The population of the Battlefords saw a moderate but steady growth up until the mid-1980s then stabilized. The local economy is directly influenced by the agricultural and oil field industries, both of which can have significant fluctuations due to world market conditions.

The city's economy struggled in the mid-1990's, but has seen a resurgence over the past decade, a trend expected to continue, according to the City's Economic Development Office. They suggest that construction activity will continue to be strong as various businesses position themselves for expansion and growth now that twinning of Highway 16 and construction of the new bridge between Battleford and North Battleford has been completed.

The Gold Eagle Casino has become significant to North Battleford's economy. The casino reportedly attracts $12 million tourist dollars a year to the City and is a major employer with 330 workers. The completion of a new adjoining $9 million, 125 room, Lodge and Convention Centre with a 10,000 square foot conference and convention facility should further bolster this contribution.

The Battlefords Tribal Council is also proposing construction of several facilities near the casino. A shopping mall is in the planning stages for an area north of the casino. A performing arts centre, a child education/pre-school centre, and a First Nations museum are also being proposed for the site.

Real Estate Market

The level of construction is a good measure of economic activity.

Three of the more significant retail developments are the Canadian Tire expansion to approximately 50,000 sq.ft., the Wholesale Club expansion to approximately 70,000 sq.ft. and the new Wal-Mart which is approximately 105,000 sq.ft. Peavey Mart are moved into the former Wal-Mart space.

The CMHC October 2006 survey of the apartment rental vacancy is an annual snapshot of the number of vacant suites at a specific date and does not represent an annual amount of vacancy. They found 36 vacant suites out of 828 (4.4% vacancy) and they indicate that the average rent was $442/month.

Economic Background

The Battlefords are located on the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway, the major route connecting Saskatoon and Edmonton which soon will be fully twinned between the two. The city is also on Provincial Highway #4, a major north/south artery extending north to Meadow Lake and south to Rosetown, Swift Current and the American border.

The Battlefords are surrounded by an established and extensive mixed farming community with diversification headed towards organic crops, herb production and large-scale hog production. Large heavy crude oil reserves are being explored and developed within a 160 km radius of the city. There are 21 major employers (over 50 workers) in the city, with the most significant being the Saskatchewan Hospital, a 650-bed psychiatric institution with a staff of over 500.

Agricultural industries include the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Livestock Division (trading $40 million/annum of livestock), the Cargill Grain canola seed terminal, the CanGro feed mill, and Maple Leaf Meats bacon processing facility is the largest of its kind in Western Canada, employing around 350 people. Phoenix Rotary Spike Harrows manufactures agricultural machinery and there are a number of farm implement dealers.

Additional industries include Vanguard Inc, an RV manufacturer. Warden Systems Ltd. manufactures solid state instrumentation for the petroleum and chemical industry. As well there is a concrete plant, a tank fabricator, plus warehousing, trucking, and other typical commercial and industrial services. Both North Battleford and Battleford experience a significant influx of petroleum-related service establishments during periods of oil business activity which has been the case recently.

Retail and commercial services are favourable in North Battleford.   There are two shopping centres, the Territorial Place in the northwest quadrant of the city and Frontier Mall on the Yellowhead Highway in the southeast. Wal-Mart recently opened a new freestanding store just to the north of its former location and Canadian Tire, Home Hardware and Sobeys are parts of these malls. No vacancy figures are available for retail and commercial space in the city.

Vacancy in the central core area is substantial. Many of the older buildings in the central core have not seen any renovation or upgrading for years. Some of the retail-oriented businesses left to the peripheral mall locations or to strip retail locations on major traffic arteries. A downtown revitalization has commenced with the demolition of some existing properties for the development of the "King Street Station". The first building is an 14,000 sq.ft. Liquor Board store which was opened in 2000. This project is hoped to eventually see a number of buildings, both office and retail developed around a central square area.

Social facilities include schools, parks and hospitals, as well as fine recreational facilities for hockey, swimming, curling, golf and other sports, with good fishing, hunting and skiing within an 80 km radius.

In summary, the outlook for the city is positive at this time. Growth in the value-added agricultural, manufacturing and retail sectors solidify the Battlefords as the trading centre for the central northwest, a trend expected to continue, particularly while there is high oil and gas activity.

Brunsdon Junor Johnson is a real estate appraisal firm providing a wide range of appraisal and consulting services, with the primary market being the north central half of Saskatchewan.