Whats Dawson Creek like?

Coiled Cruiser · 08-24-08, 04:13 PM

Hey everyone in N.E. BC, I wanted to get some locals opinions on DC. I have an business opportunity up there that would require me to move my family up there for 3-5 years. I've never been up that way and don't know anyone up there, but I would think that there is a lot of wheeling around there, what about fishing? No salmon eh? What else is there to do up there?

Thanks, Chris

RockDoc · 08-24-08, 04:57 PM

Hmmm. Never really spent any time in Dawson, but just got home from a month in FSJ. Dawson doesn't strike me as anything special, but it has the bases covered. If you like the outdoors, it would be a good base. DC puts you about 45 min from FSJ (pop. maybe 30 000), about 1:15 from Grande Prairie (say 70 000, no PST), and around an hour from the Mountains around Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge. You are also about 20 min from cheaper Alberta gas, just across the border.

While I was up in FSJ, I was in for non-stop fun with the bunch up there (atleast when I wasn't slaving away earning my room at Charla's or making cheesecake

), seems like the kind of place I could get used to. If you family is used to big city amenities, it might be a shock, but if you like a quieter life and running your own show, you might find it a very nice place. Don't know what specific amenities you'd have in DC, but for outdoors you'd have sledding, quadding, wheeling, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating and canoeing opportunities a little bit away. Ceramics painting in FSJ

, and there's always drinking.

HTH,
Curtis.

73fj · 08-24-08, 09:13 PM

My Gramma and Grampa are in the graveyard there. I always think of it as a place to drive through. RocDoc's right about location tho, pretty central. Plus we got a Costco and Starbucks in GP.

Ratpuke · 08-25-08, 09:59 AM

I always get the feeling that DC is like FSJ's "little sister." It's a little smaller, a little slower paced and more agriculturally based than FSJ. It seems to be a little less transient in nature. There's a Toyota dealership there (not that their parts dept. is any good mind you), a new sports complex and a Peavey Mart.... just a few things FSJ is lacking right now. During a typical field season I drive through DC daily and have always thought it was a nice enough place to be.

Coiled Cruiser · 08-27-08, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockDoc

If you like the outdoors, it would be a good base... If you family is used to big city amenities, it might be a shock,
HTH,
Curtis.

Yeah, the outdoors is a big plus, and being able to trade a condo in Surrey for a house in DC (with a garage too!). Yeah I'll miss amenities like, 2hrs commuting a day, traffic, outrageous real estate cost, being able to buy crack anytime of the day from 50 different places...yeah that will be a shame! Although getting parts for my truck will be an even longer wait in DC....hmmm thats a good excuse to buy another cruiser. Actually we have been looking for a good opportunity outside of the LM, but were looking more east than North.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73fj

Plus we got a Costco in GP.

Good to know I was wondering what was around, and I have a costco card

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratpuke

There's a Toyota dealership there (not that their parts dept. is any good mind you), a new sports complex and a Peavey Mart.... just a few things FSJ is lacking right now. During a typical field season I drive through DC daily and have always thought it was a nice enough place to be.

What's a peavey mart?

I met with my could-be future Boss today, it looks very good 99% it could happen by October.

Ratpuke · 08-27-08, 09:01 AM

Peavey Mart = 1 stop shopping for all your redneck needs.
Welcome to Peavey Mart!

73fj · 08-27-08, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coiled Cruiser

What's a peavey mart?

Well pardner, lemme see...aisle one-horse troughs and fencing supplies, aisle two-rugged workwear for rugged folks, aisle three-cheap handtools and birdseed, aisle four through sixteen-anything you could ever use around the ole homestead and then some. Ayup, a real honest folk kinda store.

Coiled Cruiser · 08-28-08, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratpuke

Peavey Mart = 1 stop shopping for all your redneck needs.
Welcome to Peavey Mart!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73fj

Well pardner, lemme see...aisle one-horse troughs and fencing supplies, aisle two-rugged workwear for rugged folks, aisle three-cheap handtools and birdseed, aisle four through sixteen-anything you could ever use around the ole homestead and then some. Ayup, a real honest folk kinda store.

Cool, I was hoping for at least a hardware store even if it was a small one like we used to have before the big box stores came. Cause I'm often fixing/breaking stuff around the house too, so peavey mart will come in handy I'm sure. Actually now that I look at their flyer I'm gonna need quite a bit of stuff...

Thanx everyone.

DC Cruiser · 09-12-08, 01:11 AM

We have a Canadian Tire, Wal/Mart, Extra Foods, Safeway, Peavy Mart, CO/OP, RHome Supply, K/Mart and many other smaller independent stores. Restaurants: MacDonalds, A&W, Dairy Queen, Subway, Panago for fast food,
White Spot, Boston Pizza, Mr Mikes, Tony Rommas for full service and an assortment of chinese & others.
Recreation : 18 hole golf course, curling rink, bowling, 3 rinks, small ski hill, cross country sking trails, snowmoblile trails, hunting & fishing galore, atv trails & of course 4 wheeling from mountains to mud boggin.

