| The City of Fort St. John is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km˛ (8 mi˛) with 17,402 residents (2006 census). Located at Mile 47, it is the second largest city along the Alaska Highway, after Whitehorse. Originally established in 1794, as a trading post, Fort St. John is the oldest European-established settlement in present-day British Columbia. Fort St. John is served by the Fort St. John Airport. The municipal slogan is, Fort St. John: The Energetic City.
The town, located on the upland prairies north of the Peace River, experiences a cool continental climate, including frigid winters and warm summers. A predominately southwesternly wind blows through town, with wind speeds averaging around 13.7 km/h (8.5 mi/h). Fort St. John uses Mountain Standard Time year-round and because of its northerly latitude experiences short daylight hours in the winter and long daylight hours in the summer.
As the urban centre for approximately 30,000 people, much of the region's receational and cultural facilities are located in town. Within the city, the Centennial Park groups much of these facilities in a central location close to residences and businesses. This large park includes the Fort St. John North Peace Museum, the North Peace Leisure Pool, the North Peace Arena (home of the Fort St. John Huskies), a separate arena for children, an 8 sheet curling rink, as well as an outdoor water park and speed skating oval. Other parks in the area include the City-maintained Fish Creek Community Forest, and about 10 km (6 miles) northwest of town the Beatton Provincial Park and Charlie Lake Provincial Park. In the center of town is the North Peace Cultural Centre which houses the Fort St. John Public Library, a theatre, and the Peace Gallery North art gallery.
Fort St. John hosted the BC Winter Games in 1984 and the Northern BC Winter Games in 1975, 1976, 1994, 2000, and 2007. Every August, the Great Canadian Welding Competition is held in Fort St. John which sees welding artists fill Centennial Park creating statues on the year's given theme. In January the annual High on Ice Winter Carnival has a frozen Centennial Park filled with ice sculpters competing and other special winter-related activities occurring around town.
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