We're launching a new community newsletter to give you exclusive updates about the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital project.

By subscribing to the quarterly newsletter, you'll receive project status updates, behind-the-scenes photos of construction progress, details about recent and upcoming community events, other exciting news and much more - right to your inbox!

Join our community of supporters to be the first to know about the latest developments and stay connected with the future of health care in Dawson Creek.

The next edition of the quarterly newsletter will be distributed on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

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Crews will be working and operating equipment overnight from January 21 to 25, 2025, to take advantage of the forecasted warm weather this week.

What to expect:

Work will be underway from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM on these days to backfill the north side of the building. This involves hauling material from the stockpile on site and placing and compacting the material. There will be no hauling material to the site, so there will be no truck traffic on residential streets. However, the equipment will have backup alarms active for safety reasons, which may cause some noise.

The City of Dawson Creek has given Graham Design-Builders permission to work through the night and outside the typical bylaw quiet times.

Why are we doing this?

By taking advantage of the warm overnight temperatures, we aim to complete a significant amount of work in a short period of time which will hopefully benefit the overall project schedule.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to complete this important project.

Questions, concerns, or more information?

Please email: LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca

Recently, the Northern Lights College (NLC) Executive and Health Sciences teams joined us for a tour to see the remarkable progress being made on the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital, which will soon improve health care services in our community.

We would like to recognize the ongoing collaboration between NLC and Graham Design-Builders over the last year – they have been an exceptional neighbour since construction started.

NLC allowed Graham to lease a portion of their land for the site offices complex and temporary parking lot for site workers, which has been invaluable. This has ensured that construction activities proceed smoothly without disrupting the daily operations of the college.

In return, we supported NLC by providing them with excavated dirt and fill for future projects on their campus. This mutually beneficial exchange has not only helped manage resources efficiently but also contributed to the college's development plans.

We also worked together to ensure that students, staff, visitors, and community members were well informed about the closure of the rear access road into the campus. This closure had a major impact those coming to the campus and construction site and NLC's cooperation made this process very smooth.

As part of the Hospital Replacement project, we will be straightening out the rear access road into the NLC Campus. This improvement will enhance accessibility and safety for everyone using the road.

NLC plays a crucial role in our community, especially in health care programming and recruitment. Their Health & Human Services programs train the next generation of health care professionals, ensuring that our region has a steady supply of skilled workers. NLC's commitment to education and training helps meet the growing demand for health care services and supports the recruitment of qualified staff for our new hospital.

Before the Christmas break, Graham Design-Builders conducted a detailed mock-up review of the inpatient washroom and accessories on-site of the new Hospital. This session was crucial for gathering user feedback and ensuring the design meets the highest standards of functionality and safety.

Representatives from NH Facilities Maintenance, Infection Prevention and Control, and Rehabilitation were in attendance to provide feedback on the placement of accessories. Key points of feedback included the:

• Placement of the nightlight to ensure the space was sufficiently illuminated and to enhance visibility and safety during nighttime use
• Location and size of swing-up grab bars
• Placement of sink cleanout and shut off valves
• Placement and width of the backrest to ensure compliance with the BC Building Code’s requirements
• Height of the flush valve and any necessary supports to ensure it doesn’t interfere with the backrest
• Placement of the Nurse Call, Emergency and Call Bell devices to ensure they are accessible without posing a ligature risk
• Location of the paper towel dispenser to improve access near the sink and avoid patients bumping into it

The holidays are just around the corner and everyone deserves a little break! The project team is taking some much needed time off after a busy year to spend time with loved ones and celebrate the holidays. And we hope you get to do the same!

Work on site will also slow down between December 20 and January 2.

We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

Stay tuned for more updates on the DCDH Project in 2025!

As the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital rises to meet the skyline, we say farewell to the two towering figures who have become local celebrities – Hank and Dan, the mighty tower cranes. These mechanical marvels have not only played a crucial role in the construction of our new hospital but have also captured the hearts and imaginations of our community.

Installed to help build the new hospital, Hank and Dan quickly became more than just construction equipment. They were symbols of the quick and exciting progress being made and were visible from almost every corner of Dawson Creek. Their presence sparked excitement and curiosity, turning a construction site into a community landmark.

The cranes' journey began when Ken Scott, a local nurse, named them Hank and Dan, after Vancouver Canucks legends, Henrik and Daniel Sedin. This transformed the cranes from cold, impersonal machinery into characters in the story of our new hospital. They became a topic of daily discussions with photos being posted of them on social media, children pointing them out and calling them the “Christmas Cranes”, and adults appreciating their engineering expertise.

