Dawson Creek, B.C.

Culturally Rich and Community-Oriented

Blending Beauty, Growth, and Opportunity

The city of Dawson Creek, in the heart of British Columbia’s Peace Country region, is known for its beautiful scenery, strong industries, and a small-town culture rich with arts and events.

But there is something even more special about this dynamic community. Mayor Darcy Dober shares, “The number one reason I believe that Dawson Creek is an amazing place to live is the people. People have time for you here, and it’s a real, genuine, heart-warming community and region. The people of the peace region make it what it is, truly.”

The city sits amid farmland and the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains with stunning views at every turn. “We’re in an incredible location,” continues Mayor Dober. “Within an hour, you can be in the Rocky Mountains, the lakes around Chetwynd, and the Peace River that flows through. We’re an hour from Grande Prairie, which is a major city in northern Alberta. There are all sorts of landscapes in every direction, including right in Dawson, too. It really is a beautiful part of the country.”

Uplifting the Downtown Core

Like many historic downtowns across North America, Dawson Creek’s is ready for revitalization. “Our downtown has struggled with the way things have progressed and changed in retail,” Mayor Dober acknowledges. “It’s one of our strategic priorities.”

Efforts are focused on beautification and infrastructure improvements, with the hope of attracting new investment. He details, “We’ve redone light fixtures, street lights, and traffic lights. We’ve invested in cleaning up some of the lots, planting trees and grass, and just beautifying the downtown. We’re starting to see the fruits of our labor from these initiatives.”

In addition, Dawson Creek has introduced a revitalization tax exemption program designed to encourage redevelopment and new construction. “We’re doing lots of different things and trying to really work with the downtown groups, businesses, residents, and organizations. Some exciting things are coming,” the mayor says.

A Housing Market with Potential

When it comes to housing, Dawson Creek has the advantage of affordability, with the average single-detached home priced at approximately $280,000. “Our pricing is definitely well below provincial averages,” Mayor Dober highlights. “It’s still a place where you can afford to buy a home, and we’re starting to see a lot of people move here because of that reason.”

Photo Credit: Dark Ties Media

New development is beginning to follow that interest. Through its revitalization tax exemption program, the city is already seeing new residential projects take shape. “We’ve had some developers, one specific one that’s going to be building three homes next year,” he says. “And then there’s some talk of other ones. So we’re going to start to see some growth there.”

With a strong rental market and limited vacancies, investment is also expected in that sector. “We want to continue to push that forward,” he adds. “We are very excited to see some more facilities and housing getting put up.”

Investing in Tomorrow

Dawson Creek is making investments in its infrastructure to ensure its systems are aligned with future growth. A recent study identified the need for upgrades to the city’s sewer system, which has prompted a multi-phase project. Mayor Dober recounts, “Last year, we did phase one of that, which was a $9 million investment replacing and upgrading a huge section of the main part of our sewer main.”

The city is also updating roadways and public spaces. “We invested $40 million over the last four years into paving the community to put us in a better position moving forward”, Mayor Dober says. “That includes our trail system, our sidewalks, our street lighting, and paving. On any streets that we’re redoing, we have put a policy in place that everything has to be done, including water and sewer infrastructure, and street lighting.

The goal is to maximize efficiency while preparing for long-term growth. “We’ve invested significantly in trying to make sure we can get really ahead of the game with our infrastructure, and with our assets too,” he details. “We have a very solid asset management plan. We have some reserves put away. We are in a good spot with a solid foundation to work from, and we are heading in the right direction.”

Photo Credit: Dark Ties Media

A Diverse Economic Base

Agriculture remains a central part of Dawson Creek’s economy, but energy, forestry, tourism, and manufacturing are all contributors. “We have a little bit of everything,” Mayor Dober relays. Louisiana-Pacific, a manufacturer and distributor of wood products, has had a strong presence in the community for decades. “They continue to invest and diversify what they produce. And the product that they have now is world-leading,” he says.

