Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement - Terrace, BC

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Project Overview

We are building a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Terrace, BC, to address current and future patient care needs in Northwest BC. More than double the size of the existing facility (approximately 356,500 square feet), the new hospital will be a centre for trauma services, orthopedic surgeries, pathology, radiology, and pharmacy services. Similar to now, the hospital will also be a training site for medical students in the Northern Medical Program.

A new hospital will…

  • Benefit patients and families
  • Benefit physicians and staff
  • Strengthen existing services
  • Offer new and expanded services
  • Strengthen the regional network of health-care services
  • Increase

Project Overview

We are building a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Terrace, BC, to address current and future patient care needs in Northwest BC. More than double the size of the existing facility (approximately 356,500 square feet), the new hospital will be a centre for trauma services, orthopedic surgeries, pathology, radiology, and pharmacy services. Similar to now, the hospital will also be a training site for medical students in the Northern Medical Program.

A new hospital will…

  • Benefit patients and families
  • Benefit physicians and staff
  • Strengthen existing services
  • Offer new and expanded services
  • Strengthen the regional network of health-care services
  • Increase access to care, closer to home, for all Northwest BC residents
  • Support recruitment, retention and engagement of health care workers
  • Bring local economic benefits


  • 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!

  • One of Canada's largest infrastructure projects - again!

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    As the cost of capital projects across the country continue to increase, we've moved down the list, from #81 to #84. But the Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) Replacement Project is still one of Canada's largest infrastructure projects in 2023.

    That's according to the infrastructure magazine ReNew Canada's 2023 top 100 projects list, which is compiled every year and based on project budgets.

    Check out the magazine's the MMH project 2023 write up.

    Read the Let's Talk MMH update about our 2022 ranking.

  • Working through the night January 24 & 26

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    Large concrete pours for the new Seven Sisters will take place on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site on Tuesday, January 24 and Thursday, January 26.

    These are two of the last concrete pours needed for the new Seven Sisters facility.

    Workers will be on site past 7 PM and into the night on both these days in order to finish the concrete. As a result, there will be some additional lighting and equipment will make some noise. The workers will do their best to control the noise levels and keep lights from shining into nearby residents.

    Most concrete work 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 the inconvenience in advance.

  • Working through the night December 15 & 16

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    Large concrete pours for the new Seven Sisters will take place on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site on December 15 and 16.

    Workers will be on site past 7 PM and into the night on both these days in order to finish the concrete. As a result, there will be some additional lighting and equipment will make some noise. The workers will do their best to control the noise levels and keep lights from shining into nearby residents.

    Most concrete work 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 the inconvenience in advance.

  • Slowing down for the holidays

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    Heads up that only a few workers will be on site between December 23 and January 3. The majority will be at home, celebrating the holidays, and enjoying a much deserved break. Hopefully you get to do the same!


  • MMH project featured in 2022 Progress Magazine

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    Our project has one again been featured in this year's Progress Magazine. Go to page 9 to learn more about Northern Health's largest ever capital project.


  • Planning for patient care at the new hospital

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    The construction and design of the new hospital and Seven Sisters are still an important focus of the Mills Memorial Replacement project. However, we are also ramping up planning and work around patient care and operations at the new facilities.

    Staffing and recruitment plans underway

    We are currently working to determine the exact staffing levels that will be needed for both new facilities. With an increase in services, a significant increase in the number of staff in various positions will be necessary. Staffing plans must consider many factors, including who to hire, and how to balance the duties and workloads of different staff in different departments.

    Anne Chisholm, Transition CoordinatorTransition Coordinator hired

    Getting the facility ready for patient use includes preparing physical space, equipment, and technology. But people need to be ready too. New space and technology mean new ways of working for staff, physicians, and managers who need to be supported with training and development to provide care and service with the new workflows, new equipment and new technologies. Patients and families and the broader community will also need to be supported to get to know the new hospital.

    Anne Chisholm has joined the project to help coordinate and support staff, physicians, and managers to become ready to provide care, services and supports in the new hospital and Seven Sisters. She has over 35 years of experience in health care, first as a staff nurse followed by many years of management and leadership work in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and British Columbia. Two of her recent projects include the establishment of the Primary Care Medical Unit at UHNBC and the Urgent Care Centre in Prince George. Anne is excited by challenges and successes that come with working collaboratively to solve problems. She will quickly become a familiar face around the hospital. Say hello when you see her!

    More supports

    • A Recruitment and Retention Ambassador position specifically for Northwest BC has been created. The role will play a big part in recruitment efforts for the new facilities in Terrace.
    • A Physician Lead position, who will help with the transition and recruitment of physicians for the new facilities, is in development.
    • A company that specializes in healthcare facility transitions will support the physical move from the current hospital to the new one.

