From Interior Health: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/media/construction-begins-new-mri-suite-kootenay-boundary-regional-hospital-feb-2-2026

Construction begins on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, on the new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in Trail, marking a major milestone in strengthening medical imaging and diagnostic services for people across the Kootenay Boundary region.

“Investing in modern health-care infrastructure is essential to making sure communities across British Columbia have access to the services they rely on,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “The new MRI expansion at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital reflects our government’s commitment to building the facilities needed to support growing communities and to strengthen the delivery of critical services close to home.”

The new MRI suite will replace the current mobile MRI and be located in an integrated space within the hospital, supporting KBRH’s role as a Regional Oncology Centre, Level 3 Trauma Referral Centre, and Regional Stroke Centre. Once complete in early 2028, people in Trail will have access to a permanent, more accessible MRI suite inside the hospital, including a new 1.5T MRI scanner.

“People in the Kootenay Boundary region can look forward to enhanced care with expanded MRI services at KBRH,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Patients will be able to access timely diagnostics, supporting earlier and faster treatment, which can be critical for those needing timely care.”

The expanded MRI suite and new MRI scanner will significantly increase diagnostic capacity at KBRH, raising annual MRI volumes from about 4,400 to as many as 7,000 scans. The upgraded technology will improve imaging accuracy and efficiency, with faster scan times and smoother workflow.

“For people in rural and remote communities, having diagnostic services close to home makes a real difference,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee. “This new MRI suite at KBRH means fewer long trips, faster answers, and better care for families throughout the region.”

The additional space and equipment will also enable more complex exams to be performed on site, reducing the need for referrals to larger centres and helping patients receive timely medical care.

“By expanding MRI services at KBRH, we are reducing barriers to diagnostic imaging and helping patients and families receive the care they need, close to home,” said Sylvia Weir, president and CEO, Interior Health. “A modern MRI suite inside the hospital will help our teams provide faster, more connected care for patients and families for many years to come.”

Following a competitive bidding process, Interior Health selected Ledcor Construction Ltd. for the KBRH MRI suite expansion project. Mobilization and construction are set to begin on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The project is expected to be complete and ready to receive patients in mid-2028.

“We are thrilled to see construction begin on the MRI expansion at Kootenay Boundary Hospital, a project that will bring vital diagnostic services closer to home,” said Everett Baker, chair, West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District Board. “The West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District Board is proud to advocate for rural and remote communities, and this milestone is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together to invest in local health care. Every resident, no matter where they live, will benefit from faster, better access to the care they deserve.”

To ensure MRI services continue throughout construction, the existing mobile MRI will be relocated to an interim on-site position and accessed through a renovated area of the hospital’s administration wing. This approach will keep MRI operations running with minimal disruption to patients.

“We are proud to support this significant investment in regional health care for the Kootenay Boundary,” said Lisa Pasin, executive director, KBRH Health Foundation. “The MRI expansion is critically important and will greatly benefit patients, their families and our health-care teams.”

The project also includes upgrades to hospital parking, scheduled to occur during summer 2026 and summer 2027.

“This new MRI suite marks a major step forward from our aging trailer-based MRI service, transforming how we care for our patients,” said Dr. Gonzalo Ansede, department head, medical imaging, KBRH. “By improving patient flow and expanding the range and quality of MR imaging we can offer on site, it allows our team to work more efficiently and deliver a better experience and better outcomes for our community.”

The total project cost is estimated at almost $36 million and will be shared by the provincial government through Interior Health, the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District and the KBRH Health Foundation.