Project status update

Where we’ve come from

Where we’re at

The DCDH Replacement Project is currently in the procurement phase which consists of two parts – a technical submission and a financial submission. The technical submission ensures that the ongoing design is reflective of the project’s requirements which includes the design and construction schedules, design narratives, renderings, and draft management plans; and the financial submission addresses the costs of the project.

What’s next

Northern Health is working with the preferred proponent, Clark Builders-Turner-HDR Architecture under a Design Early Works Agreement (DEWA) to advance the design of the new hospital. This year, they will be submitting the technical and financial proposals to Northern Health for review. If the submissions are accepted, the next step is signing a Design-Build Agreement (DBA) with Clark Builders-Turner-HDR to deliver the project. Once the DBA has been signed, construction will begin.

Project schedule

Capital projects are large undertakings that require a series of planning steps to ensure the facility is designed following the current and future evidence for health care facilities, and tendered and constructed for the best value. Additionally, this work is scheduled to ensure health care services are maintained during the construction period that will be over a couple of years. For all large projects, timelines can be impacted by a number of factors that may change over time. It’s in the best interest of the community and health care team to work through the project thoroughly to ensure that the facility is built to respond to future health care needs.

Next steps

Engagement

We have formed a Capital Advisory Committee (CAC) that has representation from local First Nations, the City of Dawson Creek, Peace River Regional Hospital District, First Nations Health Authority, and BC Patient Voices Network. This committee has already been providing input, advice, and recommendations to Northern Health on patient experiences, cultural considerations, consultations and communications, and First Nations engagement.

Right now, we are developing and working on community engagement for the City of Dawson Creek and surrounding areas, including First Nation communities to gather feedback related to the project.

We are and will continue to be working closely with Northern Health’s Indigenous Health team to actively engage with local Indigenous communities and groups throughout the duration of the DCDH Replacement Project. Shortly, we will form an Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) to gather input into design aspects as well as Indigenous culture and practices to ensure the new facility is culturally safe, welcoming, respectful, and relevant.

We will also form a Community Advisory Working Group (CAWG) consisting of stakeholders and community members. This working group will help us gather input relating to design aspects, and local culture, practices, and experience to ensure the facility reflects the health care service needs of Dawson Creek, surrounding communities, and local Indigenous communities.

Other exciting news

Dawson Creek Community Garden – Grand Opening

The Dawson Creek Community Garden was relocated from the Northwest corner of Northern Lights College's property in order to make space for the new Dawson Creek and District Hospital. The relocation project was done in collaboration with the Dawson Creek Community Garden Society, Northern Lights College, Stantec Inc., and Northern Legendary Construction Ltd. Construction began in June 2021 and was completed in September 2021. We maintained and transferred architectural features from the old garden including the entryway gate and the metal memorial bench.

The Dawson Creek Community Garden Society hosted their grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 18. The event included speeches from local dignitaries and those involved in the project, cupcakes, and a tour of the new site.

For more information

Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project Let’s Talk

Let’s Talk is our one-stop shop for everything related to the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project. Not only does this site have regular project updates, but it is also a place where you can provide feedback and thoughts on the project.

Dawson Creek and District Hospital Let’s Talk

Contact us directly

For questions, feedback, or to get added to the distribution list for these updates, feel free to reach out directly to us through Ashley Pannozzo, our Community Engagement Liaison Officer, for the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project at LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca

We are excited to share that we have relocated the Dawson Creek Community Garden and it is now open to the public!

The community garden was relocated from the Northwest corner of Northern Lights College's property in order to make space for the new Dawson Creek and District Hospital. The relocation project was done in collaboration with the Dawson Creek Community Garden Society, Northern Lights College, Stantec Inc., and Northern Legendary Construction Ltd. Construction began in June 2021 and was completed in September 2021. We maintained and transferred architectural features from the old garden including the entryway gate and the metal memorial bench.

The Dawson Creek Community Garden Society hosted their grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 18. Although it rained most of the morning, that didn’t damper the mood of those in attendance. The event started with speeches from Fern Hansen (President, Community Garden Society), Ashley Pannozzo (Community Engagement Liaison, DCDH Replacement Project), Katie MacLeod (Project Manager, Clark Builders), and Shaely Wilbur (Council Member, City of Dawson Creek). Following the speeches, attendees enjoyed cupcakes and a walk through the garden.

“This year, I’m looking forward to the community garden continuing to be well received and respected and for society members to continue to garden because we’re off to a fabulous start,” said Fern Hansen, President of the Dawson Creek Community Garden Society. “With the relocation, we’re so happy to have the new fence for protection, and the raised garden beds for easier access to gardening. They’re much more practical in terms of use, they look beautiful, and they’re easier to work with because you’re not crawling on the ground.”

