Summer events in the BC North Peace continued this week with Music in the Park every Thursday in Centennial Park in Fort St. John, National Pickleball Day celebrated on Saturday at Kin Park in Fort St. John, as well as the Farmers’ Market in Centennial Park’s Festival Plaza on Saturdays until the end of October.
Coming up this weekend, in addition to Saturday’s Farmers’ Market in Fort St. John, is the 78th Annual North Peace Fall Fair, at the North Peace Regional Park aka North Pine Fall Fair grounds, at 15177 Rose Prairie Road, approximately 21 north of Fort St. John.
This week in The Broken Typewriter, we had the results of the World’s Invitational Gold Panning Championships in Taylor.
Panners from near and far headed to Taylor this past BC Day Long Weekend, to try their hands at panning for gold in the World's Invitational Gold Panning Championships.
With both adult and juvenile categories for most of the events, there was something for everyone, including a demonstration booth where people could learn to pan, as MLA Jordan Kealy did prior to his panning debut in Celebrity/Sponsor/Media event on August 2.
Event categories included Class A; Class B; Class C; as well as Claimstaking for both adults and kids, metal detecting and bannock baking.
Read More: Fun for all ages, skill levels at Taylor’s annual Gold Panning Championships
In Smart Money, Brad Brain wrote about investors’ concerns with their investments, and the idea that things aren’t going as well as they could be. But when markets go down, that presents an opportunity to buy more shares in high-pedigree companies.
There seems to be a strong feeling of uneasiness that has become entrenched in the outlook of some Canadians. An uncomfortable sense that things aren’t going as well as they could be. A syndrome that points to the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.
Recently I received an email from a person who owns a Group Retirement Savings Plan with another firm. She said “What’s the deal with the stock markets? My latest statement I put in almost 1000 bucks yet my portfolio value from last month ended up down by a couple hundred…. please reassure me that I’ve got them buying into the right funds.”
To which I immediately replied, “Give me a break. Put your money in, keep your money in, be happy when things go down so you can buy more shares with your $1000.”
Read More: The Grass is Greener Fallacy
In the most-read post of the week, The Broken Typewriter looked at the Q2 results of three petroleum companies operating in the BC Peace Region, and found that despite there being limited opportunities to get oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids to markets other than the United States, these companies are continuing to invest in the region, banking on a rebound in commodity prices later in 2025.
Although the most lucrative market for Western Canadian oil, natural gas and liquids remains the United States, petroleum companies with assets in northeastern British Columbia’s Montney Formation, continue to invest in the region through new projects, partnerships and expanding existing facilities and operations.
In their 2025 Q2 reports, ARC Resources, Enbridge, and Tourmaline affirmed their long-term commitments to the region, with plans to maintain and build upon their presence in northeastern BC, despite challenges presented by commodity price fluctuations and the regulatory environment.
Companies waiting on LNG Canada, increased demand
Low Canadian natural gas prices – which at present are well below the cost of supply – have led to temporary curtailments at some facilities, while companies bide their time until prices rebound.
“Currently, we have shut-in all dry gas production, approximately 360 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) or 60,000 boe (barrels of oil equivalent) per day which will be fully restored when natural gas prices recover,” Terry Anderson, ARC president and CEO said in a conference call to discuss the Q2 results.
Anderson expects that will occur later this year “as the ramp up in LNG Canada coincides with the conclusion of seasonal pipeline maintenance that is underway today.”
Read More: Montney a valuable asset
The Kin Park courts in Fort St. John were full as pickleball enthusiasts, both new and experienced players turned out to celebrate National Pickleball Day on Saturday.
The pickleball courts were full at Kin Park on Saturday afternoon as enthusiasts of the sport gathered to enjoy a game or two and celebrate National Pickleball Day.
The City of Fort St. John and Peace Country Pickleball Association were on hand at Kin Park to help anyone who wanted lessons, as well as hosting drop-in pickleball games.
For those who haven’t heard of pickleball, it’s a sport that was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, created with leftover equipment from wiffle ball, on a badminton court using paddleball paddles and a tennis-height net.
Read More: Pickleball enthusiasts turn out
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned this week, as The Broken Typewriter reports on happenings at Fort St. John City Council on Monday, Aug 11; the Peace River Regional District board meeting on Thursday, Aug 14; and the North Peace Fall Fair on the weekend.