On November 14, we said goodbye to Hank (tower crane #1) as he was carefully dismantled and removed from the site. Yesterday, December 4, we also said goodbye to Dan (tower crane #2). Their departure marks the end of an era but also reminds us of the power of progress as we look forward to the opening of the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital in Spring 2027.

So, here's to Hank and Dan – our towering heroes. Thank you for lifting our spirits and helping build a brighter future for health care in Dawson Creek.

The Dawson Creek skyline is changing yet again with the removal of tower crane #1 (aka Hank) today.

The second tower crane (aka Dan) will remain on site until mid-December and then will be removed as well.

VIDEO: Operator's view of the removal of the jib from the cab.

From Tuesday, October 1 to Tuesday, October 15, the intersection of 10 St., 12 St. and 112 Ave will be closed in order to complete the road crossing installation for the new BC Hydro infrastructure to the Dawson Creek & District Hospital project site.

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be required to take alternate routes around the closure.

See the map below for the location of the closure.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have questions or concerns, please email LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca.

Project Status Update

Where we’re at

The concrete superstructure is now complete, marking a significant milestone for the project! Currently, work is progressing on both exterior and interior framing and boarding, alongside the installation of structural steel. The installation of multi-trade racks is also ongoing, with 62 out of 80 already in place. Additionally, we have received and reviewed three out of four of the 100% design submission packages and the fourth package is anticipated to be received in early October.

What’s next

The hard-working tower cranes that currently occupy the Dawson Creek skyline will soon be taken down. Tower crane #1 is scheduled to be removed in early November, followed by tower crane #2 in mid-December. In October, work will begin on the roof installation and by the end of December, the building will be sealed and enclosed.

Department Highlights

Mental Health Unit

The mental health unit in the new hospital is located on Level 3 and includes 18 private inpatient rooms with ensuite washrooms as well as 2 high observation rooms.

Key features of the mental health unit include:

• Secure courtyard for patients to have access to the outdoors
• Family visiting and consult rooms
• Patient lounge, dining room and kitchen
• Laundry room
• Exercise room
• Group therapy room
• Activity room

Inpatient Unit and Rooms

The inpatient unit in the new facility is located on Level 2 and includes 32 medical and surgical beds and 10 convalescent care beds. There are 2 bariatric patient rooms with more square footage, a larger bathroom, and equipment and furniture to support bariatric patients. All inpatient rooms are private with ensuite washrooms, located around the perimeter of the building and allow for more flexible and enhanced care.

Key features of the inpatient rooms include:

• Large windows for access to natural light
• Bed and bedside table
• Furniture for visitors (chair and/or pull-out couch)
• Hand hygiene sink
• Interactive patient station/entertainment system
• Wardrobe
• Ceiling lift extending from the bed into the washroom

Engagement Initiatives

Site tour with Dawson Creek Mayor and Council

We had the pleasure of hosting the City of Dawson Creek’s Mayor, Council, Fire Chief, and Deputy Fire Chief for a site tour. The visit was filled with excitement as everyone saw first-hand the remarkable progress made on the new facility.

Throughout the tour, they were able to visualize the department layouts and future patient rooms that will soon serve the community.

Everyone was thrilled to see how far the project has come in just over a year and expressed their excitement for what's to come for the future of health care in Dawson Creek.

Northern Health and Graham float in Annual Fall Fair Parade

We were thrilled to join forces with Graham Design-Builders to enter a float in the Annual Fall Fair Parade! This event, as part of the Dawson Creek Exhibition & Stampede week, was an amazing opportunity for us to get involved in the community and celebrate our shared commitment to improving health care in our community and region.

Our float was centered around the new Dawson Creek and District Hospital and featured vibrant decorations and renderings of the new hospital. It was great to see that it captured attention and admiration from spectators along the route.

Thank you to everyone who came out to watch the parade, celebrate with us, and show their community spirit! We’d like to take a moment to recognize and thank all of our volunteers from the current hospital and Rotary Manor for walking alongside the float and for handing out goodies to spectators.

From Thursday, September 12 to Friday, October 4, the section of 12 St. between 112 Ave and 113 Ave will be closed due to construction activities for the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital.

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be re-directed around the closure.

See the map below for the location of the closure.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have questions or concerns, please email LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca.

Photo courtesy: City of Dawson Creek (Facebook)