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• 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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