Contractor Apple Electric got the green light to continue with construction of the new Queen Charlotte fire hall on April 15, 2020, following safe work procedures to lay electrical conduit at the site, which is located at 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Contractor Apple Electric got the green light to continue with construction of the new Queen Charlotte fire hall on April 15, 2020, following safe work procedures to lay electrical conduit at the site, which is located at 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Village of Queen Charlotte moves forward with construction of new fire hall

Contractor Apple Electric installed electrical conduit on April 15 at the construction site

  • Apr. 17, 2020 12:00 a.m.

The Village of Queen Charlotte carried on with construction of the new fire hall on Wednesday, with the contractor installing electrical conduit at the site.

The Observer reported on April 3 that construction of the new hall, located at 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue, had been delayed due to COVID-19, but the village announced its decision to proceed on April 15 with safe work procedures in place.

Following the advice of the BC Centre for Disease Control, the village ensured a hand-washing station was provided on site for the workers from Apple Electric, who practised physical distancing.

“The contractor has been on-island for over two months and is leaving this Thursday,” the village notice about the construction said.

“By getting the conduit installed now, we will be in a position to hire locals to complete some of the next parts of the project without bringing new people on island.”

Chief Administrative Officer Lori Wiedeman told the Observer the village was still working with Lower Mainland-based Liberty Contract Management to determine if construction can continue beyond installing the electrical with local people involved, but they “haven’t fleshed out the details.”

ALSO READ: New rules issued for B.C. construction projects, work camps for COVID-19

Before the pandemic hit, the village was hoping to have the new hall open in September 2020. Wiedeman said a revised timeline for completion was not yet available at the time of publication.

Construction was designated an essential service by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on March 26, as part of a list of activities ordered to continue by Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth.

Do you have something to add to this story or something else we should report on? Email:karissa.gall@blackpress.ca.


Like us on

” target=”_blank”>Twitter.

Haida Gwaii Observer