(UPDATE) Chetwynd emergency department closed for 17th time this year

Updated, September 2nd, 10:40 a.m.: This post has been updated to reflect the ending of the closure at 10:30 a.m.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Chetwynd emergency department has experienced its first closure of the month.

In a 9:25 a.m. Facebook post on September 2nd, Northern Health announced an “unexpected emergency department service interruption” at the Chetwynd General Hospital. 

No reason was given as to why the closure has occurred, only that the department was expected to reopen at 1 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., Northern Health announced services had resumed at the emergency department.

During an emergency room closure, residents in need of emergency medical care in the area are encouraged to call 911 for transportation to the nearest open and available medical facility.

Anyone in need of non-urgent medical care is advised to connect with their primary care provider or the Northern Health Virtual Clinic, if they do not have a primary care provider, by calling (844) 645 7811. 

This is the first closure of a Northern Health-operated emergency department in September, and is the 17th closure the District of Chetwynd has experienced so far in 2025.