Golata Community Space Project

Hey Golata Creek community (including folks in Clearview, Clayhurst, Goodlow and Flatrock)

April 15, 2025

We're holding a Community Meeting to discuss the exciting possibility of a new community space at 6161 Golata Creek Road. Come share your thoughts with us on Tuesday, April 30th, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Clearview Arena.

This is a chance to connect with your neighbours and help shape the future of our community. While everyone with an interest in the project is welcome to join the discussion, please be aware that any future decisions on funding through a referendum would involve residents within the designated service area who contribute through their taxes.

This meeting is the first step in understanding what's important to you, so your participation is vital as the Peace River Regional District considers the next steps.

Not sure if you're in the Golata Creek community? Drop us a line at community.services@prrd.bc.ca or give us a call at 250-784-3200 to confirm.

We hope to see you on April 30th!

Exciting News! Your Voice Matters in Visioning a Community Space in Golata Creek!

April 10, 2025

The engagement process for the Golata Creek Community Spaces is officially underway!

Have your say by filling out our online survey right here on this project page. Prefer paper? Hard copies are ready for you at the PRRD offices in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

Want a hard copy delivered to your door with a prepaid return envelope? Just email the Communications Department at communications@prrd.bc.ca.

Don't miss this chance to help shape the future of community spaces in Golata Creek! Your feedback is valuable.

For decades, the Golata Creek Community Hall has been a part of our community, first as a school (since 1958!) and later as a place to connect after the PRRD acquired it in 1986.

Unfortunately, a recent assessment in 2021 revealed some serious structural problems with the hall – so much so that fixing it would cost more than starting fresh. For safety reasons, the PRRD Board closed the hall in 2022.

Now, the Regional Board has made a key decision: it's time to explore what's next for this important community space. They've approved tearing down the old hall and, more importantly, want to hear from you about the possibilities!

We're looking at a few options:

• Building a brand-new community hall: Imagine a modern space tailored to our needs!
• Creating vibrant community recreation grounds: Think outdoor activities and green spaces for everyone.
• Maintaining the land: Even keeping it as open space is an option on the table.

Early conversations with the Golata Creek Community Association have already sparked some great ideas and questions about what our community truly needs and can support.

Building a new hall could cost around $1.5 million for a 3,100 sq ft space, and that number is likely to adjust with updated building codes.

This is your chance to shape the future of our community's gathering place! Stay tuned for opportunities to share your thoughts and help us decide what comes next for the Golata Creek area.

Safety and Operation Considerations

To build anything new at the Golata Creek site, we have to follow safety rules and building codes. The community will also need to be able to take care of the space and follow rules for public buildings, like health and fire safety. Before we can build, the PRRD board needs to approve a public vote (called a referendum), and most people in the community need to vote "yes."

How Much Might it Cost to Build?

Building costs can be very different depending on what we build. Simple outdoor structures cost the least. Buildings with kitchens and bathrooms cost much more. The price also changes based on how big it is, how it looks and what materials we use. Remember, these costs usually don't include things like permits, design work or furniture inside. Right now, we want to know if you want a new building, what you'd like it to be and if you'd support using tax money for it. We will provide more in-depth cost projections once we have narrowed this down from the community.

How Much Will it Cost to Run?

We'll need money to build the new space and to keep it running. The community will pay for things like electricity, insurance and fixing things through taxes. How much depends on what we build and if we need to borrow money for construction. Having regular tax money would also help the community group run events without worrying about basic costs.

Money We Have Now

The PRRD has saved $500,000 from local funds for a new space. But, the community needs to vote "yes" in a referendum to new taxes to use this money.

What We're Asking You

Creating a new community space and keeping it running smoothly will require funding. This could involve using the $500,000 the Peace River Regional District has saved (which needs community approval through a vote to use) and covering ongoing costs like electricity and maintenance through taxes.

To help us understand what's most important to you when it comes to these costs, we have a few questions for you:

• Are you willing to support a new community space with your tax dollars?
• Does your support for a community space depend on the type of structure that is built? For example, a community hall versus an outdoor recreational space?
• Thinking about your monthly budget, how much is your household willing to put forward for a community space?

Tell us what your priorities are about cost in our survey!

Here are some questions we expect community members may have about this project.

Why can’t we just fix the hall?

The PRRD must make sure that all public buildings are safe and meet the current BC Building Code. Fixing the old hall to these standards would mean rebuilding it completely, from the foundation up, including a new roof, foundation, heating, lighting and fire safety systems. This was estimated to cost around $1.86 million in 2022 and would likely be much higher now. Because the current building is unsafe and the cost to rebuild is very high, the Regional Board has decided to demolish it in 2025.

Why do we need to create a service area and pay more taxes?

In September 2022, the PRRD board approved setting aside $500,000 to explore options for a new community hall. However, this money can only be used if the community wants a new space and votes "yes" in a referendum to create a new service area for it. This "yes" vote would also mean a reliable source of tax money to cover the ongoing costs of running, maintaining, and eventually replacing the facility.

What will it cost me on my taxes?

It's hard to say exactly at this early stage in the project. The cost will depend on what kind of building or structure the community tells us it wants, including how big it is. Right now, we're asking the community to tell us if they want a new space, if they're willing to support it with their taxes and what their dream community space would look like.

If a new hall costs more than the $500,000 that’s been set aside, how do we pay for the rest?

If this happens, there are a few ways to cover the extra costs:

• PRRD Grants: We can apply for grants from the Peace River Regional District
• Outside Grants: We can look for grants from the federal and provincial governments
• Community Fundraising: The community can organize events and activities to raise money
• Donations: We can ask local businesses and individuals for donations
• Taxation: If the community votes in favor, we could use local taxes to help pay for it
  
  

If you don't see your question here, visit the Question Board to ask the Project Team!