Residents across the Peace River region, including those in Dawson Creek, can help decide what actions should be taken to better protect communities from natural hazards during a series of public events this August. The Peace River Regional District (PRRD), working with municipal partners like the City of Dawson Creek, is holding the second round of engagement for its first-ever Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Analysis, or HRVA.
The process is meant to identify the biggest threats facing the region, such as wildfires, flooding, windstorms, landslides, and utility outages, and then find ways to reduce those risks. This round follows up on feedback gathered in May, when locals shared personal experiences with hazards. Now the team wants residents to look at what was heard and help rank what should be done first.
Nine community events are scheduled between August 11 and 23. In this area, people can drop by the Pouce Coupe event on August 13, the Dawson Creek Farmers’ Market on August 15, or travel a little farther to gatherings in Tomslake on August 22 or the Sunset Prairie/Kiskatinaw Fall Fair on August 23. An online survey is also open from July 27 to August 27 at 3 p.m. MST, and paper copies can be picked up at the PRRD offices in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
The push for a region-wide hazard plan comes as communities have faced repeated emergencies. Just this past April, Old Fort near Fort St. John saw its third major landslide in a decade, destroying the only road into the hamlet of about 150 people. The region has also dealt with serious flooding, including a 2016 storm that hit Chetwynd with up to 130 millimetres of rain and Dawson Creek with about 105 millimetres. PRRD Board Chair Brad Sperling, who represents the Old Fort area, said local knowledge is key. “The people who live in our region bring valuable local knowledge about the challenges their communities face,” he noted. “By sharing their ideas on how to reduce identified risks, residents can play a direct role in helping us build stronger, more resilient communities and better prepare for future emergencies.”
Rural electoral areas like B, C, D, and E rely heavily on the PRRD for emergency planning because municipalities handle their own plans. The HRVA is required under BC’s new Emergency and Disaster Management Act, and new rules under that law kick in January 2027. A final public report with specific risk reduction actions is expected in summer 2027.
