages = 132–160}}.
</div>
{{col-2}}
<div class="references-small">
* {{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Helm
| Given1 = Charles
| Year = 2000
| Title = Beyond Rock and Coal: The History of the Tumbler Ridge Area
| Publisher = MCA Publishing}}.
* {{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Helm
| Given1 = Charles
| Year = 2001
| Title = Tumbler Ridge: Enjoying its History, Trails and Wilderness
| Publisher = MCA Publishing
| ID = ISBN 0-9688558-0-6}}.
*{{cite web
| url= http://www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca/prnr/dino_excav/tumbler.html
| title= Tumbler Ridge Dinosaur Excavation: Summer 2003
| publisher= [[Royal British Columbia Museum]]
| work= Living Landscapes
| accessdate = 2008-01-29
| last= McCrea
| first= Richard
| coauthors= Lisa G. Buckley
| date= 2003}}
* {{cite press release
| title= Province Approves Brule Mine Project
| publisher= Ministry of Environment, British Columbia
| date= [[July 06]] [[2006]]
| url= http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/documents/p252/1152221839680_65c285e6ee3f4c2ab08ae03883047d05.pdf
| format=PDF
| accessdate= 2006-12-08}}
* {{cite news
| title= More layoffs in northeast B.C.
| publisher= CBC News
| date= [[June 24]] [[1999]]
| url= http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/06/24/bc_layoffs990624.html
| accessdate= 2006-12-08}}
*{{cite paper
| author= Peace Liard Employment Development Association
| title= Peace Liard Economic Profile
| version= Vol. 4
| date= October 1985}}
* {{cite book
| editor= Police Services Division, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
| title= Police and Crime: Summary Statistics: 1996 - 2005
| url= http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/police_services/publications/
| accessdate= 2006-12-09
| edition= 2006
| publisher= British Columbia
| id= {{OCLC|34339976}} {{ISSN|1198-9971}} }}
*{{cite book
| author= Reed Construction
| title= Municipal redbook: an authoritative reference guide to local government in British Columbia
| year= 2005
| location= Burnaby, BC
| id= {{ISSN|0068-161X}} }}
*{{cite web
| url= http://www.sd59.bc.ca/vpage.php?p=content+districtteams+boardoftrustees.html
| title= Board of School Trustees
| publisher= SD59.bc.ca
| accessdate= 2006-12-09
| author= School District 59 (Peace River South)
| date= 2005}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5955003&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Tumbler%20Ridge&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=59&B1=All&Custom=
| title = Community Highlights for Tumbler Ridge
| accessdate = 2006-12-09
| author = Statistics Canada
| date = [[July 25]] [[2006]]
| work = 2001 Community Profiles
| publisher = Canada}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5955003&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Tumbler%20Ridge&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=5955003 | title = Community Highlights for Tumbler Ridge
| accessdate = 2007-10-06
| author = Statistics Canada
| date = [[September 12]] [[2007]]
| work = 2006 Community Profiles
| publisher = Canada}}
*{{cite paper
| author = Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners, and subconsultants
| title = Conceptual Plan: Tumbler Ridge: Northeast Sector, B.C.: A Physical Plan/Social Plan/Financial Plan/Organizational Plan
| version =
| publisher = Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, British Columbia
| date = [[March 25]] [[1978]]}}
*{{cite paper
| author = Tumbler Ridge
| title = Business Information Package
| url = http://www.tumblerridge.ca/images2/Bizinfo.pdf
| format=PDF
| date = December 2004
| accessdate = 2006-12-08}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.tumblerridge.ca/visitors/airport.htm
| title = Flying to Tumbler Ridge
| publisher = TumblerRidge.ca
| accessdate = 2006-12-09
| author = Tumbler Ridge
| date = 2006}}
* {{cite news
| title = Tumbler Ridge gets $6-million bail out
| publisher = CBC News
| date = [[October 27]] [[2000]]
| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/10/27/bc_tumblerridge001027.html
| accessdate = 2006-12-08}}
* {{cite news
| title = Tumbler Ridge looks ready for the builders
| work = Alaska Highway News
| date = 1981-12-30}}
*{{cite web
| url= http://www.tumblerridgemuseum.com/
| title= Tumbler Ridge Museum and Dinosaur Centre
| accessdate= 2008-01-29
| author = Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation
| publisher = TumblerRidgeMuseum.com
| date = 2008}}
*{{cite paper
| author = Western Canadian Coal
| title = Wolverine Coal Project: Revised Project Description
| date = October 2003
| url = http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/documents/p162/d15909/1068139805186_2c79c66f16574c32a5a2aea22076c135.pdf
| publisher = Environmental Assessment Office
| format=PDF
| accessdate = 2006-12-09}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.westerncoal.com/properties/index.php
| title = Properties
| accessdate = 2008-01-20
| author = Western Canadian Coal
| publisher = WesternCoal.com
| date = 2007}} <small>(Requires navigation to ''Brazion Group'' and ''Wolverine Group'' categories.)</small>
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.westerncoal.com/properties/wolverine.php
| title = Wolverine Group
| accessdate = 2008-01-20
| author = Western Canadian Coal
| publisher = WesternCoal.com
| date = 2007}}
</div>
{{col-end}}
==External links==
*[http://www.tumblerridge.ca/ District of Tumbler Ridge]
*[http://www.tumblerridgenews.com/ Tumbler Ridge News]
*[http://www.tumblerridgemuseum.com/ Tumbler Ridge Museum and Dinosaur Centre]
*[http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cities/can/pages/CABC0301.htm?ref=wxbtnold Tumbler Ridge weather forecast]
*[http://citizensforabettertr.blogspot.com/ Citizens for a Better Tumbler Ridge]
{{Subdivisions of British Columbia|district=yes}}
{{featured article}}
[[Category:District municipalities in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Peace River Regional District, British Columbia]]