MRI idea was later addition to Dawson Creek hospital plans, bosses reveal

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — One of the biggest surprises of the new campaign for funding an MRI machine in the under-construction Dawson Creek and District Hospital was that it was never included in the initial plans for the facility.

Members of Northern Health, Arc Resources and the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Foundation spoke about the arrangement on Thursday, November 20th.

That day, energy company Arc Resources announced it had put up $1.5 million towards the apparatus, which creates lucid body images with the use of large magnets and radio waves, meaning the hospital is halfway toward the $3 million needed for the project.

Northern Health vice-president of clinical operations Lisa Zetes-Zanatta said the news of the funding was “incredible.”

An MRI in the facility would mean a machine in both Dawson Creek and Fort St. John hospitals.

“The ability to have an MRI closer to people in Dawson Creek means over 1,400 people won’t have to wait or travel,” said Zetes-Zanatta. “People currently are waiting about 12 weeks for an MRI. It should cut it in half or more, because we don’t just operate MRIs eight to four. MRIs in most regions are operated 24/7.”

Meanwhile, vice-chair of Northern Health’s board of directors Shannon Anderson revealed the MRI was retrofitted into the hospital’s design due to “the persistence” of the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Foundation.

“It was never envisioned in the hospital initially,” said Anderson. “The foundation put it front and center and convinced the powers that be that, yes, we need to do this. The momentum took over, and that’s why we are here today.”

Arc Resources vice-president of field operations Sean Calder spoke about the importance of community, and how the MRI machine will assist in helping patients who live in rural settings.

“About half of our staff live in remote areas, and having access to the medical equipment in a reasonable amount of time is important,” said Calder. “We would like to give back to the communities, and there was a need for this equipment.

“This was a great opportunity for us to participate, not only to benefit our staff and people that work in the community, but also the broader community.”

Dawson Creek and District Hospital Foundation board president Brette Madden said the design wouldn’t have been able to change without the support of the community, saying it was the “deciding factor” in it all coming together.

“A community of our size wouldn’t have an MRI under the current model in B.C.,” said Madden, adding the “legwork” behind the project started back in 2022.

“They were still in the blueprint stage when we started having these conversations. They needed to amend the blueprints in order to put the specialized space inside the new build.”

Madden told Energeticcity.ca it is “fascinating” how the new build is coming along quickly. The new Dawson Creek and District Hospital is expected to be completed in the spring of 2027.

Donate to the MRI campaign at the foundation’s website.