The least populated region of B.C. will have a very high (90.1%, or more than 16,000 jobs) rate of retiring workers over the next decade. Manufacturing (12%) and primary industries (7%) have traditionally ruled the economy here. Projected growth of jobs 2018-2028: 9.9% (1,800 jobs).
By Charlene Rooke
Prince George
COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA
Where: Campuses in Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Quesnel and Vanderhoof complement the Prince George hub of the College of New Caledonia.
What: At New Caledonia, business, education, health, technology and trades are focuses, along with university-transfer offerings.
Size: Six campuses and a 12,500-hectare research forest, 5,000 students, 70+ programs.
Community: The Tourism and Hotel Management program is popular with professionals and fills a need for hospitality employees in the local market.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Where: Prince George-based UNBC also has campuses in Quesnel, Terrace and Fort St. John.
What: UNBC calls itself Canada’s Green University and espouses “naturally inspiring learning.” The Northern Medical Program and co-op programs are among its offerings; it has three Canada Research Chairs.
Size: 550-hectare campus in Prince George, 4,000 students, 130 programs.
Community: UNBC campus trails connect to a network of almost 50 kilometres in Forests for the World and Cranbrook Hill Greenway spaces in Prince George. A UNBC Continuing Studies program includes expert-led Northern BC Adventures to rare wild and historic sites.
BUY
Prince George single-family residential properties were up 10% in 2019 (average value $296,800) and condos were up 9% ($163,300). Park House Condominiums downtown will have 153 units (one- and two-bedroom units from $299,000 to $415,000) and an express bus route to both UNBC and the College of New Caledonia. parkhousepg.com