Fort Smith, Canada
Rohma Khurram Nawaz (BA’18) with her dog Saiya on one of the many trails in Fort Smith. Photo courtesy of Rohma.
UBC Okanagan alum Rohma Khurram Nawaz (BA’18) works in student services at Aurora College’s Thebacha Campus in the Northwest Territories. Originally from Pakistan, Rohma has been living in Fort Smith, a town in Treaty 8 Territory, for close to six years.
What three words best describe Fort Smith?
Beautiful. Resilient. Peaceful.
How did you come to live in Fort Smith?
There were a lot of students from Fort Smith at UBC Okanagan during my time there. I met my now husband at UBCO and would get invited to visit Fort Smith during the holidays whenever I didn’t return home to Pakistan. Slowly but surely the town grew on me, and upon graduating and obtaining permanent residency in Canada, I took the leap and moved to Fort Smith to give living in the North a try. It’s been almost six years now!
A view of the Des Nedhé (Slave) River from Rohma’s neighbourhood on the eastern edge of Fort Smith. This is her favourite part of town as it is close to a number of trails where she can walk her dog off-leash and take in the spectacular views.
Photo by Rohma.
A fabulous display of the aurora borealis over the Des Nedhé (Slave) River.
The Northwest Territories is arguably the best place in Canada to take in the Northern Lights, which are visible approximately 240 nights of the year and are best viewed during autumn or winter in this region.
Photo by P. Chaillon / Epéchile Production.
Rohma enjoys taking her dog Saiya (left) for “winter wonderland walks” in Fort Smith during the snowy season.
Photo by Rohma.
What do you like most about living there?
The incredible beauty. Some days I can’t believe my eyes at the amazing sights that I get to enjoy. The rapids, the trails, the river, and the land are so breathtaking, they make me feel very grateful to live here. The Indigenous First Nations in Fort Smith have excellent year-round activities that create avenues for community participation, so I’ve also had the opportunity to be taken onto the river and surrounding lands, which have given me a chance to admire parts of the region I would not have explored on my own.
Describe your favourite neighbourhood.
I like the part of town I live in, which is on the eastern edge of Fort Smith and very close to the trail network and Axe Handle Hill. It takes just five minutes for me to get to the trails, where I can walk my dog off-leash and enjoy views of the river and rapids. It’s close enough that I can do a short loop over my lunch break or go for a longer hike whenever I’d like.
If you could change one thing about Fort Smith, what would it be?
Better flight options would personally shift a lot for me. To visit my family in Pakistan, I often have to do a 14-hour one-way drive to Edmonton, since it is the city with the closest international airport that offers connecting flights to Pakistan. (I could, of course, fly from Fort Smith to Edmonton, but a round-trip flight currently costs approximately $2,000, which is quite expensive.)
What might surprise a visitor about Fort Smith?
The Snowboard Park was established here for the Arctic Winter Games. It’s a great spot to snowboard and enjoy views of the river and the rapids. The Big Fun snowboarding event during Wood Buffalo Frolics, Fort Smith’s annual winter carnival, has been rapidly growing in popularity and attracting visitors.
What are your favourite hidden gems or activities that only locals know about?
Not quite that hidden, but Pine Lake is a popular destination. It is within Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and is about a one-hour drive from Fort Smith. The Salt Plains are also a great spot to visit within the park.
How easy is it to meet new people?
Locals are very friendly and helpful. I’ve seen many new residents quickly adapt to the community due to the support provided by locals. Fort Smith residents take a lot of pride in their community and often want to ensure new residents can settle in and become a part of the community. Of course, the town’s small population (approximately 2,200 residents live here) does mean that sometimes it can be challenging to find friends/social groups. With some effort though, there are lots of recreational activities and groups in the community that offer opportunities for meeting new people.
What issues are particularly important to the people of Fort Smith?
A shortage of housing and the cost of rentals seem to be ongoing issues in the community. There is also always concern regarding the creation and retention of jobs here, as any cuts can have significant domino effects on community services and the local economy.
A serene winter scene in Fort Smith, as viewed from Marine Drive.
Rohma recommends visiting this street in downtown Fort Smith as its “boardwalk and... lookout are lovely to visit year-round.”
Photo by Rohma.
A gorgeous sunset in Fort Smith, with the Salt River First Nation teepees in the foreground and St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the background.
Photo by P. Chaillon / Epéchile Production, courtesy of the Town of Fort Smith.
A professional musher runs a team of dogs in the annual Thebacha Sled Dog Race.
Watching a dog mushing race and going dogsledding are just some of the activities that residents in the Northwest Territories can enjoy during winter.
Photo by P. Chaillon / Epéchile Production.
Paddlers in Fort Smith’s annual Slave River Paddlefest.
The festival celebrates the Des Nedhé (Slave) River, one of the best but lesser-known destinations for whitewater paddling, with activities for both new and experienced paddlers alike.
Photo by P. Chaillon / Epéchile Production.
An aerial shot of Fort Smith with the Des Nedhé (Slave) River in view.
Photo courtesy of the Town of Fort Smith.
Looking to connect with your UBC alumni community?
If you live outside our campus communities in the Lower Mainland and Central Okanagan, visit the Global Alumni Network page to see if there’s an alumni ambassador or social media community where you live.
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