Two rural community halls approved for demolition

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  Two rural community halls in the Peace River region are meeting their end as part of redevelopment plans next year. 

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) made several decisions about the future of two rural community halls during its August 14th board of directors meeting. 

Following a unanimous decision, the Golata Creek and Osborn community halls were approved for demolition by the end of the year.

The PRRD has been considering the future of the Golata Creek Community Hall for years, with community feedback gathered in April 2025, three years after the hall was closed indefinitely in 2022. 

According to the PRRD, the community hall in Osborn was similarly closed in 2019 after structural issues were found to be “cost-prohibitive” to repair. 

In a May 2025 meeting, the board reviewed two concept designs for the property the Golata Creek hall sits on that came from community engagement sessions.

The demolition for the two halls is expected to cost $183,860, excluding taxes, and has been awarded to Northern Legendary Construction. 

The PRRD did not indicate when the work would be conducted, only that the company estimated it would take 60 days to complete and it would be finished “in the fall of 2025.” 

Community meetings were held in the Golata Creek and Osborn communities by the PRRD prior to approving the demolition, and discussions around plans for redevelopment are scheduled to continue into 2026. 

Following the approval of the demolition, the board also voted to request two concept designs with cost estimates to be produced to redevelop the land where the Osborn Community Hall sits, in alignment with community engagement that began in the community in January 2025. 

According to a survey completed in a July 2025 community meeting, residents indicated they had no concerns about building a new structure on the property, with a strong preference for an outdoor recreation space with picnic areas, fire pits, a sport court, playground and outhouse. 

Of those who completed the survey, only approximately 13 per cent wanted a new community hall to be built.