2012 – Since its inception, agriculture has been an economic mainstay for Dawson Creek and the surrounding area. In 2004, the old Dawson Creek Livestock Auction Facility, which started operating in 1957 and serviced the whole northeast region of British Columbia, was destroyed by fire. During the four years that the facility was not available, Northeast ranchers were forced to ship their cattle to Alberta for the nearest sales yard. This caused additional cost for transportation, more stress, and more ‘shrink’ on their animals.
In August 2007, the Dawson Creek Exhibition Association purchased the four acres with the remaining sales pens, feed pens, and check in station. In September 2007, a major Alberta Auction Company, Vold Jones Vold based out of Ponoka leased was recruited and auctions began to be held again in a temporary barn that was a less than ideal venue.
In 2009, the Dawson Creek Exhibition Association undertook rebuilding the facility with funding support from the Government of Canada’s Community Adjustment Fund delivered by Northern Development Initiative Trust. The project allowed operations to move from the temporary barn to a full production, purpose built auction facility. The new facility was constructed in three phases including a livestock sales pavilion with offices, concession, bathrooms, bleachers, ring, and livestock scale.
In 2010, Vold Jones Vold leased the new facility and began operating auction sales.
