APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Apply for the Community Working Group here: Member, Community Working Group, Dawson Creek Hospital Replacement Project - Patient Voices Network (patientvoicesbc.ca)

The deadline to apply is January 20, 2023.

We're building a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Dawson Creek and are looking for two patient partners and/or community representatives to join the Community Working Group. If you would like to provide input into the design of the new hospital, this could be the opportunity for you!

The purpose of this working group is for community members and stakeholders – including patients – to provide feedback and share their input into the hospital design to ensure that the new facility in Dawson Creek is welcoming, relevant and respectful.

This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will involve patients in planning and design phases to ensure ideas or concerns are considered and reflected in alternatives and recommendations.

Eligibility

Open to patient partners and community members from Dawson Creek, Chetwynd and/or Tumbler Ridge who:

• Have experience of accessing health care services at Dawson Creek and District Hospital (DCDH) within the last 12 months
• Previous working group experience is an asset but not required
• Are comfortable sharing experiences in a group environment
• Are comfortable attending online meetings via Zoom or MS Teams

Connection and relationship building is important to us so informal meet & greets will be part of the selection process for short listed patient partners/community members.

Logistics

• Number of vacancies: 2-3
• Date and Time:
  • The first meeting of the Community Working Group is scheduled for February 2023 – exact date TBD.
  • Meetings will occur on a quarterly basis (every 3 months) and will last for approximately 1 hour.
  • We anticipate having meetings in February, May, August, and November.
  • There may be times when an ad hoc meeting is required based on needs and short deadlines from the project team
• Location: Online meetings via Zoom or MS Teams, with the possibility of in-person meetings
• Commitment: 12 months with the possibility of an extension

Reimbursement
No out of pocket expenses are anticipated for this engagement opportunity. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria, but have concerns about your ability to participate, please contact Cassy Mitchell cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca to see if support options are available. We are always seeking to better understand and reduce barriers to participation.

If travel is required to attend any in-person meetings then travel related costs such as mileage will be reimbursed as per Northern Health’s travel reimbursement policy.

Background
Approximately 15-20 representatives from local organizations and groups will be part of this working group.

This DCDH Community Working Group will work in conjunction with the DCDH Indigenous Working Group, which is also in the process of being formed.

Sub-groups with members from both of these groups may be formed to focus on specific topics such as artwork, language, wayfinding, etc.

Our aim is for the group to have a wide range of representatives who have different experiences and access health care in unique ways.

The Terms of Reference for the Community Working Group will be posted on the DCDH Replacement Let’s Talk website when they are finalized.

The Government of British Columbia and Northern Health are moving to the next step in the procurement process for replacement of the Dawson Creek and District Hospital.

The design of the new state-the-art hospital is approximately 60% complete and continuing to advance; however, Northern Health was unable to reach an agreement with the previously selected builder. As a result, a request for proposals will be issued in mid-January 2023 to select a proponent to complete and deliver the project.

The new proponent is expected to be selected early in 2023, with construction to begin shortly after.

The new hospital will be 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 include a non-denominational spiritual room for use by people of all cultures and faiths.

The new facility will 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, as well as a nursery to support new parents and families.

The project is funded by the provincial government, through Northern Health, and the Peace River Regional Hospital District.

The new hospital is expected to be ready for patients in 2027. The existing hospital will remain operational during the construction of the new hospital.

Quick Facts:

• The new building will be approximately 19,400 square metres (209,000 square feet) and have 70 beds, which is an increase of 24 beds.
• Mental-health service delivery will be brought up to modern standards with a new in-patient suite and an increase of beds from 15 to 18.
• The emergency department will increase in size, with treatment spaces increasing from 10 to 15.

Read the full BC Gov News release: Dawson Creek hospital replacement moves to next step in procurement process

As we get closer to the holiday season, our team members will be taking some much-needed vacation time after a busy year to spend time with their families and re-charge for the new year.

We hope that you all have a very merry holiday season and a happy new year!

Stay tuned for more updates about the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project in 2023!

On November 25, the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Foundation held a Donor Appreciation Reception at Our Social Collective, a local co-working space in downtown Dawson Creek, which the Project Management Office (PMO) was happy to support.

Approximately forty donors, community leaders and stakeholders joined members of the Foundation Board of Directors in an afternoon to celebrate the generosity of the community and meet the new Foundation Executive Director.

Those in attendance were treated to a presentation about the Dawson Creek & District Hospital Replacement Project from the project’s Community Engagement Liaison Officer, Ashley Pannozzo, and Northern Health Vice President, Communications & Public Relations, Steve Raper. The guests were very involved with the conversation and asked pertinent and insightful questions.

