Peace River organizations receives part of $5 million from province

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — More than $5 million in provincial funding will be received in northern B.C. communities.

Among those are several within the Peace Region, according to a press release by the provincial government on Wednesday, October 22nd. 

Organizations including the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living (DCSCL) and Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL)  will get funds designed to “improve access to housing, health care, emergency services, child care and community programs,” through its’ Northern Healthy Communities Fund (NHCF).

The NCHF is administered through the non-profit corporation Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT).

FSJACL will receive $500,000 for its project, an accessible community centre at its old offices at 10251 100th Avenue, something executive director Jordan Soggie deemed “exciting” speaking to Energeticcity.ca 

“We have been doing a capital campaign for the last year for this project to convert our old office into an inclusive community centre,” said Soggie. “We are well funded for completing this project, and it’s looking like we’ll be ready to open it in the new year.”

The FSJACL, which focuses on providing an inclusive environment for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and complex needs to achieve full and meaningful lives within the community, has raised an additional $500,000 toward the centre’s construction, including its Of the Vine event last weekend which raised $150,000.

The centre will include a cafe where individuals with disabilities can be employed, counselling and sensory rooms and will be completed in 2026.

Meanwhile, the DCSCL will receive $500,000 toward an aging care home project; and Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) will receive $410,093 toward fire apparatus, including a wildland fire truck and utility terrain vehicles.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) will also receive $500,000 toward a future emergency operations centre.

DCSCL executive director Marla Reed said the care home in her community will “meet an important need.”

“Our aging care home will offer adults with developmental disabilities a safe, nurturing environment where dignity, independence, and joy are prioritized,” said Reed in the release.

The NCHF has supported 130 projects, according to the release since its founding in 2021, with those projects totalling more than $25 million.

More details about the NCHF is available through the NDIT’s website.