Oil & gas exploration is driving the economy right now along with a Wind Power project. Agriculture and forestry have been the long term base but the energy industries are starting to take over.

I have been here 22 years and raised our 2 children here and have not really found anything lacking that wasnt close enough to attain.

Hope to maybe run into you if you make the move. Keep in touch.

Coiled Cruiser · 09-16-08, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC Cruiser

Hope to maybe run into you if you make the move. Keep in touch.

I went up there on the long weekend and liked what I saw, I can easily afford a house in town, but the market moves quickly there most of the houses I looked at are already sold. We put an offer on the business, and are still negotiating with the landlord (current owner signed a non-transferrable lease and landlord wants a substantial rent increase). It'll be a big change if we do this, I'll let you know if this works out! (hopefully soon, this deal has been dragging on and on.

Chris

DC Cruiser · 10-05-08, 08:05 PM

Well I hope everything works out for you. If you need any help or questions answered let me know. I am a business owner myself and I know what challenges can face us. If you dont mind me asking what business are you buying?? Hope to meet you sometime.

Coiled Cruiser · 10-13-08, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC Cruiser

Well I hope everything works out for you. If you need any help or questions answered let me know. I am a business owner myself and I know what challenges can face us. If you dont mind me asking what business are you buying?? Hope to meet you sometime.

So far so good, we flew up on Wednesday and took care of the all the loose ends, as of the 30th we will be running the Robins Donuts, bought a house in town too. I'm looking forward to the commute 5 minutes in DC! Right now it is 80 min to get to work in Vancouver if traffic is good. I'll email you when I'm in town DC cruiser it'll be around the 26th.

northwoods · 10-20-08, 08:28 PM

Hi, Rod Cork here, nice to see a new family in dawson! My wiffe and I moved from Nanaimo 11 years ago! Never looked back. I work across the street at Timberline Pontiac GMC as a Mekanik! I look forward to meeting you. ps. I am also the local 4wd club Pres, whatever that means! lets get muddy! 250-719-0243.

DC Cruiser · 10-26-08, 01:08 AM

Well good to hear C.C. We are both in the same business. I own the White Spot in DC. Welcome to Dodge and hope to meet you some time.

DC Cruiser · 10-26-08, 01:13 AM

Looking back at your posts I also know your landlord and if I am correct you probably where meeting with him in my restaurant last week as he often holds his meetings in my restaurant. He is shrewd but I have never had any business dealings with him but I believe he is fair usually. Once again good luck and look forward to meeting you. By the way my name is Wayne if you drop in just ask for me.

Coiled Cruiser · 11-03-08, 11:40 PM

Sorry about the delayed response, I haven't had internet access for the last 2 weeks with the move up here. I'll give you a call rod thanks. We did meet the landlord in your restaurant Wayne, it went very smooth once we meet him face to face, he transferred the lease with no changes even showed us around town, we did buy a house and move up here, but everything else went sour.

Before we agreed to anything I asked about the staffing there, knowing that it is a issue here and was told the store was fully staffed with 15 employees, that is not the case at all, they have less people than the Surrey store and do more than twice the sales but that doesn't stop the new owner from trying to increase sales, the baker also quit when he heard about the ownership change and the new owner didn't even try talking to him until 2 weeks later, but it was to late, he's gone to FSJ. Then the new owner demanded that me and my wife work 12 - 18 hrs a day 7 days a week to cover the lack of help, and that my 9 year old daughter not go trick or treating Halloween night so that we can both work in the store all night, he fired me when I refused and offered the management job to my wife, but she had enough of his BS and quit. My wife did come back as a employee for a reasonable amount of hours, but only temporarily because my parents have invested some of their retirement savings in this venture.

I'm staying here and now looking for work, I don't think it will take long to find something suitable here.

Ratpuke · 11-04-08, 06:35 PM

That sounds pretty screwed up. Good luck! Keep in touch - maybe you'll be in FSJ for the next meeting ??

DC Cruiser · 11-04-08, 11:34 PM

WOW. I am very sorry to hear of your problems. Yes staffing is a real issue in this area. It does take a lot of time away from other family duties at times. I have been here over 22 years in this business and this is the worse I have seen it. After almost 3 years of trying we are finally going to get our first foreign workers this month which should help relieve some of the pressure.

If I can help in any way give me a call or drop by even if its just for a coffee and maybe some ideas.

TaShaSauR · 12-20-08, 04:21 PM

I live in Dawson Creek, I'm only 14 but Gosh. I wouldn't move here. I'm trying to get out of here cause I've lived here my whole life. There's no fishing and the creek is like a little river xDD
It's full of crack heads and there's nothing to do. There have been murders here, but nothing too too serious. I would love to get out of here. But if you decide to come there are some nice houses, but good luck.

But yeah. I would go to FSJ instead. ^-^

tnguyen · 03-09-09, 02:05 PM

Hi, I am going to move to DC in a week or two and wonder if anyone know of a furnished one bedroom for rent. I am moving there from Ontario and do not want to bring too many stuffs there. Thanks