Kitselas donates $10,000

Kitselas First Nation has donated $10,000 to the Dr. R.E.M Lee's Foundation's 'Closer to Home' campaign to support Tier 3 level services in the birthing unit at the new Mills Memorial Hospital.

Check out the local TV station CFTK News coverage of the generous donation.

This is the second major contribution since the campaign launched on June 3, 2023. The first donation was $2 million, the largest in the Foundation's history, from Newcrest Mining, which runs the Brucejack and Red Chris mines in Northwest BC.

The Closer to Home campaign is fundraising to increase the level of neonatal and maternal services from Tier 2 to Tier 3 in the new hospital in Terrace. There is no other facility that offers Tier 3 level services in the Northwest Health Services area.

Currently mothers and infants that need emergent care, must experience often stressful and weather-dependent medical evacuation to either Prince George (Tier 4) or Vancouver (Tier 6.) Having care closer to home means mothers and babies will be surrounded by the people they need and their families less burdened by the financial and emotional costs of travel and long-term stays in unfamiliar settings.

"This type of unit in the Terrace area would greatly benefit the whole region," said Kitselas Elected Chief Glenn Bennett, who is also helping with the fundraising campaign.

For more info about the Closer to Home campaign and the expanded neonatal and maternal services, check out the Closer to Home video and case study.

And a big thanks to Kitselas!