Premier Christy Clark was joined by families and representatives from Ronald McDonald House B.C. & Yukon to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new, larger home on the Oak Street campus of B.C. Children's and B.C. Women's Hospitals.

"Our government is proud to support the invaluable work of Ronald McDonald House. This new facility will help an estimated 2,100 B.C. families every year during the most difficult circumstances a parent could ever imagine," said Premier Clark. "The house allows families that are travelling from across the province for treatment at B.C. Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre to stay together, easing the emotional and financial strain for parents so they can focus on supporting and caring for their child."

On April 28, 2011, Premier Clark announced a $13.375-million donation toward the new Ronald McDonald House. The modern state-of-the-art house will provide 73 rooms for up to 2,100 families every year compared to the 400 families it currently serves. The new LEED Gold facility will be completed by late fall 2013.

"The new house will be a long-term investment in the community, and help 21,000 B.C. families in the first 10 years alone," said Richard Pass, CEO of Ronald McDonald House B.C. & Yukon. "Thank you to our major donors, including the Province of British Columbia. Without your support, this dream wouldn't be possible. We will be able to serve so many more families and continue to never turn away a family in need."

The Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver is a resource for families from B.C., Yukon and Western Canada. It acts as a home-away-from-home for children requiring medical treatment at B.C. Children's Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children. In the past five years, 2,147 families have been welcomed to the house.

This new Ronald McDonald House will complement the BC Children's and Women's hospitals' redevelopment project currently underway and supports the government's commitment to families in British Columbia. The new Clinical Support Building is nearing completion, as well as demolitions and renovations to existing hospital buildings in preparation for the next phase.

Ronald McDonald House BC is owned and operated by the Children's Family House Society of BC, a local non-for-profit organization. The existing Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver has provided accommodation and services for seriously ill children and their families since 1983.

Funding for their programming and services is provided by individual donations, organizations, and businesses including McDonald's Canada and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Media contacts:

Trevor Halford
Office of the Premier
Senior Communications Coordinator
250 588-0565

Richard Pass, CEO
Ronald McDonald House B.C. & Yukon
604 813-0316
rpass@rmhbc.ca

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