The DCDH Foundation’s Executive Director, Heather Kohler says “The Foundation was delighted to partner with Northern Health for this event which provided the opportunity for some of our most committed donors to engage with Northern Health in a valuable face-to-face setting.”

In mid-October, a mysterious 120’ long by 72’ wide white Quonset hut appeared on the Southwest corner of the current hospital’s property.

We’ve heard a lot of theories about what’s inside the hut… ranging from a storage shed, to a greenhouse, to the set for the next Dexter sequel, to showrooms, to a laboratory. We can confirm that only one of those theories is somewhat accurate and it is showrooms.

Although, the Quonset hut isn’t exactly a traditional showroom as you would think, with brand new shiny pieces of medical equipment and an exact replica of the entire new hospital inside. But – it is constructed rooms with life-size replicas and mock-ups of key areas of the new hospital that we are showing to select groups.

Now you might be wondering, what’s the purpose of installing the Quonset hut? Well, it’s a key component of the ongoing design process and will remain in place until 100% of the design is complete.

Who is able to access the Quonset hut? Only select groups of physicians and health care staff are able to access the hut, which we refer to as “the users”. The users represent their areas of expertise and are selected or appointed to participate in the ongoing design process. The Quonset hut is not open to the public. We understand that you are curious to see what the design of the new hospital will look like. We can assure you that when we’re able to share more details about the design with the public, we will. Stay tuned!

How does the ongoing design process work? It’s broken down into four phases – the 30%, 60%, 95% and 100% design submissions. In September, we received and reviewed the 30% design submission from the Design-Builder. Prior to approving the submission, the Design-Builder delivered the first mock-up in a virtual format with 3D drawings of key areas to help the users visualize features of the rooms and provide relevant feedback. We are now progressing towards the 60% design submission.

On November 14 and 15, the users were guided through the hut for the second series of mock-ups to experience certain design features of each room. The users’ feedback will be incorporated in the 60% design submission.

This mock-up has fully constructed walls with 1:1 prints of elements of the room covering the walls and floors – such as millwork, services, furniture and equipment, IMIT device locations, and power and data receptacle locations.

The rooms included in the second mock-up are:

• Labour, delivery, recovery and post-partum room
• Nursing station
• Medication room
• Soiled utility room
• Exam room
• Emergency – Resuscitation/trauma room
• Emergency – Exam/treatment room
• Medical in-patient bedroom and washroom
• Typical patient room
• In-patient bariatric room
• Isolation room
• Anteroom

The next step in the ongoing design process is the Design-Builder submitting the 60% design submission with feedback from recent User Consultation Meetings and the second mock-up being incorporated. When the project team reviews the 60% design submission, the Design-Builder will begin working towards the 95% design submission.

During the next design phase (60-95%), a third mock-up will be constructed inside the Quonset hut which will build on details from the second and include actual materials and finishes.

Introducing you to those working on the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project.

Nathan Salomon – Project Director

As the Project Director, Nathan is responsible for leading the development of the new hospital. He is an experienced infrastructure professional and has worked across a wide range of sectors, including energy, justice, health care, K-12 schools, and transportation throughout British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Nathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and earned his designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder in 2010. In his free time, Nathan enjoys running and skiing, along with exploring the outdoors with his wife, two young children and the family’s energetic Bernedoodle named Panda.

Bart DeVries – Project Manager

In the role of Project Manager, Bart supports the hospital redevelopment project team. He has 20 years of healthcare experience, most recently directing a new hospital redevelopment in Southern Ontario. His first experience on the project was as the furniture and equipment consultant in 2019. His career has included a mix of consulting and owner roles, which gives him unique perspective. Bart’s experience has been almost exclusively in alternative procurement models such as the progressive design-build model used for Dawson Creek. He is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and has a Lean Green Belt (Healthcare).

Ramona Daly – Project Coordinator

As Project Coordinator, Ramona is involved in a variety of layers in this complex and exciting building process. Ramona is a long-term Northern Health employee, who worked in various administrative assistant roles from 2003-2021. She also worked in Leadership prior to becoming part of the DCDH Replacement Project team.

Jennifer Dunn – Clinical Lead

Jennifer has a long history with Northern Health, working in a variety of front-line and nursing leadership roles. Now as the Clinical Lead for the Hospital project, Jenn will be using her skills to ultimately make the clinical details of the new hospital a reality. Jennifer is responsible for liaising between the staff and Design-Builder, providing clinical input into the design, incorporating clinical processes to ensure consistency, and facilitating user group meetings to hear and respond to feedback and input from clinicians throughout the duration of the project.