Expansion is also happening in the city’s industrial park, where oil and gas service company Denali is currently constructing a new facility. “They are right in the middle of building that, and it’s a big investment into the community,” Mayor Dober outlines. “They’re an industry-based company. There’s a lot of industry support-based companies here.”

In addition, regional enterprises continue to grow and reinvest locally. Mayor Dober points to the example of HF Nodes Construction, a family-run business that was established in the 1950s. “They have given so much back to this region,” he asserts. “They just moved to the outskirts of our community and have a beautiful building, and they’re building another one. It’s nice to see. There are so many family and industry organizations that contribute to that here.”

To encourage continued investment, Dawson Creek introduced a revitalization tax exemption program in 2025, offering significant property tax reductions for new developments and major improvements. “Both residential and commercial upgrades or builds where total construction costs surpass $75,000 are eligible for a municipal tax exemption. Residential projects could receive a 5-year tax exemption, and all other building classes, including commercial, could receive a 10-year tax exemption upon approval,” Mayor Dober explains.

The city hopes the program will encourage future investment in Dawson Creek. “We want to see where it goes,” he notes. “It has incentivized a few companies. We are really optimistic about the housing. There is one developer that is doing three houses, and we think once this gets out, it might help bring in other builders as well.”

A Community Built on Connection

Even with its economic strengths, Mayor Dober believes Dawson Creek’s strongest asset remains its sense of community. “For me, it’s the people and how community-driven it is here,” he reflects. “We have some unbelievable community-led organizations that really contribute to what Dawson Creek is.” He notes that entities like the Dawson Creek & District Chamber of Commerce, local volunteers, and community groups regularly collaborate to create events and initiatives that bring the city together.

One of the most anticipated annual gatherings is the Dawson Creek Exhibition and Rodeo, put on by the Dawson Creek Exhibition Association. This week-long event includes a rodeo and a well-attended parade organized by the local Rotary Club. “Close to 100,000 people attend the events all week long,” Mayor Dober expands. “Last year was the biggest parade that they’ve ever had. That brings all community organizations, businesses, and residents together.”

The city also has a unique connection with Hockey Canada, which regularly brings major international competitions to the community. “We just hosted the Para Cup here in December, which was awarded International Sport Event of the Year by Sport Tourism Canada,” Mayor Dober says. “We had teams from Canada, China, Czechia, and the United States here, and this event was the highest attended in the history of the Para Cup.”

Photo Credit: Lexa Bergen

Other popular events include car shows, outdoor expos, and arts and entertainment programming hosted by local venues such as the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Kiwanis Performing Arts Center, and the Ovintiv Events Centre. “For the size of our community, we have some phenomenal amenities,” Mayor Dober underscores. “Whether it’s our pool, our arts facilities, our arenas, our outdoor pickleball courts, our tennis courts, our basketball courts, or our sports floor facility—there are just so many amenities. With that comes a lot of different events.”

Looking Toward the Future

As Dawson Creek moves ahead, efforts remain focused on the priorities that will strengthen the community’s long-term vision. When it comes to specific objectives, Mayor Dober says, “We’ve had some years of prolonged drought, so we’re pushing forward with a new permanent water solution to support community growth. Our infrastructure and asset management will continue to be a priority for us. Our parks, trails, and recreational facilities, our vibrant downtown, those are all strategic priorities and ones we will continue to push forward, as well as tourism, and building and strengthening relationships.”

For a city of just 13,000 residents, Dawson Creek is a perfect example of what can happen when you combine a strong community with meaningful collaboration and forward-thinking leadership. “It’s really about how we utilize our resources the best way we can, to make our city the best it can be,” Mayor Dober confirms. “A big thing for us is reinvesting in our community. It’s community tax dollars, and we’re going to invest that into our facilities and into our infrastructure to protect Dawson Creek for the long term.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Dawson Creek, B.C.

What: A small city investing in infrastructure, downtown revitalization, and growth.

Where: Peace Region, British Columbia

Website: www.dawsoncreek.ca