Access to proper care continues to be a challenge for Fort St. John seniors, as more turn to The Salvation Army shelter and food bank for support.
Executive Director Jason King says more than 50 per cent of those accessing the shelter would be considered seniors.
“That reflects the growing pressure many older adults in our community are facing related to housing availability, affordability, health challenges and limited support options,” King said.
Jordan Kealy, Independent MLA for Peace River North, says The Salvation Army shelter is not a safe environment for seniors, adding B.C.’s health system is failing in critical ways.
“This should never happen to citizens who have been paying taxes their whole lives,” Kealy said. “They’ve been committed to propping the government up, and it should be committed to them.”
In February, the NDP government tabled a budget in which the Peace Villa long-term care expansion project was delayed indefinitely. The expansion was one of seven similar projects delayed, mainly due to fiscal pressures and rising construction costs.
Now, some contracts related to the expansion have been cancelled by Northern Health.
Margaret Little, president of Save Our Northern Seniors, says northern B.C. is in “desperate need” of long-term care facilities.
“At any time, a senior can fall or become ill, wind up in the hospital and end up on the waiting list because there is no room,” she said.
Little says some single rooms at Peace Villa now have two residents, adding this is not what was promised to seniors.
“Peace Villa was to be their own special home, and having to share is not acceptable,” she said.
No timeline or additional support was provided to Fort St. John residents by the provincial government when the expansion was delayed.
King encourages individuals in need to reach out early for assistance, as community supports are available across the city.
“For seniors who are finding themselves in difficult situations, I want them to know they are valued and they are not alone,” King said.
However, King says the issue extends beyond Fort St. John, pointing to other communities also seeing increases in senior visits.
“Long-term solutions will require ongoing collaboration between all levels of government, healthcare and housing providers, and community organizations to ensure seniors have access to safe housing, appropriate care and the support they need to age with dignity,” King said.
In March, Fort St. John city council sent a letter to the province requesting clear next steps and additional support for seniors after learning the expansion had been delayed.
A response from Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma did not satisfy everyone affected.
Peace Villa is currently operating at full capacity, with more than 70 people, including seniors now in Fort St. John Hospital waiting for placement.
Those patients remain in hospital while they await long-term care beds, contributing to higher-than-usual patient volumes.
The expansion would add 84 private rooms and a 30-space adult day program.
Construction had been scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with the expanded facility expected to open by the end of 2030.