Inspiring the next generation of health care professionals – 2026 Adventures in Health Care

The Dawson Creek & District Hospital (DCDH) Replacement Project was proud to participate in this year’s Adventures in Health Care program.

Adventures in Health Care is a hands-on learning experience designed to help high school students explore the wide range of education and career pathways connected to health care. The program goes beyond traditional clinical roles, highlighting how planners, technologists, and support teams all play a critical role in delivering safe, high-quality care.

Connecting students to the future of health care in Dawson Creek

This year, our participation focused on the design, construction, and future opening of the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital. Rather than exploring individual health services, students were invited to think bigger—about how hospitals are planned, how decisions are made within real budgets, and how building design directly impacts patient care, staff wellbeing, and community access to services.

Through an interactive Design Your Hospital – Budget Challenge, students stepped into the role of hospital planners. Working in teams, they were given a fixed budget and asked to make real-world decisions about what to include in their hospital. From emergency departments and inpatient units to diagnostic imaging and mental health spaces, students quickly learned that every choice comes with trade-offs.

Learning that hospitals are more than patient rooms

A key part of the activity highlighted the importance of essential, behind-the-scenes departments—such as laboratories, pharmacies, medical device reprocessing, IT, and facilities maintenance. Students discovered that without these core building blocks, even the most modern hospital cannot function safely or effectively.

This systems-based approach helped students understand that health care delivery depends not only on people, but also on infrastructure, planning, logistics, and teamwork. Many were surprised to learn how much work happens behind the scenes before a hospital opens its doors to patients.

Building awareness, curiosity, and community pride

Participating in Adventures in Health Care allowed the DCDH project team to connect directly with local youth and share how the new hospital is being designed to support the Dawson Creek and Peace Region community for generations to come. It also opened conversations about future careers—showing students that meaningful roles in health care exist across a wide range of skills, interests, and education pathways.

As the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital moves closer to completion, programs like Adventures in Health Care help ensure that youth see themselves as part of that future—helping shape the next chapter of care close to home.

We’re proud to support opportunities that spark curiosity, build understanding, and inspire the next generation to imagine a future in health care—right here in Dawson Creek.