Corridor fills, city grows

“Since things started getting back to normal, we began planning again, and it just seemed to fit with Prince George becoming a regional hub for northern B.C.,” he said.

Pahal knows Prince George well. He grew up here, left to study biology at the University of British Columbia, and later returned to earn a master’s degree in community health at the University of Northern British Columbia. He then studied dentistry at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 2010, and worked in Winnipeg and Australia before coming back to Prince George with his family in 2013.

He says this building is his way of investing in the place that shaped him.

Eagle Builders is handling construction, Axiom Architecture designed the project, and Scotiabank is providing the financing. Pahal hopes to open the building in early 2027.

Pahal chose the location on purpose. He noticed that the corridor was starting to attract new businesses, but there was not enough professional space to meet the growing demand.

“We feel that in this growing part of the city, there really wasn’t anything like this before. We thought it would be a good spot, easy for patients, staff, and clients to reach.”

City Councillor Kyle Sampson is already convinced. Standing near the site, he pointed down the street to show the changes already happening.

“This whole corridor has a grocery store, this new project, and another building in the center. There’s a lot of momentum here,” he said.

Sampson believes this momentum is no accident. The project first went to the city for rezoning in 2021, so there were years of planning before construction began. He says that kind of patience is what responsible growth looks like.

“People like Dr. Pahal are being very smart and thoughtful about this development. It shows our community is growing, and I think it’s really exciting.”

Longtime councillor Garth Fizzell says this is the busiest building season he has seen during his time on council, which shows how much Prince George has changed in a short time.

The city is growing. The corridor is filling up. And for one Prince George native, a lot that sat empty for years is finally turning into something worth coming home to.

by Dave Branco

Corridor fills, city grows

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