Health Minister Terry Lake was joined today by local leaders, residents and Northern Health physicians and staff to celebrate the start of construction of the new Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii Hospital.

"Today's groundbreaking is an important milestone for the Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii Hospital replacement project," said Lake. "This new facility is more spacious and modern and is a great example of our continued investment in the health and well-being of families on Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii."

The new hospital will feature bright, modern facilities with traditional Haida designs, expanded single-bed rooms with private washrooms and secure patio space with views of the ocean for patients and their families. There will be eight acute-care beds, a labour, delivery and recovery suite, a home and community care wing with eight residential-care beds, a primary care centre, and space for diagnostic imaging, laboratory and pharmacy services.

"This investment in a state-of-the-art hospital and health centre represents our commitment to ensuring current and future residents of Haida Gwaii have access to on-island health care services," said Cathy Ulrich, Northern Health chief executive officer. "This project represents the successful culmination of years of planning, hard work and community partnership."

The facility will be a two-storey building, approximately 5,000 square metres (54,000 square feet) in size and will improve patient comfort and working conditions for staff and physicians. The existing hospital, built in 1953 and opened in 1955, is approximately 1670 square metres (18,000 square feet).

The total value of the replacement hospital is up to $50 million, and the funding will be cost-shared by the province and the North West Regional Hospital District. The replacement hospital is being built on the same site as the existing facility and is scheduled to be complete and open for patients by the fall of 2015. The project is expected to generate approximately 189 direct jobs and 143 indirect jobs during the construction period.

"We have been laying the groundwork for this new hospital for many years, and now it is happening. All of us, on and off island, working together have made that commitment come true," said Carol Kulesha, Village of Queen Charlotte mayor and North West Regional Hospital District vice-chair.

"The design of this hospital and health centre is beautiful and reflects the unique characteristics of Haida Gwaii," said Dr. Charles Jago Northern Health board chair. "The design will also enable health-care services to incorporate Haida Nation traditions and customs."

Today's event confirms that a fixed-price contract was reached with the design-builder - Bouygues Building Canada and Perkins + Will - to deliver the new Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii Hospital.

The project will focus on sustainable design and construction, with the goal of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. In addition, the use of wood will be optimized in the construction of the hospital, including exterior and interior finishing consistent with the Wood First Act.

The Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii Hospital replacement project is an example of the added capacity the government of British Columbia is building into the health system as part of record investments in health services in British Columbia. Since 2001, more than $8 billion has been invested in health capital projects provincewide.

(flickr.com)

Media Contacts:

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

Northern Health
250 961-7724