Kyle MacDonald, a local business owner and city councillor in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, says his company is consistently short 40 to 45 employees. This staffing gap reflects a broader trend in the community where businesses are struggling to find enough people to fill open positions.
According to Kyle MacDonald, who is a first-term councillor, the lack of workers is a persistent challenge. He noted that many younger workers have potentially moved to other areas, leaving a limited pool of people for local businesses to hire.
The hiring difficulties in Dawson Creek have also affected essential public services. The Dawson Creek and District Hospital was forced to close its maternity ward for 19 hours between March 4 and March 5, 2026, because there were not enough staff members available to keep it open.
Mayor Darcy Dober has also been dealing with other community pressures, including a recent water supply emergency. While the state of local emergency for the water crisis was recently lifted, restrictions on water use remain in place for residents as the city manages its infrastructure.
Residents also saw other service interruptions this month, including planned power outages on March 10 and 11. These outages affected 132 BC Hydro customers in the region while crews handled necessary maintenance and pole replacements.