Now that the community garden is officially open, citizens of Dawson Creek can get their hands dirty this planting season and grow locally, all while enjoying the company of fellow gardeners on the new site.

People in Dawson Creek and area are one step closer to a new hospital now that a preferred proponent has been selected for the design phase.

“The selection of the team that will design the new hospital means another important milestone has been reached for people in the region,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The new and bigger facility will deliver public health-care services to people in the South Peace for decades to come.”

The three proponents shortlisted for the Design Early Works Agreement (DEWA) were:

• Clark Builders-Turner-HDR Architecture;
• SBW-Kinetic-Wright Construction with KRA and Gibbs Gage Architects; and
• Graham Design Builders and Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.

As a result of the evaluation process, in co-ordination with Northern Health and Infrastructure BC, Clark Builders-Turner-HDR Architecture was selected.

A request for proposals for the DEWA was issued to the teams on March 16, 2021. A DEWA is a contractual agreement between the design-builder and Northern Health, which starts the design phase for the new hospital.

The next step is the Design-Build Agreement request for proposals. This involves Clark Builders-Turner-HDR Architecture submitting design and cost proposals to Northern Health for the new hospital.

Execution of the Design-Build Agreement is anticipated to take place in 2022 and construction to begin shortly after. The hospital is expected to be ready for patients in 2026.

The new building will be approximately 19,400 square metres (209,000 square feet) and have 70 beds, which is an increase of 24. The emergency department will also increase in size, with treatment spaces increasing from 10 to 15.

As well, the new facility will continue to provide a range of surgical services as well as chemotherapy, ambulatory care, radiology, clinical support and pharmacy services.

There will also be space for a laboratory and diagnostic imaging, and a perinatal unit including labour, delivery, recovery and post-partum rooms and a nursery to support new parents and families. Mental health service delivery will be brought up to modern standards with a new inpatient suite and an increase of beds from 15 to 18.

The new hospital will be located on the territory of Treaty 8 First Nations. Local First Nations will be consulted throughout the project to ensure culturally appropriate spaces are available, which will also include a non-denominational spiritual room for use by people of all cultures and faiths.

The project budget is $377.86 million and will be shared by the provincial government, through Northern Health, and the Peace River Regional Hospital District, which will contribute $150.2 million. The existing hospital will remain operational during the construction of the new hospital.

For more information, see the full Ministry of Health release.

Did you know that the new project management office used to be a cafeteria? You’d never know by looking at it!

This office within the Dawson Creek and District Hospital (DCDH) has been set up as a place for our project team to work on everything to do with the DCDH Replacement Project. The door to the project management office is always open for the staff of DCDH to grab a coffee and have a chat with the project team about what’s going on and provide any feedback they may have.

Check out the full renovation process here.

A special thanks goes out to the following for all their hard work in getting the space ready:

• The PMO Team
• Stephen McInnis, Maintenance Supervisor
• Mark McCorkell, Maintenance Worker
• Darcy Walker, Maintenance Worker
• Leo Gauley, Maintenance Worker, Plant Services
• Doyle Grayston, Maintenance Worker, Plant Building
• Brad Turner, Service Support Analyst
• Albert Sommerfeld, Director, Capital Development & Projects
• Leah Joseph, Coordinator, Capital Projects, Capital Planning

from the Ministry of Health

People in Dawson Creek and the surrounding region are one step closer to a modern hospital, as three candidates have been shortlisted for the request for proposals (RFP).

“People in Dawson Creek are closer to having a preferred proponent to design and build the new Dawson Creek and district hospital,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This announcement means people and families are closer to seeing what the hospital will look like, to construction starting and to the new hospital opening for patients.”

Northern Health requested and received proposals from four vendors, of which three were shortlisted. The proponents for this stage of the procurement process, the design-early works agreement (DEWA), are:

• Clark Builders-Turner-HDR Architecture;
• SBW-Kinetic-Wright Construction with KRA and Gibbs Gage Architects; and
• Graham Design Builders and Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.

An RFP for the DEWA was issued to the shortlisted teams on March 16, 2021. At the end of the RFP process, one proponent will be selected. That proponent is expected to be announced this fall.

For more information, see the full news release.

Northern Health is currently in the business case planning stage for the Dawson Creek & District Hospital Replacement Project.

Part of that planning requires some pre-engineering and testing work, a portion of which will take place on the Northwest corner of the Northern Lights College (NLC) property. NLC is supportive of this work and the disruption on that site will be minimal.