Shovels are going in the ground for a new BC Cancer centre that will deliver expanded cancer care and treatment for people in Nanaimo and nearby communities.

“The new BC Cancer centre in Nanaimo will transform cancer care for people across central Vancouver Island,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “This facility is a generational investment in health care for the central Island. It will deliver better care for cancer patients for many years to come by providing vital services closer to home, so patients won’t have to travel long distances for treatment.”

Located on the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital site, the new BC Cancer centre is expected to open in 2028 and will offer cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, all in one location.

The new three-storey centre will include:

• 16 treatment bays and two treatment rooms for systemic therapy administration and consultations with care teams;
• advanced imaging tools, including CT and PET/CT scanners, to help doctors find cancer and plan treatment more precisely;
• an oncology ambulatory care unit with 12 exam rooms, four consult rooms and space for medical physicists and radiation therapists;
• four linear accelerator vaults used to safely deliver radiation treatment;
• more parking, including a parkade and surface lot; and
• a new oncology pharmacy designed to meet the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities standards.

“I am thrilled about the new BC Cancer centre breaking ground in Nanaimo,” said Joanne Falvai, a cancer survivor. “When I received radiation treatment, our family had to relocate from Qualicum Beach to Victoria for seven weeks. Cancer can take so much from you – you and your family need all the love, care and support you can get to focus on your health and what’s in front of you each day.”

Once the cancer centre opens to patients in 2028, it is expected to host 11,000 patient radiation consults and followup appointments annually. In its opening year, the centre is expected to provide approximately 20,000 treatments for as many as 1,600 patients. This will save patients and their families time, stress and the burden of long-distance travel during care.

The new facility will be operated by BC Cancer in partnership with Island Health. The estimated cost of the project is $311 million, shared between the Province, through Island Health, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District and the BC Cancer Foundation.

This is a part of more than $730 million that is being invested to support the growing population in the region. The investments have contributed to more than 60 health-care capital projects, including the newly opened urgent primary care centre, a new intensive care unit, high acuity unit and a new MRI machine at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

“The new BC Cancer centre in Nanaimo represents a milestone in health care on Vancouver Island,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By bringing advanced, integrated cancer treatment closer to home, we are not only improving access for patients and families, but also supporting them through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.”

This project is part of the work to improve and expand health-care services for people in Nanaimo and throughout B.C.

Learn More:

To view the funding announcement, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0049-000576

To learn more about B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0012-000229

For more information about health capital projects in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/capital-projects

To learn more about the new BC Cancer centre in Nanaimo, visit: https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/about/projects-priorities/nanaimo-cancer-centre

A backgrounder follows.