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A Project Update: January 2026

Project Status Update

Where we’re at

Construction at the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital continues to move forward steadily. On the outside, work on the building’s cladding and louvers is progressing well and helping bring the exterior closer to completion.

Inside, crews are making strong progress on drywall, mudding, taping, painting, and wall protection in all areas of the building. On Levels 1 and 2, painting is finished, wall protection is about 81% complete, and flooring installation is roughly 75% complete. Many interior spaces are now moving into later finishing stages, including the installation of fixtures, finishes, and acoustical ceiling tiles. Doors and hardware are also being added throughout the early‑completed zones.

A major milestone was reached in January with the startup of the Air Handling Units, an important step toward bringing building systems online. Mechanical work is progressing throughout the facility, with commissioning activities happening in some areas and rough‑ins continuing in others. Electrical crews are advancing equipment setup and pre‑commissioning, as well as running cable and completing hook‑ups in upper mechanical spaces. Another sign of progress is that permanent lighting is now being energized in some parts of the building.

Furniture planning and procurement are also underway, with Contemporary Office Interiors engaged to supply furnishings for the new hospital.

What’s next

In the months ahead, construction teams will continue working toward completing the exterior cladding and louvers. Inside the building, work will continue on drywalling, painting, flooring, and other finishing work as more areas move into the later stages of completion. Installation of fixtures, finishes, doors, and ceiling tiles will also continue as additional spaces near completion.

Mechanical commissioning will progress on Level 0, while mechanical and electrical rough‑ins and equipment installation will carry on in the penthouse mechanical room. Electrical crews will keep completing hook‑ups, cable pulls, and work in satellite electrical rooms as permanent power is extended to more areas. Procurement of equipment and furniture will also continue as the project moves closer to operational readiness.

Looking ahead, an RFP will be issued in January 2026 for Professional Engineering Services to prepare abatement and demolition documents for the existing hospital. An additional RFP will be issued for a Food and Beverage Contractor to operate the café in the new facility.

Fun facts! Did you know?

The new Dawson Creek & District Hospital is a major infrastructure project, and its scale can be better appreciated when compared to familiar landmarks from our region:

The new facility includes 1,060 door slabs. If laid end-to-end horizontally, they’d stretch about 64% of the Dawson Creek Airport runway. Flip them upright? They’d be nearly 1.4 times the runway length!
There will be 86 interior windows – enough to match two full rounds of Dawson Creek’s 40-stop Heritage Walking Tour, with a few extra stops to spare.
The plumbing system moves 22,712 L of water every day – that’s just over 2% of the Kenn Borek Aquatic Centre’s 990,000 L lap pool, 2.5 times the tots’ pool and nearly twice the hot tub.
Dawson Creek has 520 public fire hydrants, and the new hospital will have 402 sinks – about 77% of the city’s hydrant count.
The new hospital will have 717 medical gas outlets – enough to care for roughly 16% of a sold‑out hockey crowd or about 11% of a full concert audience at the Ovintiv Events Centre.

Construction Progress Photos

Coming soon! A virtual look inside the new hospital!

Wondering what’s happening inside the new hospital? We know there’s a lot of excitement and curiosity about what the inside looks like—and we’re thrilled to start sharing it with you in the coming months. As interior finishes near completion, we will be creating short virtual video tours of departments and key spaces, offering a first look at areas as they come to life.

These sneak‑peek tours will be shared with staff and physicians and featured on Let’s Talk DCDH as well as Northern Health’s YouTube and social media channels. As we continue to approach substantial completion and opening day, watch for more videos as new zones are completed!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many parking stalls? Will it remain free?

We know parking is important to you! Whether you’re visiting a loved one, coming in for an appointment, or working a shift, having convenient and accessible parking makes a big difference.

The new hospital will feature 311 parking stalls—over 100 more than the current hospital—including 125 stalls for staff and physicians and 186 stalls for patients and visitors. In addition, there are 16 accessible parking stalls, drop‑off zones at the main and emergency entrances, 66 bike racks, 8 electric vehicle stalls, dedicated RCMP parking, and motorcycle parking.

And mostly importantly, parking will remain free for everyone!

What will happen to the current hospital?

Many residents have been wondering what will happen to the current hospital once the new hospital opens. The current DCDH was built in 1960 in accordance with clinical health care services and building code standards at the time. Since then, standards have continuously evolved and improved. Recognizing these changes, the current hospital doesn’t align with current clinical and patient care standards and doesn’t comply with the current BC Building Code.

While some may wonder if the newer section of the current hospital could be retained, this is not feasible. The newer section also does not meet today’s clinical and patient care standards and cannot operate independently. It relies heavily on the older portion of the building for essential mechanical and electrical infrastructure. Key services such as the Emergency Department, Medical Imaging, and Laboratory are interconnected with systems housed in the older section. There is no practical way to sustain only one part of the building without the supporting infrastructure.

Once the new hospital is open and operational, the current hospital will become inactive, be emptied out and then removed. This step is part of the approved Business Plan, which includes a full abatement process before demolition. We will be hiring a consultant to prepare materials related to the abatement and demolition of the existing hospital using a procurement process. Following that, a tender process will be held to engage a construction firm to undertake the scope of work. The abatement and demolition of the existing hospital is targeted to take place once the new hospital is open and operational in early 2027.

