BC Hydro names Site C dam after John Horgan

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Site C hydroelectric dam has been formally named the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station by BC Hydro and the provincial government.

According to a May 21st press release, the Province of B.C. and BC Hydro have officially named the utility’s Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River near Fort St. John after former premier John Horgan.

Horgan served as the premier of British Columbia from 2017 to 2022, and was a critic of the project during his time as a member of the legislative assembly, donating $100 to the “Stakes in the Peace” fundraiser organized by the Peace Valley Environmental Association in 2016. Stakes in the Peace gathered more than $70,000 to pay the legal costs of fighting the Site C dam.

The Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions stated in the May 21st release the official name honors Horgan and “recognizes his leadership and commitment” to the people of B.C.

“We’re proud to name the Site C dam and generating station in honour of former premier John Horgan,” Premier David Eby said. “John’s leadership and his decision to complete Site C through tough challenges helped secure B.C.’s clean-energy future.”

The minister of energy and climate solutions, Adrian Dix, noted Horgan approached Site C with “a strong sense of responsibility.”

“As electricity demand continues to grow, his decision to move forward with Site C has proven critical to securing reliable, clean power for the future, and it reflects his strong belief in stewardship, public service and making tough decisions in the public interest,” Dix said.

The official naming brings an end to over a decade of construction and the “beginning of a new chapter in clean-energy production,” the release stated.

Construction on Site C began in 2015, with work continuing into 2024, when in October the first generating station was brought online. The reservoir was filled in November of 2024, and the dam became fully operational in August of 2025, after the sixth generating unit was enabled.

The dam’s workers’ camp in the area was repurposed for the North Coast Transmission Line project in March 2026, after local organizations and the Peace River Regional District raised concerns about the $470 million camp being demolished.

The reservoir will be named  Nááchę mege, meaning Dramer Lake, with the province stating the name was chosen with local First Nations to “reflect the deep history, language and cultural connections Indigenous Peoples have to the region and the Peace River.”

“In our culture, Dreamers hold a place of the highest respect and play a vital role as cultural leaders and knowledge holders,” Chief Sherry Dominic of Blueberry River First Nations said.

“Our members continue to carry their teachings and songs forward to this day. The name Nááchę mege reflects our history and our enduring connection to this land. It honours the cultural legacy of our people and ensures it will be recognized for generations to come.”

According to the province, the hydroelectric dam provides enough electricity for 500,000 homes a year, and increases BC Hydro’s total electricity supply by 8 per cent. The dam is expected to provide power to the province for the next 100 years.