Community Profile

photo by Heidi SelzlerThe Town of Fort Smith is a jewel in the northern boreal forest. Our dynamic community has a proud Aboriginal history and a reputation as a centre of northern education and excellence.

Residents here enjoy an unparalleled lifestyle with quality municipal amenities and immediate access to the great outdoors.

Fort Smith has a population of over 2,400 (2007). About 60 per cent of the population is Aboriginal; 40 per cent is non-Aboriginal.

The Fort Smith climate features four distinct seasons, including cold winters and hot summers. Winter temperatures can dip as low as -40 degrees Celsius, while summer temperatures can reach more than +30 degrees Celsius.

The Garden Capital of the North

photo by Heidi SelzlerFort Smith has a reputation as The Garden Capital of the North. The growing season in Fort Smith stretches from the end of May to mid-September. The last killing frost of spring tends to occur in late May or early June while the first killing frost of autumn usually occurs in mid- to late-August.

While the growing season in Fort Smith appears to last less than three months, and our location technically classifies us as a Zone 0 growing climate, in fact many Zone 2 and 3 plants thrive in the long daylight hours of summer.

The Fort Smith summer is conducive to growing all kinds of vegetables, including the standard potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, beans, beets, spinach, tomatoes, and lettuce, as well as cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers. Many fruit varieties thrive in our long summer days, including rhubarb, raspberries, saskatoons, currants, and gooseberries. Wild strawberries are found everywhere, and along with high-bush and low-bush cranberries, which make delicious jelly. Even watermelon and extra-large pumpkins have been grown and harvested in Fort Smith gardens, albeit with a high level of dedication and commitment.

photo by Heidi Selzler

As for flowers, almost everything can be grown in Fort Smith as an annual, and many perennials survive our long, cold winters. The snow acts as a great insulator for some of the less hardy varieties.

Common annuals that blossom in Fort Smith yards include asters, impatiens, lobelia, marigolds, morning glory, pansies, petunias, snapdragons, evening scented stock, and giant sunflowers. Perennial favourites include daisies, lilies, peonies, bleeding hearts, and poppies. Perennial and annual herbs, such as mint, parsley, sage, and thyme, also grow well.

Fort Smith really is The Garden Capital of the North.