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• Video: Seven Sisters construction time-lapse

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  Check out a time-lapse video of the construction of the new Seven Sisters. The video shows from when the site prep work began at the end of August 2022, until February 2024, when residents and staff moved into the new building.

  The current Mills Memorial Hospital in still stands. Seven Sisters staff and residents will continue to use the back entrance, on the west side of the new facility, until the existing hospital is removed in 2025. Landscaping for the whole site, including around the new Seven Sisters, will happen next.

  
  

• New Seven Sisters is open!

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  Northern Health gets the ‘golden key’ to the new Seven Sisters from representatives of PCL Constructors Westcoast. Seven Sisters staff and residents have successfully moved into the new site! Staff and residents are settling into their lovely new space, having spent their first night in the new facility last night.

  Read the Northern Health news release below about this exciting milestone.

  And check out a video tour of the inside of the new facility.

  New, bigger mental health facility opens in Terrace

  People with serious mental health challenges in Terrace and the surrounding communities are benefiting from better care at the new Seven Sisters facility at Mills Memorial Hospital.

  “People living with ongoing mental-health challenges need dedicated care in a space equipped to meet their daily needs as they work on their long-term recovery,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister for Mental Health and Addictions. “This newly expanded facility in Terrace will benefit patients, families, and the entire community by helping more people get the help they need to lead their best lives.”

  Located in Terrace, Seven Sisters is a regional mental-health facility that provides long-term rehabilitation and recovery programs for adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. The new facility is nearly twice as big as the previous one and has 25 patient beds, an increase from 20.

  “I am absolutely thrilled that the new Seven Sisters mental health facility in Terrace ia now open and operational. Our aim, as always, is to continually strengthen and improve health-care services for patients and residents, as well as the physicians and staff who provide care,” said Colleen Nyce, chair, Northern Health board of directors. “The new Seven Sisters is one more example of our commitment to ensuring high-quality support and care close to home for those who need it most.”

  Along with new, modern furniture and equipment, staff and patients will benefit from the building’s many new features, including a multi-sensory room, various recreational spaces, more treatment rooms, staff and meeting spaces, and enhanced security features. Five of the residential rooms in the facility are also located in apartment-type spaces. These will allow residents to experience and better transition to independent living.

  “Both staff and residents are excited to be in the new building and look forward to settling in,” said Clare Hart, Director of Specialized Services, Northwest Health Services Delivery Area, Northern Health. “We will continue to cultivate spaces of compassion, resilience and transformation, where every individual’s journey towards wellness is honored and supported.”

  The new Seven Sisters is part of the Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) replacement project. The new facility is located on the same site as the new and existing hospital, as well as the former Seven Sisters building, which will be removed to make room for part of the new hospital.

  From left to right, in photo

  • Brent Ponsford, Assistant Superintendent, PCL

  • Brad Leier, Manager, Specialized Services – Acute/Tertiary, NW HSDA, NH

  • Clare Hart, Director, Specialized Services, NW HSDA, NH

  • Anne Chisholm, Lead – Health Services Administrator, Terrace & Stewart/Activation and Move, MMH Replacement Project, NH

  • Rachel Rosales, Project Manager, PCL

  • Michael King, Construction Manager, PCL

  One of two residential eating areas in the new Seven Sisters.

  
  

• Parking situation continues to evolve

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  New staff parking lot should be ready in November.

  Parking situation continues to evolve

  The parking situation at Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace continues to evolve, as construction of the new hospital continues.

  About a year ago, a temporary gravel parking lot for staff was built to the left of the existing hospital’s main entrance on Haugland Avenue. That lot is now closed temporarily, as the space is being used to facilitate construction of a larger lot to it’s left, directly south of the new Seven Sisters facility.

  After the new parking lot south of Seven Sisters is paved, the gravel parking lot and its fencing will revert to how it was and once again be ready for staff use, by mid-October, weather permitting.

  Construction work will continue on the new paved lot to make it safe for use (for example, lights will be installed). This new lot should be open for use by the end of November, also weather permitting, and provide approximately 18 new staff parking spots.

