The $590 million Dawson Creek and District Hospital replacement project has reached a major milestone as workers shift from enclosing the structure to completing interior fit‑outs. Northern Health’s year‑end labour and construction report (as of December 31, 2025) says the project remains on track to open in spring 2027 and notes the building exterior is now fully enclosed so crews can focus on installing specialized medical systems and commissioning work.
The new 24,500‑square‑metre (about 263,000‑square‑foot) facility is being built by Graham Design Builders LP on the northwest corner of the Northern Lights College campus. It will include 70 single‑bed rooms — a net increase of 24 beds over the existing hospital, which was built in 1960. The replacement will also provide a larger emergency department (treatment spaces rising from 10 to 15), and new chemotherapy and perinatal (maternity) units among other expanded services.
Funding for the build is shared between the Province of British Columbia and local taxpayers through the Peace River Regional Hospital District; the province is providing the majority of funding while the PRRHD will contribute up to $177 million toward the approximately $590 million budget. Local reporting and Northern Health updates note that heavy site equipment such as the tower cranes has been removed as interior work ramps up. The project has emphasized hiring local contractors and collaborating with Northern Lights College to provide hands‑on training and employment opportunities for trades students.
The December 31, 2025 report also says the program is moving into Operational Readiness. Northern Health has engaged Angus Connect to provide operational‑readiness advisory services and work with clinical teams on transition planning so staff are prepared when the new facility opens. This shift — from major exterior construction to commissioning, clinical mock‑ups and staff training — marks the beginning of the final steps to make the building ready for patients in spring 2027.
