B.C. Honours Late Premier with Historic Dam Naming
British Columbia has given one of Canada's largest infrastructure projects a new name — and a lasting tribute to the politician who saw it through.
The province announced Thursday that the Site C dam on the Peace River, located near Fort St. John in northeastern B.C., will officially be known as the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station. The naming honours the late NDP premier who died in November 2023 after a battle with throat cancer.
A Legacy Written in Concrete
John Horgan inherited the Site C project when his government came to power in 2017, facing a decision that would define his tenure: push forward with a dam already billions over budget and mired in controversy, or pull the plug and absorb massive sunk costs.
He chose to build.
That decision drew fierce criticism from First Nations groups, environmentalists, and opposition politicians who argued the project was unnecessary and ecologically damaging. But Horgan defended it as essential infrastructure for B.C.'s clean energy future, particularly as the province pushed toward electrification of transportation and industry.
The dam, which sits on the Peace River near Fort St. John, is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Canadian history. At peak construction, it employed thousands of workers and represented a generational bet on B.C.'s energy needs.
A Controversial Legacy
Naming the dam after Horgan won't be without its critics. Several First Nations communities — including the West Moberly First Nations and Prophet River First Nation — fought the project in court for years, arguing it violated their treaty rights and would flood lands of deep cultural significance.
The Site C dam has long been a flashpoint in the broader national conversation about reconciliation and resource development on Indigenous territories. That tension doesn't disappear with a naming ceremony.
Still, the B.C. government's decision reflects a view that Horgan's willingness to make a politically difficult call — and to see it through — deserves recognition. Former premiers are rarely honoured with infrastructure named in their lifetime, let alone so soon after their passing.
What the Dam Actually Does
The John Horgan Dam and Generating Station will add 1,100 megawatts of electricity to B.C.'s grid once fully operational — enough to power roughly 450,000 homes. The reservoir behind the dam stretches over 80 kilometres.
For Canadians watching from outside B.C., the project represents a familiar tension: the push to build clean energy infrastructure at scale, weighed against environmental impact and Indigenous rights. It's a debate playing out in provinces from Quebec to Manitoba, and one that will only intensify as Canada races to decarbonize its economy.
A Name That Will Outlast the Politics
Love him or loathe him, John Horgan left a mark on British Columbia that will be difficult to ignore for generations. The dam bearing his name will generate power long after the controversies surrounding it have faded from the news cycle.
The provincial government says the naming is a fitting tribute to a premier who made one of the most consequential infrastructure decisions in recent B.C. history.
Source: CBC News. Read the original story at cbc.ca.
