Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement - Terrace, BC

A Terrace Redi-mix truck and employee on the MMH site.

In less than a year, since the start of construction of the new Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace, more than 80 regional suppliers and contractors, with the majority being local, have secured worked on the site.

A list of the regional contractors to date has been added to this MMH Let's Talk site under Documents and under the Links sections.

Work contracts have been diverse, from trucking to equipment rental, air quality monitoring to food and building supplies, paving to flagging, steel work to geotechnical services, and more.

Workers on site

While the number of workers on site fluctuate regularly depending on what work is being completed, currently there are approximately 130 workers are on site.

The percentage of local and regional workers also fluctuates. Currently, just over 40% of workers on site are from the region. In November 2021, it was more than 60%.

The majority of the workers from the Terrace area are employed by PacAlta, a subsidiary company of PCL. Others are working for subcontractors on site.

Just under 20% of workers on site are apprentices. And 5% of workers on site identify as Indigenous.

As the project progresses, the number of out-of-town workers on site is expected to increase as more specialized skills, not always locally available locally, are needed.

An Allnorth employee from Terrace stands next to his truck and a West Fraser truck on the MMH construction site.

Work and contract opportunities

Before construction began, PCL participated in networking sessions with local and regional First Nations and companies to explore the possibilities of working together. PCL and their subcontractors continue to, advertise employment opportunities on and in various platforms such as Linkedin, Kijiji, and regional newspapers.

Businesses interested in working on the Mills Memorial Project site are encouraged to contact PCL with information about services they could offer.

Email 2220057millsmemorial@pcl.com

Individuals interested in work can submit resumes online at: https://careers.pcl.com/ca/en

Large concrete pours will take place on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 11, 12 and 13. Workers will be on site past 7 PM and into the night.

Most concrete work on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site is completed throughout the day. However, when large pours take place, it is sometimes necessary to work longer hours to finish the concrete.

We apologize for any noise in advance.

The exterior design of the new Mills Memorial Hospital has been updated with a more neutral look that blends into Terrace’s mountainous landscape. The new colours will also better accentuate landscaping features.

We released the original draft exterior design in the fall of 2021 and received significant feedback.

In the new design, white and grey panels have replaced many orange panels in the original design. The top floor is also much lighter.

The footprint of the building, which is based on the design of the services and amenities inside, remains the same. We’ve also kept the wood aesthetic and accent features for the main floor and entrances.

Updated exterior design

Initial exterior design - released in 2021

Large concrete pours will take place on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site March, 31, Monday, April 4 and Thursday, April 7. Workers will be on site past 7 PM and into the night.

Most concrete work on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site is completed throughout the day. However, when large pours take place, it is sometimes necessary to work longer hours to finish the concrete.

We apologize for any noise in advance.

A large concrete pour will take place on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site today and tonight, Friday, March 25. Workers will be on site past 7 PM and into the night.

Most concrete work on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site is completed throughout the day. However, when large pours take place, it is sometimes necessary to work longer hours – to finish the concrete.

We apologize for any noise in advance.

The Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project has been features in one of Western Canada's most prominent online construction industry magazines, the Journal of Commerce.

Mills Memorial Hospital build breathes new life into Terrace health care

By Grant Cameron

It’s just before 4 p.m. on a late-February afternoon at an expansive and very muddy construction site in Terrace, B.C., where a new state-of-the-art Mills Memorial Hospital is being built. Two lofty yellow tower cranes hover over the worksite. Below, a cement truck is delivering concrete.

In January, waterproofing and backfilling of the below-ground floor was completed. Most of the ground level of the massive concrete structure, pad footings, columns and walls are complete. To date, 10,000 square metres of slabs have been installed and 8,500 square metres of concrete has been poured.

Work on the $623-million project began in summer 2021 and the targeted completion date is September 2024. The new hospital is replacing an existing one on the same site.

Read the full article here.

With an investment value of $623 million, the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project is #81 in a list of the top 100 biggest infrastructure projects in the country.

