Hudson's Hope

Hudson’s Hope sits where the Peace River carves through northeastern BC’s wilderness, home to just 841 residents who’ve built something remarkable in one of the province’s most challenging climates. This isn’t your typical small town—it’s the gateway to Williston Lake, North America’s largest man-made reservoir, and the birthplace of BC’s hydroelectric power industry.

The W.A.C. Bennett Dam towers over the community like a concrete monument to human ambition, generating enough electricity to power millions of homes across the province. That engineering marvel explains why utilities dominate the local economy at 21.1% of employment. These aren’t minimum-wage jobs either—the median household income of $81,000 reflects the skilled workforce needed to keep the lights on across British Columbia.

Housing here tells an interesting story. Three-quarters of homes are single-detached houses, but nearly one in five dwellings are movable—a practical response to an economy that sometimes requires flexibility. The median age of 46.8 years suggests people who’ve chosen this lifestyle deliberately, not stumbled into it by accident.

Winter temperatures that would make a polar bear shiver (Plant Hardiness Zone 3b) aren’t for everyone, but they create a tight-knit community where neighbors actually know each other’s names. The Peace River provides world-class fishing, while Williston Lake offers boating and camping that draws visitors from across the province during the brief but intense summer months.

For mortgage brokers working with clients who understand remote living, Hudson’s Hope represents a unique market. Property values remain accessible, but the isolation and climate create specific risks that require careful evaluation. Tekamar’s maximum LTV of 50% reflects these realities while still providing opportunities for borrowers who call this corner of the Peace Country home.