Fort St. John’s specialized community services centre to reopen in mid-July

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The $5.1 million renovation of a specialized community services centre in Fort St. John is expected to be completed in mid-July. 

In a statement provided to Energeticcity.ca on June 8th, Northern Health said the Fort St. John specialized community service has been closed since 2024 for renovations to ensure it is suitable for its intended long-term use. 

Construction began in January 2025, with June 2025 targeted as the original reopening date. 

The reopening date was later pushed back due to “multiple construction and logistical delays,” according to Northern Health. 

The overdose prevention site and warming centre opened in December 2023 at 10067 100th Avenue, following Northern Health’s announcement of a new location in December 2022. 

In November 2025, the site was the subject of community discussion after a petition opposing its proximity to a daycare was launched. 

Katie MacDonald, a resident of Fort St. John, launched the petition, which acknowledged the need for safe drug consumption locations, but called the decision to open an overdose prevention site near Wiggles and Giggles daycare “irresponsible and concerning.” 

One supporter of the petition called the decision “ludicrous.”

“No sensible person thinks this is a good idea. Stop this from happening in our community,” said another. 

As of June 9th, 2026, the petition has reached 1,052 signatures. 

In an interview with Energeticcity.ca, Wiggles and Giggles general manager Laura Barber called the opening of the site near the daycare “deeply concerning.”

In a November 2025 statement to Energeticcity.ca, Northern Health said it conducted “a significant amount of engagement” around the site, which included a community advisory committee in April 2023. 

“Northern Health runs its OPS in a safe and respectful way for clients, staff, area businesses and the community,” it said. 

Once it reopens, the centre will offer overdose prevention services (OPS) and opioid agonist therapy, as well as adult day treatment.

It will also offer wraparound services to support withdrawal management, provide referrals for treatment and connect individuals to care. 

Services at the centre will be available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 10067 100th Avenue. 

“The centre will be the first OPS site in the Northern Health region, and among the first in B.C. to offer an indoor inhalation space,” Northern Health said.

“The design features negative-pressure rooms with specialized ventilation systems designed to clear the air rapidly, within 30-60 seconds, to protect staff and other clients from second-hand smoke exposure,” the statement read.

According to Northern Health, the indoor inhalation space will allow all OPS-related activities to take place within the centre. 

The British Columbia Coroners Service’s (BCCS) March 2026 drug toxicity report showed northeast BC recorded 34.7 unregulated drug deaths per 100,000 people, the fifth highest rate in the province.

As of March 2026, smoking was the most common mode of consumption among unregulated drug deaths in Northern Health, with 82 per cent. 

Northern Health also reported 65 per cent of unregulated drug death’s involved the detection of Fentanyl. 

The Peace River North Local Health Area lost 13 people due to unregulated drug deaths in 2025, according to Northern Health.