  Parking challenges and solutions

  We know parking at the hospital and Seven Sisters is challenging and has been for a while ─ for staff, patients and visitors.

  When the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project is complete, in 2026, the new hospital will have about 300 parking spaces. This is double the number of parking spots the hospital started with at the beginning of the project in 2021.

  And yes. Parking at the hospital will continue to be free!

  The bulk of the parking spaces for the new facility will be where the existing hospital stands, and so won’t be available until after that facility is demolished and the new lot is built by mid-2026.

  As the project advances, Northern Health will continue to work on creating parking solutions for staff and visitors while juggling building the new hospital and supporting operations at the existing one.

  We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

• MMH & Seven Sisters Update

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  The design of the Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) Replacement Project began 14 years ago and is a complex project with many factors and timelines to be considered, including the future of the current seven sisters building. The project continues the construction and is on time and on budget.

  Throughout this planning process, many different options were considered for the new Mills Memorial Hospital and Seven Sisters, and based on numerous factors, such as site location, the state of the building, and changes in standards in the mental health services field. The current plan, which includes the construction of a new Seven Sisters and the demolition of the existing one, was determined to be the best option to meet the needs of Terrace and the surrounding region.

  The new facilities are being built on the same property as the current facilities, and operations at the current facilities must continue uninterrupted during the project. Because of this, construction activities need to happen at specific times to allow other parts of the project to proceed. This includes the construction of the new Seven Sisters building and the demolition of the existing Seven Sisters building.

  Reusing or relocating the existing Seven Sisters is not an option. The existing Seven Sisters building was assembled on site and is not modular. This means it would need to be dismantled and reassembled at a new site to be repurposed. A move like this significantly compromises the integrity of a building and would be cost prohibitive. Reusing or repurposing the existing building and keeping it in place is also not an option. The existing Seven Sisters will be too close to the main and emergency room entrances and ambulance bay which would create traffic flow and safety issues, especially in the unlikely event of a mass casualty or building evacuation scenario.

  There would also be substantial and costly renovations needed to make the existing Seven Sisters functional for a new user group. For example, the current Seven Sisters does not have separate suites with private washrooms or the needed common spaces to make it suitable for most uses.

  We appreciate the community’s interest in and efforts to advocate for important resources and services such as more seniors supports and childcare in Terrace and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, reusing the current Seven Sisters is not an option, even if it were relocated.

  The scope, schedule and design of the MMH Replacement project are under contract to PCL Constructors Westcoast. Opening the contract to change the design, delay the demolition, or move or disassemble the existing Seven Sisters would come with substantial cost and could delay the opening of the new Mills Memorial Hospital.

• New Seven Sister taking shape

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  A worker installs the last of the new Seven Sisters roof frames with the help of a crane on February 13, 2023..

  Drive along Haugland Avenue and you can see for yourself that the new Seven Sisters is taking shape quickly. With construction of the new facility expected to be complete by the end of 2023, all the foundation walls and roof frames are now installed.

  The new Seven Sisters is being built on the southwest corner of the Mills Memorial Hospital site, to the left of the current hospital’s main entrance. The new facility, which is part of the Mills Memorial Hospital project, will have 25 beds – an increase from the current 20.

  
  

  Not as visible to the public, Northern Health and Seven Sisters staff are also working hard in the background, mobilizing staff and resources to prepare to move into the new building by the end of this year.

  
  

  Seven Sisters is a regional mental health facility that provides long-term rehabilitation and recovery programs for adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. At almost double the size of the current facility on Tetrault Street, and with new amenities, including a multi-sensory room, the new Seven Sisters will greatly benefit those who live and work there.

  
  

  Stay tuned! We will release plans and renderings of the new Seven Sisters soon!

• Alert! Increased activity on Haugland

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  More traffic will be coming in and out of Gate 2 on Haugland Avenue.

  Construction of the new Seven Sisters, on the southwest corner of the hospital site, has begun. That means more contractors and suppliers are now using the site entrance (Gate 2) on Haugland Avenue, and traffic in this area has increased.

  We suggest those who tend to travel or park along Haugland, especially near Eby Street, aim to park elsewhere and be cautious.

