Resident safety at Swan Valley Lodge will be enhanced with a new fire alarm system at the facility.

Components of the two existing fire alarm systems are incompatible or outdated and require upgrading to allow for full integration of the fire alarm system across the entire site and to meet current code requirements.

"Our number-one priority is always the care and safety of residents and staff at Swan Valley Lodge," said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "The new fire alarm system will be able to monitor the entire building and provide proper notification to staff in the case of a fire as well as lower the number of false alarms."

The project is a routine capital investment and the total project cost of $350,000 is being funded by the government of British Columbia. Design work is under way and the project is anticipated to go to tender in January 2013 and be completed by September 2013.

This project is part of over $200 million in new capital investment announced by Premier Christy Clark at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in September. While these are new projects, this capital investment is not new money. It is money the government saved from the capital plan, through fiscal prudence.

Since 2001, more than $7 billion has been spent on health-capital projects in British Columbia.

Media Contacts:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Erin Toews
Interior Health
Communications
1 250 314-2100 ext. 3750