After abatement and removal of the existing facility, the site will be cleared and turned back into developable land for potential future use.

Operational Readiness and Transition Planning

Monthly departmental workplan meetings were held in November and December, with programs continuing to demonstrate steady and healthy progress toward completion of their operational planning deliverables. These sessions remain an important forum for addressing risks and ensuring alignment across clinical and non-clinical teams as planning advances.

The fifth Operational Readiness Committee (ORC) meeting was held in November, with focused discussion on the Risk Register, Change Requests, and Opening Day Views. The committee also initiated preparatory work for 2026, including early planning related to staff orientation, training, and simulation activities to support a safe and coordinated opening.

Collaboration continues with IMIT to support readiness of clinical system integrations, and with Health Care Relocations (HCR) to advance development of a detailed Patient Transition Plan that prioritizes patient safety, continuity of care, and clear communication across services.

HCR onboarded for move to new facility

Preparations are well underway to ensure a smooth and safe transition into the new facility. To support this effort, Health Care Relocations (HCR)—a global leader in hospital move management—has officially been onboarded. With more than three decades of experience and over 500 successful relocations worldwide, HCR brings specialized expertise in planning, coordinating, and executing complex hospital moves while keeping patient care at the centre of every decision.

In December, the HCR team visited Dawson Creek to meet with leaders, tour each department, and begin assessing what equipment will move, what should be replaced, and how best to sequence relocations to minimize downtime. Over the coming months, they will develop detailed move plans, including a comprehensive move calendar and an information guide to help staff stay informed and prepared.

Staff engagement will be a key component of the transition. Each department will appoint a Department Move Coordinator to participate in planning, review equipment lists, and provide operational insights. A Patient Transfer Committee will also be established to design transfer day procedures, create patient information resources, and ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. All of this planning will help ensure that, when move day arrives, patients are transferred with care, dignity, and clear communication—setting the stage for a safe and successful opening of the new hospital.

Inventory of artworks and artefacts in current hospital

As part of preparations for the transition to the new hospital, an inventory of all existing artworks, art pieces, and cultural artefacts currently displayed in the hospital is underway. This work will help document each item, identify ownership, and support decisions about which pieces may be transferred to the new facility.

We recognize that many of these pieces hold deep historical and emotional meaning for staff, physicians, and the community. Opportunities will be built into the new hospital to preserve and reflect the history of the current facility, supported by a dedicated art budget and guidance from a project Art Committee with local and regional representation. Items not transferring to the new hospital will be handled with care, with efforts made to return them to their original artists, donors, owners, or families.

Engagement Initiatives

Dawson Creek Job Fair

Representatives from the DCDH project team alongside Byron Stewart, Northeast Recruitment and Retention Ambassador recently attended the Dawson Creek Job Search and Support Services and Outlines for Life Society Job Fair at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Center.

Together, we engaged with job seekers, community members, and local service organizations to share information about:

Current career opportunities with Northern Health
How to create an online profile on the NH Careers portal
Upcoming hiring needs for the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital

Our booth welcomed steady interest throughout the event, with many attendees expressing enthusiasm for future opportunities at the new hospital. This job fair provided a valuable platform for raising awareness about Northern Health careers and building connections with potential applicants.

Other Exciting News

Calling artists: Exterior sculpture opportunity

Northern Health invites artists to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the design and fabrication of an exterior sculpture to be featured outside the Emergency Department entrance of the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital.

This sculpture will serve as a meaningful landmark for patients, families, staff, and the community. The sculpture will symbolize the values of health, healing, and community while reflecting the unique identity of the Peace Region.

The EOI period is open until Friday, March 6 at 5:00 PM MST. Download a copy of the EOI document.

A bright welcome: Tuscan Sun panels complete the hospital’s exterior

The new hospital has reached an eye‑catching milestone with the installation of its Tuscan Sun aluminum composite panels, now visible across much of the city. These golden panels complete the hospital’s bold exterior colour palette and were intentionally chosen to be warm and welcoming and to complement the City of Dawson Creek’s logo.

Positioned at the main entrance, the panels add a bright contrast to the soon‑to‑be‑installed “H” sign, helping guide visitors into the facility. As one of the tallest structures in Dawson Creek, the hospital’s completed exterior now reflects regional identity through its colours of Ocean Blue, Lagoon, and Tuscan Sun.

Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation launches $3 Million campaign to bring an MRI to the new hospital

The Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation’s “Create a Clear Picture” campaign is well underway, aiming to raise $3 million to bring the first publicly funded MRI machine to the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital. This vital service will ensure patients can access advanced diagnostic imaging closer to home, reducing travel, shortening wait times, and helping improve overall health outcomes.

The campaign received a significant boost with ARC Resources Ltd. stepping forward as the lead donor, contributing an impressive $1.5 million towards the campaign. This major investment reflects strong community leadership and deep regional commitment to improving access to modern healthcare. ARC emphasized that supporting this initiative ensures residents can receive timely, high‑quality care while remaining in their own community.

The Foundation invites individuals, businesses, and community partners to join this effort and help create a healthier future for all. To learn more, visit the Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation’s website.

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