Major power pole replacement for Fort St. James, Vanderhoof
Published 10:00 am Monday, June 8, 2026
By Taylor Hansen
BC Hydro working in Fort St. James on June 6. (Taylor Hansen)
On Sunday, June 6, Fort St. James and Vanderhoof underwent planned power outages to facilitate a major power pole replacement across the region. Poles were replaced in multiple areas, including on the Yellowhead Highway just before the Vanderhoof scales, Highway 27 & Braeside Road, and several key locations in Fort St. James, such as the area just past the “Welcome to Fort St. James” sign, before the Stuart River Bridge, and the major intersection known locally as 5-ways.
Originally estimated to last from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the power outage extended an hour longer than anticipated, with electricity restored by 8 p.m. The scale of the operation, which stretched from Vanderhoof to Tachie, was significant. In Fort St. James, 2,732 households were affected, while in Vanderhoof, 1,100 households experienced the disruption.
Advance notice from BC Hydro allowed businesses in Fort St. James to plan accordingly and remain open, providing essential services to residents affected by the outage. Stores such as Save-On, Petro Canada, Suspenders, and Sana’aih Market continued to serve the community, despite the 13-hour disruption. Additionally, Anja’s Meal and Motels offered breakfast and lunch, while The Golden Claw Lounge and Bistro managed to keep their kitchen operational for take-out orders, alleviating the burden on those unable to cook during the day.
