Heritage

The Alaska Highway House was developed as a fully interactive history site in downtown Dawson Creek, BC. In 2021, the site was closed and the artifacts and historical information was moved to a site within the Walter Wright Pioneer Village.

The Dawson Creek Art Gallery is located in an old grain elevator annex in N.A.R. Park, just east of the Museum. The elevator and annex were built before the railway arrived and were moved to their current location in 1982. The elevator is used by the Gallery as a workshop, but it is not used enough and could be turned into an important place to share the area's history. There are also two small offices on the site—one for the Gallery and one for the Peace Country Roots Group. The Art Gallery is a popular and well-run facility, operated by the South Peace Art Society. Because of its success, the Gallery now needs more space. The Society has a lease and service agreement with the City of Dawson Creek, which is explained earlier in the report.

The Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre has been a pillar of performing arts and events in our community since 1986.  Previously located in an old school in the northern section of the city, KPAC moved downtown to the old Federal Building, known to many as the old post office.

Known for their dance and music programs, the centre also provides rental space, childcare, various group/guild opportunities, the South Peace Historical Society Archives, private visual art space, a full-service Vietnamese Cafe and much more.

Read more about the buildings heritage status on historicplaces.ca. Visit the KPAC website at kpacdc.ca.

The old Northern Alberta Railways station, built in 1931 and expanded over time, was given to the South Peace Historical Society in 1978. In 1983, the Historical Society opened a museum inside the building. The museum shows the history of both the people and nature in the South Peace area, as well as the history of the train station itself. The upstairs part of the station is set up like it was back in the past, with furniture from that time. The museum also hosts the Tourism Dawson Creek Visitor Information Centre.

In 1982, the station was made a heritage site. The 4-acre area, called N.A.R. Park, is owned by the City of Dawson Creek. 

The Archives of the South Peace Historical Society were previously housed in a small city-owned building. In 2015, the new Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts building was completed, which included a new space to house the archives. Still run by volunteers, the archives can now be found in the basement of the arts centre. 

Unchagah Hall, located in Dawson Creek's local high school, is a 630-seat performing arts theatre. The auditorium is a popular venue for a variety of performances, including musical, dance, and drama presentations. Local artists often showcase their talent, and the hall also hosts touring performers from other areas.

With its large seating capacity and excellent acoustics, Unchagah Hall is an important cultural space for the community. It serves as a hub for arts education and provides students with opportunities to perform, while also bringing the community together to enjoy a wide range of artistic events. The theatre plays a key role in supporting the arts scene in Dawson Creek, offering a space for both professional productions and local talent to shine.

Walter Wright Pioneer Village is a collection of old buildings from the South Peace area, arranged to look like a small village along a main street, with some newer buildings included. Inside the buildings are artifacts from the past, and large items like vehicles and farm machinery. The village was started by Walter Wright, who collected many of the buildings and items. In 1969, the buildings were set up on land near the present Multiplex and opened in 1976 as South Peace Pioneer Village. It was renamed in 1981 to honor Walter Wright.

The village was moved to its current location at the junction of the Alaska and Hart Highways in the early 1990s to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Highway. The village is now part of Mile 0 Park, which includes an RV Park and a recreation park. 

The South Peace Historical Society owns the historic buildings in the village, while the City of Dawson Creek owns the newer ones. The Historical Society leases its buildings to the Mile 0 Park Society, which takes care of the buildings and the park.