Dawson Creek
Author Seth Godin famously said, “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”
That is a call so many are heeding. Of course, we also know that it’s false to think happiness is a destination we can find. Instead, it’s found in the precious moments along the journey. That said, large cities play into that false story because they too often manifest the tireless pursuit of progress and the “bigger is better” mentality.
Maybe that’s why studies show that people who live in small cities are happier than those who live in larger ones. In fact, as population sizes increases, the happiness quotient seems to decrease.
Maybe it’s just the sense of community. Or the, often, much lower cost of living and slower pace of life.
Visiting Dawson Creek, British Columbia will offer a few other answers.
It’s impossible to not feel the exhilarating experience this wide-open Northeast B.C. region has to offer. Peaceful golden pastures roll endlessly beneath impossibly big skies. It is the Peace Region, after all.
There is a character to small-town life here as well. The cosy downtown’s textures and colours would brighten even the coldest winter day. Maybe because of that cold and winter’s darkness, there’s a slower pace. More presence is given when in the company of others. Then there’s the brilliant, almost scorching summer sun. We experienced the heat on our pass through town to pick up items at the Corlane’s Sporting Goods Store. The wonderful team there was friendly and helpful, and ended up being our hosts for a few nights as we sequestered there during the wildfires further scorching the Province.
What was clear as the skies above was that the people who live in Dawson Creek chose this place to call home and love it. They love being close to nature. They love the slower pace of life and knowing the names of their neighbours. They love their locally-owned businesses and festivities (We attended the Summer Fair and Rodeo). They have chosen nature and experiences over material goods, without sacrificing other little things.
Like the Meat Doctor Food Truck Triple AAA Barbecue – possibly the most exceptional BBQ this side of Tennessee. There’s Post & Row Local Taphouse, and Solas Bar and Grill where we ate Cowboy Breakfasts. There’s Le’s Family Restaurant, where their origin story is as good as the food and True North Fitness which is as badass a gym as any found in the big city. There’s an airport that’ll get you to any major hub and a shared arena with neighbouring small-town Fort. St. John, where 5000 faithful attended a Backstreet Boys concert not that long ago. Not to mention museums and art galleries that highlight local Indigenous art!
And if you’re into hunting. This IS the gateway to the Alaskan Highway and the Jurassic Park of British Columbia’s wild game wilderness.
As far as can be seen in a short 3-day visit, Dawson Creek is a place you may never need to escape from (a few months in January aside), and an adventurous journey into the wild is always at your doorstep.