Regional District decides fate of Adeline Kelly Building
Nearly four years after the North Peace Fall Fair Society first applied to upgrade the Adeline Kelly Building by adding a kitchen, and learning that the building didn’t meet the code requirements for such an addition, its fate has finally been decided.
The Peace River Regional District board voted on May 1 to keep the Adeline Kelly Building as a “Medium Hazard Industrial Building (F-2) and that no further efforts be undertaken to upgrade the building to a Public Assembly (A-2) based on the structural review completed in January 2025.”
This brings an end to the process started in 2021, when the Fall Fair Society first broached the idea of adding a kitchen and washroom spaces to the newest building at the fall fair grounds, located in the North Peace Regional Park.
Throughout its life, the Adeline Kelly Building has been plagued by misunderstanding. Built in 2014, a building permit was issued for a Medium Hazard Industrial Building (F-2) according to the PRRD. The Society says they asked at the outset for a permit to build a multi-use building, keeping in mind that in Area B, where the building is located, building permits are not required. But as North Peace Fall Fair Society president Bruce Christensen told The Broken Typewriter, they wanted to do things right, because eventually building permits may be required in Area B.
The idea of adding onto the Adeline Kelly Building came about because the kitchen facility on-site was not up to standards, and for a variety of reasons, including health and safety, a new one was needed. That was in 2021.
During the assessment to determine if the building could be upgraded as the Society wished, it was discovered that it had not been constructed to even F-2 standards, according to the engineering report, which required major upgrades to rectify. These upgrades were completed in 2023.
“Maybe in two or three years we’ll have a multi-use building built.”
NPFF President Bruce Christensen
Now a second engineering report, presented to the board in January, shows that to bring the Adeline Kelly Building up the A-2 standards and facilitate the addition of a kitchen could cost up to $1.2 million, and lead to a reduced lifespan and require replacement sooner than a new building would.
Where does that mean for the Fall Fair?
Christensen says it means that for now, they will continue using tents for the exhibits that would have been displayed in the Adeline Kelly Building.
“We have a meeting coming up,” said Christensen “to discuss going forward what needs to be done.”
There are a couple of buildings at the fair grounds which have been condemned, he said, so getting those removed will make room for a possible new building, to fulfill the role the Society wanted for the Adeline Kelly Building.
Christensen says that he and vice-president Bonnie Carlson will meet with the Area B director Reid Graham, and Area C director Brad Sperling to fast-track the demolition and move forward with a new building.
“We can get by this year with tents again, if they continue to support us in the renting of the tents,” Christensen said. “And then let’s have a plan going forward, so maybe in two or three years we’ll have a multi-use building built. Or at least have a plan.”
Plans are underway for the 78th Fall Fair, and the regional district has said it will cover the cost of tents for this year. Although now that it has been designated as a community park, Area B, not the regional district, will foot the bill.
The hope is, if the Society can get a multi-use building constructed, with a kitchen and washrooms, it will enable the park to be used during at least three seasons, not the current one or two weekends per year.
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