On completion, the new Mills Memorial Hospital will be more than twice the size of the current facility – strengthening existing services and supporting increased access to care, closer to home, for all Northwest residents. The new hospital will provide new and expanded services not currently available.

Check out the MMH project profile and other projects in the Top 100 list. The Top100 Projects is an annual ranking by ReNew Canada, an infrastructure magazine.

Some new faces have joined the project team in the last few months - and one long-term team member has been promoted!

New Faces

Natou Kurtz, Clinical Lead

Natou Kurtz joined the MMH project team in the position of Clinical Lead at the start of 2022. Natou has been working at Mills Memorial Hospital as a Biomedical Engineering Technologist for 17 years. He will utilize his advanced expertise and knowledge of the current site and its operations to advise the design and construction of the new site. Natou was born in Hazelton and has lived most of his life in Terrace. When he is not at work, you can find enjoying nature’s playground in the beautiful Northwest - skiing, ocean kayaking and much more.

Madison McCann, Project Coordinator

Madison McCann joined the project team in the spring of 2021 when Project Coordinator Emily Reierson went on maternity leave. Madison supports the project in many ways. Part of her duties include liaising with internal and external partners on ongoing activities; communicating project processes and updates to multiple groups; and providing documentation and direction to address questions or concerns. Outside of work, Madison enjoys keeping her hands busy with creative projects, as well as spending time outdoors.

Mark Hendricks, Communications Lead

Mark Hendricks replaced Andrea Palmer as the Communications Lead for Capital Projects at Northern Health in March 2021. Based in Prince George, he supports communications and engagement activities for all capital projects across the region, including the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project.

Sarah Artis, Project Liaison

Sarah Artis started in her role of Project Liaison in September 2020. She is responsible for all strategic communications and public engagement activities related to the project. Sarah is embedded in the community of Terrace, having lived here for 15 years, and aims to use her community connections for the betterment of the project. Previous to working at Northern Health, Sarah ran her own communications company. She also loves all things outdoors and feels forever grateful for Northern BC’s beautiful people, quiet spaces, and endless adventures.

New Project Manager

Shirley Nichol has been working on the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement Project since 2013, most recently as the Clinical Lead. Shirley was promoted to the position of Project Manager in November 2021. Shirley is utilizing her 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and 7 years of operational leadership to advise the design and construction of the new hospital. Shirley has lived in Terrace for 25 years, and when she is not at work, you can find her outside – enjoying all of the beauty the Northwest has to offer.

Continuing to Work Hard

To meet the rest of the team, go to Meet the Team.

• Project Director - Paul Rudecki
• Operational Lead - Chris Simms
• Design & Construction Lead - Peter Sickert
• Facilities Maintenance Lead - George Desjardins
• Information Management Information Technology Lead - Nathan Riley
• Equipment/Procurement Lead - Bonnie Tapanila
• Finance Lead - Deb Taylor

Cover photo: MMH project team members Paul Rudecki, Shirley Nichol, Madison McCann, George Desjardins, and Nathan Riley.

A new drone video, shot at the end January 2022 by Terrace's All North Consultant Limited, shows construction progress over the winter months. In the video, you can see work starting on the main floor of the new hospital. The video also shows how much bigger the new hospital is compared to the current facility. Despite being extremely cold and windy (close to -15 degrees Celsius for a couple weeks in December!), work stayed on track and the project remains on schedule.

The holiday season is a time many of us come together and show our true generosity.

This is definitely the case for a number construction workers on the Mills Memorial Hospital site who joined forces this past month to raise a significant amount of money for Terrace's Salvation Army Food Bank.

Northern Health would like to thank workers from PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc, as well as several of their contractors on site - Modern Niagara, Houle Electric and IDL Projects Inc - for raising funds to help make things better for those who need right now in the Terrace community .

This is one of many contributions the workers and companies have made to our community and region so far, including and most importantly, to those most in need.

Danielle Morrison of Terrace, who works as an Administrative Assistant for PCL on the Mills Memorial Project, gives a thumbs up as she hands over a large donation to the Food Bank.

A handful of the workers on the Mills Memorial Hospital site who donated to Terrace's Salvation Army Food Bank.