COMMUNITIES
Our communities span the region, from islands and coastal enclaves to mountain towns, large urban centres, and sprawling ranchlands. Cities like Prince George and Fort St. John and resort towns like Smithers buzz with activity, while rural areas offer a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere. In between are working towns with strong industrial roots, vibrant Indigenous villages, off-grid cabin communities, seaside ports, and more.
Explore Our Regions
NORTHWEST
The Northwest stretches north to the Yukon/Alaska border and west from Prince George until it meets the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Prince Rupert. It’s home to some of BC’s most fascinating landscapes, including ancient volcanic rock formations, the impossibly green forests of the Great Bear Rainforest, and the rugged Coast and Rocky mountain ranges.
Smithers
Set in a fertile, rolling valley and surrounded by a dramatic backdrop of towering peaks, Smithers is an Alpine-themed mountain town that sits directly at the base of Hudson Bay Mountain ski resort.
Burns Lake
Burns Lake is at the heart of the watery Lakes District, with more than 300 wilderness lakes and miles of pristine freshwater shoreline in the surrounding area. Dense poplar forests, dozens of world-class mountain biking trails, and convenient access to Tweedsmuir, BC’s largest provincial park, make this small town larger than it seems.
Vanderhoof
Tucked along the banks of the Nechako River in an agricultural-rich region, the farming community of Vanderhoof is home to a riverfront bird sanctuary, prairie-like rolling fields, and idyllic lakes.
Prince Rupert
This charming coastal port city sits within the Great Bear Rainforest on BC’s wild and rugged north coast and is a surprisingly cosmopolitan hub for art, food, and culture. A backdrop of crumbling salmon canneries, mist-shrouded forests, and the mighty Skeena River lends an atmospheric charm to the area’s beauty.
Haida Gwaii
Haida Gwaii is a place of profound beauty and wonder. Home to the Haida people, this remote archipelago of roughly 150 islands and islets sits off British Columbia’s northernmost coast in the middle of the Pacific. Here, Haida art and culture take inspiration from the island’s moss-grown forests, miles-long beaches, and rocky coves and bays.
Kitimat and Kitamaat Village
Kitimat is situated at the mouth of the Douglas Channel, a stunning 90-kilometre-long deepwater fjord that cuts through the Coast Mountain Range. Old-growth forests, waterfalls, and wildlife surround the townsite and the nearby Indigenous community of Kitamaat Village.
Stewart-Cassiar
A remote border town with a big personality. Located along the Alaskan panhandle at the tip of the Portland Canal, Stewart’s mining roots are evident in the colorful pioneer-style buildings that line its downtown. The surrounding wilderness reveals vehicle-accessible glaciers, wilderness cabins, and thunderous waterfalls.
Atlin
The snow-capped mountains surrounding Atlin have earned it the nickname of “Little Switzerland.” The northernmost town in the region, it sits just below the Yukon border on the shores of glacier-fed Atlin Lake. Historic storefronts and a restored sternwheeler call back to the town’s gold rush era.
Terrace & the Nisga’a Lands
The mighty Skeena River carves through a broad valley and provides the scenic backdrop for many outdoor pursuits in Terrace. Just north of town is the otherworldly Nass Valley, home to the Nisga’a people, volcanic rock formations, aquamarine rivers, and lush, green forests.
The Hazeltons
Ringed by the picture-perfect peaks of the Roche de Boule mountain range, the Hazeltons feature Indigenous culture and buildings, a colorful frontier-style downtown, impressive totem poles, and viewpoints overlooking plunging canyons and waterfalls.
NORTHEAST
The Northeast is a region that redefines the concept of “big.” Comprising 22 per cent of BC’s total land base, it’s home to wilderness areas that are larger than the country of Ireland, a UNESCO Global Geopark filled with fossil beds, and the colossal Rocky Mountain Trench, which carves through the region and is punctuated on either side by deep valleys, rolling foothills, vast forests, and pristine lakes.
Chetwynd
Located in the foothills of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, Chetwynd is a former mill town with an artistic heart. Located around town are more than 50 intricately carved chainsaw sculptures.
Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek marks the start of the iconic Alaska Highway, and is surrounded by rolling hills, fields of wheat, stands of quaking aspen, and wide open skies.
Tumbler Ridge
Tumbler Ridge sits in a ruggedly beautiful area in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and is home to a UNESCO Global Geopark, fossil beds, dinosaur trackways, and the stunning Kinuseo Falls, one of Canada’s tallest waterfalls.
Fort St. John
The largest city in the Northeast, Fort St. John is an industry town known for its strong sense of community, outdoor recreation, and access to nature. Set within the Alberta Plateau, the sprawling flat terrain that surrounds Fort St. John extends for miles in every direction.
Mackenzie
Tucked along the epic Rocky Mountain Trench, Mackenzie boasts incredible access to dozens of northern lakes, including Morfee, Gantahaz, and Williston Lake, the largest freshwater lake in BC.
Fort Nelson
A remote but wildly beautiful area. Fort Nelson is set in the Northern Rockies, surrounded by boreal forests, and is home to big peaks, open skies, and winding roads that hold scenic vistas around every bend.
PRINCE GEORGE
Prince George is a modern city with industrial roots. As the largest city in the region, it offers filmmakers convenient access to both urban comforts and pristine wilderness.