Ashley Pannozzo – Community Engagement Liaison

Ashley is responsible for supporting the communications and engagement needs of the project which includes strategic communications to internal and external audiences, network and relationship development, community and Indigenous engagement, and building awareness of the project. Ashley has experience in healthcare, post-secondary education, sports, radio, and television. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Digital Media Marketing from George Brown College. Ashley is looking forward to working with the team and contributing to the new hospital build.

Shirley Nichol – Operational Readiness Lead

Shirley will be supporting the team to get ready to move into the new hospital. This involves providing education and training for the staff and physicians to safely transition into their new environment on day one of the patient move. This includes coordination of clinical scenarios designed to prepare staff to work in their new environment and become familiar with new workflows, equipment and IT technology.

Shirley has recently joined the project team by way of spending the last ten years working in the Northwest supporting the Ksyen Regional Hospital project. Beyond hospital design, she has fulfilled a variety of nursing roles ranging from a front-line nurse in the community to being the Director of Care. She is looking forward to spending time in the Northeast exploring new places.

Deb Taylor – Finance Lead

Deb is responsible for the projects financial budgeting and reporting and will review anything with financial impacts, including scope changes. All of our financial needs and wants will be analyzed by Deb. She holds her CPA, CGA designation, and has been in the accounting field for over 20 years, with 11 years at Northern Health supporting various areas such as Home and Community Care, Program Councils, and currently, Capital Projects. Along with spending time with her family, Deb enjoys coaching and playing volleyball, and is an accomplished pianist who once participated in an award-winning piano quartet.

Emily Suchy – Senior Associate

Emily will support the team with equipment planning and contract management activities. Emily has experience working on a variety of projects, with a focus on health care and accommodation. For several years she had worked on the planning of courthouses and correctional facilities, and child care related projects. She has a background in architecture from the University of Toronto, and is excited to work on the design and construction components of the new hospital.

Bhavesh Joshi – Senior Associate

Bhavesh has over 9 years of experience in Mechanical Design and Project Management in various sectors including hospitals, affordable housing, and commercial. He will support the team with technical and construction administration related activities. Bhavesh earned his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from New York University in 2012 and in 2023, completed his MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is an avid fan of Formula 1, loves playing Cricket and wouldn't miss a chance to go on nature walks with his partner and English Cream Retriever, Mabel.

Kenny Donaldson – IMIT Lead

Kenny imigrated from Scotland in 2007 and started his career with Northern Health in 2016 in the Primary Care IT department. In 2018, he transition into Project Management, mainly as a Telehealth Project Coordinator. Kenny also coordinated the Microsoft Teams and M365 implementation, remote registration, telehealth to MS Teams deployment and much more. In his spare time, Kenny enjoys spending time with his wife, kids and grandkids. His hobbies include, fishing, hiking, snowboarding (he thinks he was a Canadian in a previous life!), and woodworking.

Project status update

Where we’re at

The Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project is continuing to progress on schedule as we work with the Design-Builder (Clark Builders-Turner-HDR Architecture) and the Ministry of Health to advance the design of the new hospital.

We have recently received, reviewed and provided feedback on the first set of design and technical submissions from the Design-Builder. These submissions include the draft design and construction schedule, the proposed project management plan, and a schematic level design.

We are also in the final steps of acquiring the land for the site of the new hospital which is located at the intersection of 12th St and 112 Ave. The City of Dawson Creek has approved the application to subdivide the land and the transfer process is now moving forward with the provincial government.

What’s next

This month, the Design-Builder is installing a Quonset hut on the southwest corner of the current hospital with mock-ups of certain areas of the new facility. In November, a select group of users will be guided through to experience certain design features. This hut will be updated with more detail as the design advances and will be in place until the design is fully complete.

By the end of fall, we also expect to have received and reviewed the financial submission from the Design-Builder.

The next set of design and technical submissions from the Design-Builder should arrive in early 2023. These will build on the previous submissions with more detailed architectural and engineering drawings which will incorporate the feedback that the project team and the users provided.

Engagement activities

User Consultation Meetings

User Consultation Meetings (UCM) are organized with small groups of users who are typically physicians and health care staff who represent their areas of expertise. UCMs help the Design-Builder understand over-arching concepts and ensure that all departments are situated correctly for the best clinical care and efficiencies.

Topics include the general footprint of the building, blocking and stacking, placement and adjacencies of departments, flow and circulation, individual room layouts, and equipment and furniture placement. The next set of UCMs are scheduled for November.

Special Topic Meetings

When more information about a specific topic is required in between UCMs, there are Special Topic Meetings (STM). These meetings allow the Design-Builder, users, and the project team to discuss specific topics in greater detail. Recent topics include mechanical and electrical systems, in-patient unit room layouts, elevator design requirements, patient travel paths, exterior cladding, and IMIT.

