Jackfish Community Hall Next Steps

Final Planned Community Engagement Begins!

May 1, 2026

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is inviting residents to a community meeting to review the results of a recent building condition assessment and provide input on the future of the Jackfish Community Hall. The building condition assessment and resulting costs to repair the building to an operable state will be presented at an upcoming community meeting.

The meeting and an online survey will present information on and gather input about:

• The option to repair the existing hall or not to proceed with repairs
• Estimated repair costs and annual taxation impacts

Community feedback will help the Regional Board decide whether to proceed to a referendum. If approved, the community will have the final say on whether they support a new taxation service area to fund the facility’s operations.

How to Participate

Community Meeting

May 12, 2026 at 6:30pm

Chetwynd Recreation Centre, Aspen Room

Survey

Take the online survey open until May 15 at 3pm.

Paper copies of the survey are available at the community meeting, at the front desk of the Chetwynd Recreation Centre and PRRD offices in Dawson Creek (1981 Alaska Avenue) and Fort St. John (9505 100 Street).

To request a printed copy to be mailed to you, please contact the Communications Department at communications@prrd.bc.ca

Board Approval for Assessment

November 7, 2025

We are excited to share that the Peace River Regional Board approved the recommendation from the Electoral Area Directors Committee to move forward with the complete structural and building systems assessment for the Hall. Once the assessment is completed, a summary will be presented to the community at a future meeting.

The Summary will include:

• Assessment Results
• Costs
• potential taxation implications for repair and operations

Project Overview and Next Steps

October 9, 2025

We're excited to share an update on the Jackfish Community Hall project!

Community feedback from the recent meeting and public survey showed strong support for a full structural and building systems assessment of the Hall.

A report recommending that the Regional Board approve this assessment has gone to the Electoral Area Directors Committee (EADC) on October 9 and will be presented to the Regional Board on November 6.

If the assessment is approved by the Regional Board, the study will:

• Examine the Hall's current condition.
• Provide repair recommendations and cost estimates.
• Address issues such as aging infrastructure, water damage, and safety concerns.
• Explore ways to create a more functional and financially sustainable community space.

Once the study is complete, the results will be shared with the community. Your feedback will then help guide future recommendations to the Regional Board about the project’s next steps.

Community Engagement Results

Overall, 82.7% of respondents would like to see the Jackfish Community Hall repaired. A summary of the engagement results is listed below and can also be found under the documents tab.

Support for Alternative Uses

When asked whether they thought something else, such as an outdoor recreation area (picnic area, campsites, upgraded baseball diamond, or other communal space) would better suit the community:

• 31% only support a community hall for the property.
• 21% would support an alternative space.
• 48% were unsure.

Willingness to Fund Operations and Maintenance

Residents were asked about their willingness to support the operations and maintenance of the Hall with their tax dollars:

• 44.2% said they would be willing to support operations and maintenance of the hall with their tax dollars.
• 48.1% said they may be willing to support operations and maintenance, but it depends on the cost.
• 7.7% said they would not be willing to support operations and maintenance of the hall with their tax dollars.

Preferred Monthly Tax Contribution

When asked about the monthly amount residents were willing to spend through taxation for a community hall:

• 25% are willing to pay between $10 and $20.
• 21% are willing to pay between $40 and $50.
• 19% are willing to pay between $4 and $10.
• 17% are willing to pay between $20 and $30.
• 17% do not want to pay anything.

Check back soon for an update after the November 6 Regional Board meeting!

Let's Talk About the Jackfish Community Hall!

August 28, 2025

The Jackfish Community Hall has been closed for a while now, and before we make any decisions about its future, we want to hear from you!

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is hosting an online survey and community meeting to share what we've learned about the hall's condition, including the repairs needed and their estimated costs. This is your chance to tell us if you're interested in using the hall again and whether you would support a new plan to fund its future through local taxes.

Please join us and engage with the survey to share your thoughts and ideas!

When: September 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Tamarack Room, Chetwynd Recreation Centre - 4512 N Access Road

Survey: Open August 28 to September 15 @ 4:30 p.m.

• Online
• Print copies: Available at the PRRD offices in Dawson Creek (1981 Alaska Avenue) and Fort St. John (9505 100 Street)

Your voice is incredibly important in helping us decide what's next for the Jackfish Community Hall. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Jackfish Community Hall was built in 1987, with an addition added in 1991, bringing its total size to about 387 square metres.

An assessment of the building's condition in June 2021 found that many parts of the hall would soon need to be replaced or repaired. These included the main doors, siding, metal roof, water pipes, heaters, and kitchen and washroom fixtures.

Since that assessment, the hall has suffered more damage. In 2021, the heating system failed, causing pipes to freeze and burst. This led to extensive water damage and overall damage to building components. A separate inspection in 2022 found some existing hazardous materials, which has not yet been removed.

Repair Costs and Future Work

A more recent review in 2024 was conducted to figure out what it would take to repair any damage and bring the building up to modern safety and accessibility standards. In addition to the previously required repairs, the facility needs:

• two new furnaces
• new water lines
• new hot water tank
• new plumbing fixtures (sinks, basins, toilets)
• updated fire safety, accessibility, and electrical systems

Building Condition Assessment (2026)

Based on community request, a full building and systems condition assessment was completed in early 2026. Generally, the building's structure is in relatively good condition.

In order to be safely occupied/used again, it will take an estimated $352,000, which has been set aside from Area E. Repairs needed include:

• Architectural: building envelope, interior repairs, drainage improvements, mechanical room separation.
• Mechanical: full restoration of plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems, replacement of well pump, fire protection and life safety upgrades.
• Electrical: complete required code upgrades, lighting improvements, continued maintenance.
• Accessibility: replace front access (stairs, ramps, doors, handrails), washroom upgrades
• Hazardous Materials/Environmental: removal of water damaged materials, fungal and animal waste remediation, full facility cleaning and decontamination.