Fort St. John donates $910,000 to community foundation as part of Site C legacy fund

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The North Peace Community Foundation (NPCF) has received a donation from the City of Fort St. John as part of the BC Hydro Site C Legacy Fund.  

According to a press release from the NPCF on June 18th, the city donated $910,000 to the foundation, which marks the second payment from the funds.

2026 also marks the 5th anniversary of NPCF, which said its mission is to “inspire community-driven philanthropy and steward enduring legacies that strengthen the North Peace Region.” 

In 2013, BC Hydro announced an agreement for “regional legacy benefits” associated with the Site C Clean Energy Project, now known as the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station. 

The agreement said BC Hydro would pay $2.4 million per year to the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and its communities for 70 years once the site was operational. 

The NPCF was developed in 2021 with the City of Fort St. John’s vision to create an organization to manage the legacy fund and provide residents with an “endowment vehicle” to support the important work of non-profits, the release said.  

Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen said the donation will help ensure the NPCF continues supporting local priorities in the coming years.

“The city helped establish the foundation to create a lasting source of funding for community initiatives,” Hansen said.

“This contribution strengthens that vision by turning today’s opportunity into [a] long-term community benefit,” she continued. 

Tracey Wolsey, the Chair of NPCF’s Board of Directors, said the “milestone” demonstrates cities’ shared vision in creating a permanent source of “community-driven philanthropy. 

“These funds endowed will provide annual grants for the community in support of local non-profits which play an essential role in our community,” said Wolsey. 

In December 2025, the foundation announced it would award its first “strong roots community endowment grants” totalling $115,600 to recipients. 

NPCF said it currently holds six endowment funds, including the NPCF Operations Fund, the City of Fort St. John’s Legacy Fund and the Petronas Sustainability Fund. 

The NPCF also controls the North Peace Savings’ Community Legacy Fund. The foundation said the fund will issue $1 million in grants over 20 years to non-profits in the North Peace and Northern Rockies. 

To view a full list of funds, visit the NPCF website.