Capital Advisory Committee

The Capital Advisory Committee (CAC) is continuing to meet quarterly to provide input, advice, and recommendations to Northern Health on patient experiences, local and cultural considerations, consultations and communications, and First Nations engagement.

The CAC has representation from Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nations, Kelly Lake Cree Nation, the City of Dawson Creek, Peace River Regional Hospital District, First Nations Health Authority, South Peace Health Services Society, and Patient Voices Network. The CAC reports to the Steering Committee and any feedback or input gathered is taken for further review.

Community Advisory Working Group

We are continuing to build relationships with local organizations and groups in Dawson Creek and the surrounding areas. Over the coming months, we will be inviting these stakeholders to appoint representation on the Community Advisory Working Group (CAWG).

The purpose of this group is to have a forum for community input into design, local culture, practices and experience and to ensure the new facility is welcoming, respectful and relevant. The CAWG reports to the CAC and any feedback or input gathered is taken for further review.

Indigenous Advisory Working Group

Over the coming months, we will be engaging with local Indigenous communities, organizations, and groups for recommendations and advice pertaining to Indigenous cultural values. We will be forming an Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) which is a safe space for Indigenous input into design aspects of the project and considerations unique to Indigenous culture and practices.

The purpose of this group is to ensure the new facility is culturally safe, welcoming, respectful and relevant. We will be seeking representation for the IAWG from the Treaty 8 Tribal Association, Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nations, Doig River First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, Prophet River First Nation, Blueberry River First Nation, Fort Nelson First Nation, Kelly Lake Cree Nation, North East Métis Association, and more. The IAWG reports to the CAC and any feedback or input gathered is taken for further review.

For more information

Dawson Creek and District Hospital 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

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we acknowledge the history and legacy of the residential school system, honour the survivors, and remember the children who did not return home. We are committed to acknowledging the long-lasting effects of this history and educating ourselves about the impact it has had on Indigenous peoples, families, and communities.

Northern Health and the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project Team are committed to developing and implementing an engagement and communication strategy that is founded on recognition, respect, co-operation, and partnership with local Indigenous communities and partners.

The Dawson Creek and District Hospital (DCDH) serves the communities of the Peace Region, the Treaty 8 First Nations and Kelly Lake Cree Nation. We are grateful to live and work in Treaty 8 territory, on the traditional lands of those Nations represented in the Treaty 8 Tribal Association, the ancestral home of the Sicannie (Sikanni), Slavey, Beaver (Dane-Zaa), Cree, and Saulteau. We also acknowledge Métis Nation BC Citizens and Chartered Communities across the North.

The new state-of-the-art Dawson Creek and District Hospital will be designed to improve the care and healing environment for patients, promote culturally safe care and will be built with feedback gathered from local Indigenous communities, as well as stakeholders in Dawson Creek and surrounding communities.

In the early stages of the project, we formed a Capital Advisory Committee (CAC) in order to gather advice and recommendations on local and cultural considerations, patient experiences, First Nations engagement, culturally appropriate design input, and related topics. The CAC has representation from Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nations, Kelly Lake Cree Nation, the First Nations Health Authority, and Indigenous Health.

Over the coming months we will engage with local Indigenous communities, organizations, and groups for recommendations and advice pertaining to Indigenous cultural values and practices as they relate to capital projects. We will be forming an Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) which is envisioned to offer a safe space for Indigenous people’s input into design aspects of the project. The purpose of the IAWG is to ensure the new facility is culturally safe, welcoming, respectful and relevant. We will be seeking representation for the IAWG from the Treaty 8 Tribal Association, Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nations, Doig River First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, Prophet River First Nation, Blueberry River First Nation, Fort Nelson First Nation, Kelly Lake Cree Nation, North East Métis Association, Moccasin Flats Métis Society and more.

Before any construction work begins on the land of the new hospital, we will work with local Indigenous communities to honour and recognize the relationship between the traditional territory of the Treaty 8 First Nations and the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project.

As the design of the new hospital progresses, we are working closely with the preferred proponent, Clark Builders-Turner-HDR-Architecture (the Design-Builder), to ensure that the new facility is welcoming, inviting, and supportive of the spiritual health of all people and that Indigenous cultural elements are demonstrated throughout the facility. This includes:

• Incorporating features that reflect and represent local Indigenous communities
• Visual representation of Indigenous culture such as artwork, colour schemes, artefacts, landscaping and plants used for traditional healing
• A non-denominational spiritual room to accommodate and support cultural ceremonies, extended family, and multi-generational involvement in care
• Incorporating local Indigenous language, in addition to English, on select exterior and interior wayfinding signage

Note: The graphic used for this story was specially designed by Gitxsan artist Cori Johnson for Northern Health to recognize National Truth and Reconciliation/Orange shirt day. Read more about the graphic and the artist.

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.