  The new Seven Sisters is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

  The foundation of the building is now underway and concrete will start to be poured next week.

• New Seven Sisters construction underway

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  New Seven Sisters construction is underway!

  Artist rendering of the new Seven Sisters.

  In the last couple weeks, workers broke and removed the asphalt from the parking lot outside of the current Mills Memorial Hospital's psychiatric department. They also built up and leveled the ground in the area. This is so that work on the new Seven Sisters' foundation can begin.

  Seven Sisters is a regional mental-health facility that provides long-term rehabilitation and recovery programs for adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. The redevelopment will allow more people to receive care in a larger space with additional amenities.

  “The new Seven Sisters will ensure that when people in northwestern B.C. need mental-health support, they get timely, high-quality care close to home, which is crucial to their recovery,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “We are committed to continuing to build a strong healthcare service network in the region, which will help build resilient communities.”

  “When people make the brave decision to reach out for mental-health and substance-use supports, it’s crucial that these supports are available no matter where they live,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The new Seven Sisters in northwestern B.C. will bring more treatment options to northern communities, adding to the comprehensive and seamless continuum of mental-health and addictions care our government is building for all British Columbians.”

  October 16, 2022 new Seven Sisters siteNearly twice the size

  The new Seven Sisters will be nearly twice as big as the existing building and include 25 beds, which is an increase from the current 20. The new facility will also add treatment rooms, meeting spaces and recreational facilities. Patients will have access to abundant natural light and outdoor space.

  "Seven Sisters is a valuable facility in Northwest B.C. A new building is key to serving the needs of vulnerable populations in our region," said Colleen Nyce, Chair, Northern Health Board. "The increase in the number of beds, the size of the facility and the amenities in the facility will improve the quality of living and care for patients, and improve the ability for staff to give that care.”

  Part of the MMH Replacement Project

  The Seven Sisters project is part of the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project.

  Both the new Seven Sisters and new hospital are being built on the same site as the existing facilities. The new Seven Sisters will be on the southwestern corner of the site to the left of the existing hospital's main entrance.

  The existing Seven Sisters facility will be demolished, and the site will be used for the new hospital.

  The current Seven Sisters will eventually be demolished to make room for the new Mills Memorial Hospital. "Seeing the new Mills Memorial Hospital construction progress so smoothly and so quickly over the past year has been very rewarding for the people in our region," said Barry Pages, Chair, North West Regional Hospital District. "Now, with the construction of a new Seven Sisters beginning, the people of Northwest B.C. have even more to look forward to."

  The new mental-health facility is expected to be complete in late fall 2023.

  More Info

  Go to the Mills Memorial Construction Cam link to check out progress on what will be the future hospital and new Seven Sisters. To see the new Seven Sisters site camera, select 'Mills Memorial Hospital 2' under location, on the left side of the page.

  Read the October 19, 2022 BC government news release 'Construction starts on new mental-health facility in Terrace'.

• Changes to parking

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  New, temporary, employee parking lot in front of hospital

  Ultimately, parking at the new Mills Memorial Hospital will be double what’s available now, going from approximately 150 to 300 spaces.

  In the meantime, however, as the project’s main contractor PCL and Northern Health delicately juggle building a new hospital while continuing to operate the current hospital on the same site, visitors will once again notice a change in parking.

  The most recent changes include:

  1. A new, temporary, employee-only parking lot has been added on Haugland Avenue, west of the main entrance.
     
     
  2. The parking lot next to the psychiatric ward, just off Haugland Avenue, is no longer accessible.
     
     
  3. Only authorized vehicles are now allowed in the parking area just beyond the emergency department. This means visitors can no longer park in that area nor drive through and exit onto Haugland Avenue.

  Area close to emergency department now only open to authorized vehicles

  These changes are necessary as construction of the new hospital continues and site prep work for the new Seven Sisters facility begins.

  To alleviate the impact of these steps in the construction process, last summer, PCL built a temporary gravel parking lot with 70 new spots. This new lot adjacent to Tetrault Street, in between the current hospital and current Seven Sisters facility, has been in use since July 2021.

  Thank you for adhering to all parking rules as we move forward with this exciting project!

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