Affordable home prices are one of the biggest reasons why the District of Mackenzie is optimistic about future growth.

By Tommy Osborne

Mackenzie Growth

Despite challenges, Mackenzie optimistic about growth

Sep 22, 2025 | 4:39 PM

MACKENZIE – The District of Mackenzie is looking for more opportunities to attract people to live in the community, and the District says it’s optimistic about future growth opportunities. Perhaps the biggest advantage the District boasts is its affordable home prices.

“You can get into a good house for just around the $200,000 mark, and I think the average price in B.C. is just under the $1 million mark,” said Mackenzie Real Estate Agent Sarah Pineau.

“We see a lot of people from the Lower Mainland and places that are a lot more expensive come here because they can come in and buy a house and not be strapped into a mortgage for so much. They have more money to to play and live life,” she continued.

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Attracting people through affordable housing is a significant part of the equation, but not all of it, when it comes to attracting potential newcomers, as the community itself also has to be a desirable place to live. Outdoor recreation opportunities are a huge part of this, and Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson adds community safety is also a big selling point.

“It’s a very safe community. We have no encampments, which I’m very grateful for, and really feel for those communities and the people who are dealing with that lifestyle, it’s not good for anyone. But we’re not dealing with that here,” Atkinson said.

However, Mackenzie also has a significant challenge to overcome, being the loss of industry. Atkinson says the closure of the Canfor sawmill and pulpmill took $1.5 million out of the District’s pocket — a huge blow for a small community.

“Once they’re not operating facilities, they’re no longer taxed at that high base, and that has been really a bonus for MacKenzie for many, many years, because we did have a lot of heavy industry tax payers and that pool of money is fast shrinking and we still have lots of things to pay for, and nothing is cheaper,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson said the District has been looking at trimming its budget and inquiring about potential grants to overcome this loss, and even though this is a huge loss for the community, she remains optimistic about Mackenzie’s future outlook. A big reason why optimism remains is because the District has a tax exemption program that could encourage industry to return, but also because Mackenzie is looking to take advantage of a new workforce of remote workers.

“With people working remotely, we are just putting in a new fiber optic to every home. So that’s going to make that even easier,” Atkinson said.

“It’s not unusual for a person to live in one place and go and work somewhere else. It’s also very common for people to be able to work online, and we’re seeing that happen quite a bit,” added District of Mackenzie Councillor Andy Barnes.

With affordable homes and a growing online workforce, Mackenzie hopes it can attract enough people to its community to further its growth, even amid industry challenges.

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