Construction of new Dawson Creek hospital two months ahead of schedule

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Construction of the new Dawson Creek and District Hospital is now ahead of schedule, with substantial completion moved up by two months, Northern Health announced.

In an update posted to its website on February 25th, Northern Health said the project’s design-builder, Graham Design-Builders, has moved the substantial completion date from November 30th, 2026, to September 29th, 2026.

Substantial completion means the building is fully constructed, safe and functional, allowing Northern Health to formally take possession of the facility. 

With construction ahead of schedule, the hospital’s opening day is also expected to move earlier than originally planned. 

According to the health authority, more information on a revised opening date will be shared once planning work is finalized. The facility was originally targeted to be operational by early 2027.

Between substantial completion and opening day, the project will enter an “activation and transition phase”. During that period, Northern Health says staff will undergo training and orientation on new equipment, workflows and safety procedures.

Simulation and “dry-run” exercises will also be conducted, including emergency response scenarios, patient flow testing and interdepartmental coordination drills. 

Furniture, medical equipment and technology will be installed and tested, while IT systems, mechanical components and clinical processes undergo final safety checks.

In the meantime, Northern Health is still inviting Peace River region artists to submit an ‘expression of interest’ (EOI) to design a sculpture which will be installed outside the emergency department entrance. 

More information on submitting an EOI can be found at the project’s Let’s Talk page. The deadline for submitting an EOI has been extended from its original due date of March 6th to March 27th at 5 p.m.

The Dawson Creek and District Hospital replacement project dates as far back as 2013, when the project’s master plan was completed. The facility’s construction began in July 2023.