Dawson Creek, BC is set to get a new state-of-the-art hospital early in 2027, with construction now expected to wrap up this fall, two months earlier than planned. The $590 million Dawson Creek & District Hospital replacement has reached 92 percent completion as of April 2026, and the builder has moved the substantial completion date from November 30, 2026 to September 29, 2026.
The new 263,000-square-foot facility will be over 50 percent larger than the current 1960s-era hospital. It will have 70 beds, up from the current 46, all in single rooms with private washrooms. The emergency department doubles in size, going from 10 to 15 treatment spaces, and mental health beds increase from 15 to 18. The project website details how the hospital is being built on a greenfield site adjacent to the existing one, which will stay open during construction before being demolished.
The cost is shared by the BC government through Northern Health and the Peace River Regional Hospital District, which is contributing up to $177 million. Specialized hospital relocation firm Health Care Relocations has been hired to plan the move of patients from the old building to the new one.
The hospital site lies in Treaty 8 territory and will serve multiple First Nations communities, including Blueberry River, Doig River, Fort Nelson, Halfway River, Kelly Lake Communities, Prophet River, Saulteau, and West Moberly First Nations, as well as Metis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous populations. An Indigenous Advisory Working Group helped shape the design, which includes a spiritual room for ceremonies like smudging and Indigenous language on signage.
Meanwhile, the Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation is closing in on its $3 million goal for the region’s first publicly funded MRI machine. Thanks to a $1.5 million lead gift from ARC Resources Ltd., the campaign hit 91 percent as of May 2026. The new hospital is also targeting LEED Gold certification for sustainability, with construction led by Graham Design Builders LP and design by HDR. For ongoing updates and community input opportunities, see the Northern Health engagement page.
