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A Project Update: April 2026

Project status update

Where we’re at

Construction continues to make steady progress as the project moves deeper into the finishing and commissioning phases. Exterior work is in its final stages, with the building envelope complete and minor items wrapping up this month. Inside the building, interior finishes are advancing across all levels, including flooring, fixtures, device installation, and final surface work – with some areas complete and others nearing completion. System start-up activities are underway, including permanent lighting energization and air balancing.

What’s next

Upcoming work will focus on completing remaining interior finishes, closing out outstanding installation items, and continuing commissioning and testing activities across building systems. As systems are balanced, energized, and verified, the project will continue its transition from active construction toward operational readiness. These efforts will support upcoming turnover activities and help ensure the building is prepared for safe, reliable day‑to‑day use.

Construction ahead of schedule! A major milestone

Construction is progressing ahead of schedule and as a result, the substantial completion date has moved from November 30, 2026 to September 29, 2026—two months ahead of schedule!

Substantial completion is when construction of the new hospital is finished and the contractor, Graham, formally turns the building over to Northern Health. At this stage, the building is complete from a construction standpoint; however, it is not yet open or operational.

Following Substantial Completion, the project enters a transition period focused on preparing the hospital for patient care. This includes moving equipment and supplies, testing building and IT systems, completing safety checks, and supporting staff training and orientation so clinical and operational spaces are fully ready.

Opening Day is when the new hospital officially begins operations, patient transfers take place, and the existing facility becomes inactive. While the exact date is still to be confirmed, it is anticipated in early 2027.

Construction progress photos

Operational readiness planning

Monthly departmental workplan meetings are continuing, with the emphasis now shifting from planning to readiness and activation activities.

The Orientation, Training, Simulation, and Implementation (OTSI) Plan is completed which provides the framework to guide how staff will be oriented to the new building, trained on new equipment and workflows, and prepared through simulation activities to support safe patient care on Opening Day.

Facility activation planning is now underway to define and sequence the major transition activities, dependencies, and readiness milestones. This work is focused on turning the building into a functional hospital environment for safe patient care and efficient operations.

Key areas of scope include:

Facility handover and turnover processes
Security and access control readiness
Departmental space fit-up activities required to prepare teams for occupancy
Clinical scenario testing and interdepartmental workflow validation to confirm that everything functions together as intended

Move planning

Health Care Relocations (HCR) has completed the first round of Move Planning Meetings with departments to introduce teams to the draft Move Calendar and their departmental Move Plans.

The Patient Transfer Committee will be formed in May, which is a specialized operational team responsible for ensuring the safe and coordinated relocation of patients from the old facility to the new one. Key responsibilities of the committee will include developing move day protocols, planning for clinical continuity, and defining transfer routes.

Engagement initiatives

Over the past few months, the project team has participated in a variety of community events and presentations.

Dawson Creek Service Providers Expo: This event brought together local organizations to support connection and information sharing about services available within the community.

Presentation to the South Peace Seniors Access Society: Outlining the new hospital’s services and programming and provide an update on construction progress.

Career Fair at DCSS: Engagement with local high school students focused on introducing career and education pathways into health care, as well as highlighting future career opportunities.

Presentation to Northern Lights College Health Sciences Students: Nurses and health care assistants learned about career opportunities with Northern Health and the new hospital.

Adventures in Health Care

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.

Through an interactive Design Your Hospital – Budget Challenge, students stepped into the role of hospital planners—working with a budget to make tough design decisions. They were invited to think about how hospitals are planned, how decisions are made, and how facility design directly impacts patient care, staff wellbeing, and community access to services.

The activity highlighted an important lesson: hospitals are more than patient rooms. They explored and discovered how emergency departments, inpatient units, diagnostic imaging, mental health spaces, and essential behind‑the‑scenes departments all work together to deliver safe, effective care. This systems-based approach helped students understand that health care delivery depends not only on people, but also on infrastructure, planning, logistics, and teamwork.

We loved connecting with local youth and sharing how the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital is being designed to support our community—now and for generations to come.

South Peace Health Expo 2026

We are proud to be a community partner supporting South Peace Health Expo 2026 on Saturday, May 23 from 10AM to 4PM at the Ovintiv Events Centre.

Join us at this free community event bringing together health, wellness, and support services. This event is an opportunity to connect with local health providers, explore available resources, and learn more about supports across the region.

Highlight: Staff Amenities

From bright, comfortable staff lounges to a private outdoor garden near the staff entrance, the new hospital includes thoughtful staff amenities that support rest, connection, and balance throughout the workday.

These spaces reflect our commitment to caring for the people who care for our community — and to creating a welcoming environment that supports staff wellness.

Staff lounges provide consistent, comfortable spaces to rest, recharge, and connect with colleagues. Each lounge includes a microwave, fridge, dishwasher, comfortable lounge seating, stacking chairs, dining tables, and coffee tables.

A unique feature of the new hospital is a private, staff‑only outdoor garden—offering seating, bike racks, and a covered space to step outside, decompress, and enjoy fresh air year‑round.

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Categories: Quarterly Update