In May 2024, the City of Dawson Creek announced the intention to purchase the Eljen Medical Clinic.
The purchase of the clinic was intended to support healthcare within the community.
In March 2023, the City of Dawson Creek received a grant of $3,942,000 from the Province of BC through the Growing Communities Fund. The total has since grown to $4,107,264 due to interest accrued. The fund is meant to support the delivery of infrastructure projects that are necessary to enable community growth.
Council approved the use of a portion of the fund to purchase the Eljen Medical Clinic.
“When it was brought to our attention that the clinic would be for sale and that the purchase of it would help secure a spot for healthcare professionals to continue working there, Council and I knew this would be a good use of the Growing Communities Fund”, said Mayor Darcy Dober.
Although the City of Dawson Creek is not directly involved in healthcare, there is a part that the City can play in the promotion of Dawson Creek and assisting in the recruitment and welcoming of professionals to our community. While the City will own the medical clinic, City Staff will not operate it. The city is presently working towards securing a lease with healthcare professionals that will offset the operational costs of owning the clinic.
While the purchase of the clinic may not solve the physician shortage that Dawson Creek is facing, it is a step in the right direction. It secures the clinic and ensures it will continue to be used by physicians for community healthcare.