The Site C dam in northwestern British Columbia has been officially named after the late British Columbia premier John Horgan.
The province said the hydroelectric project just southwest of Fort St. John will be known as the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station.
The name was announced at an event at the B.C. legislature Thursday, attended by Horgan’s family members and former colleagues.
Premier David Eby acknowledged Horgan was not in favour of the Site C project. He said the decision to name the dam after him was “nuanced.”
“It is a desire to reflect the complexity and the challenge of governing that John engaged in, in a style that was recognized and appreciated by British Columbians across the province,” said Eby.
Construction on Site C began in 2015 under the B.C. Liberal government led by Christy Clark.
The project was highly contentious, facing legal challenges from First Nations and criticism for being significantly over budget.
After Horgan became premier in 2017, his NDP government requested a review of the project by the BC Utilities Commission.
Horgan reluctantly gave the green light to continue construction on Site C in 2017, after the review found axing the project would cost taxpayers nearly $4 billion.
At the time, Horgan said he made the decision “with a heavy heart.”
“I was not prepared to foreclose on the future of generations by making a decision today that made me feel good,” he said.
Horgan stepped down as premier in 2022, citing health-related reasons. He died in November 2024 after a third battle with cancer.
B.C. said the reservoir at the site will be called Nááchę mege, pronounced “nah chay meegeh.” It said the name was put forward by the Doig River First Nation and Blueberry River First Nations. The name is in the Beaver (Dane-zaa) language, and translates to Dreamer Lake.
“The name Nááchę mege reflects our history and our enduring connection to this land. It honours the cultural legacy of our people and ensures it will be recognized for generations to come,” said Blueberry River First Nation Chief Sherry Dominic in a statement.
The province said the project increases BC Hydro’s total electricity supply by eight per cent and has an expected life span of about 100 years.
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