    More info

    For a list of potential employment opportunities read the post: FAQ: How many new staff will you hire?

    Job listings and more info about working for Northern Health can be found at: https://careers.northernhealth.ca

  • Last pieces of Sleeping Beauty removed

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    The few remaining pieces of the Sleeping Beauty building are being removed from site today. The building was originally built in 1961 and was demolished last week to make room for the new hospital.

    Learn more about Sleeping Beauty's history and the area being cleared.

  • November 2022 - Quarterly Project Update

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    Download a pdf of the November 2022 Quarterly Project Update.

    WHERE WE'RE AT

    Construction advancing steadily

    Cranes removed

    Over four days at the start of October, the two tower cranes on the Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) construction site were dismantled and removed. The two cranes were initially erected last summer to move heavy equipment and materials. With the structural bulk of the new hospital complete, smaller mobile cranes or teleporters, which are forklifts with an extending boom, will be used to move materials to upper floor locations.

    Workers installing exterior insulation and siding on west side of new hospitalPreparing for winter and work inside

    Construction of the new hospital remains on schedule. While timeline adjustments due to labour and supply channel disruptions are always a possibility, to date the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project has not been affected.

    Workers continue to install insulation and siding on the exterior of the building and the shell of the new facility should be complete by the end of the year. With the shell in place, work can continue inside the building throughout the winter. Some work is already happening inside the building such as mechanical and electrical work, and placement and installation of boilers, air handling units, and steel studs in various departments on the first two floors. Various pieces of equipment also continue to be delivered and installed as they arrive.

    More workers on site

    The total number of workers on site varies depending on the specific work requirements at any give time. Throughout the past few months, the number of workers on site has increased significantly, from fewer than 200 to more than 250 workers. Over the course of the project, over 80 regional businesses have also secured contracts and supplied goods or services to the project with many continuing to service and supply the project.

    New Seven Sisters Underway

    Construction of the new Seven Sisters has begun and is expected to be complete by the end of 2023. The foundation for the new facility is underway and concrete pours are beginning this month.

    Start of new Seven Sisters foundationSeven 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 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.

    Both the new Seven Sisters and the 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.

    Farewell Sleeping Beauty

    The Sleeping Beauty building is no more. The building was demolished earlier this month to make room for the new Mills Memorial hospital and parking at the future facility. While it’s sad to say goodbye to a building with such rich history, it’s exciting to make way for the new hospital.

    Sleeping Beauty was originally built in 1961. Over its lifetime, the building has had many purposes, including being a nurses' residence and a place for visiting specialists and expectant mothers. For many years, it was home to Terrace's pediatric services. Soon after construction of the new hospital began, pediatric services moved to the Park Avenue medical clinic. In the future, pediatric services will move to the Keith Avenue mall, across the street from the new hospital. In the last few months, Sleeping Beauty served as an office for PCL, the main contractor designing and building the new hospital.


    WHERE WE'RE GOING

    The construction and design of the new hospital and Seven Sisters are still an important focus of the Mills Memorial Replacement project. However, we are also ramping up planning and work around patient care and operations at the new facilities.

    Staffing and recruitment plans underway
    We are currently working to determine the exact staffing levels that will be needed for both new facilities. With an increase in services, a significant increase in the number of staff in various positions will be necessary. Staffing plans must consider many factors, including who to hire, and how to balance the duties and workloads of different staff in different departments.


    Transition Coordinator hired

    GAnne Chisholm,
    Transition Coordinator
    etting the facility ready for patient use includes preparing physical space, equipment, and technology. But people need to be ready too. New space and technology mean new ways of working for staff, physicians, and managers who need to be supported with training and development to provide care and service with the new workflows, new equipment and new technologies. Patients and families and the broader community will also need to be supported to get to know the new hospital.

    Anne Chisholm has joined the project to help coordinate and support staff, physicians, and managers to become ready to provide care, services and supports in the new hospital and Seven Sisters. She has over 35 years of experience in health care, first as a staff nurse followed by many years of management and leadership work in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and British Columbia. Two of her recent projects include the establishment of the Primary Care Medical Unit at UHNBC and the Urgent Care Centre in Prince George. Anne is excited by challenges and successes that come with working collaboratively to solve problems. She will quickly become a familiar face around the hospital. Say hello when you see her!

    More supports

    • A Recruitment and Retention Ambassador position specifically for Northwest BC has been created. The role will play a big part in recruitment efforts for the new facilities in Terrace.
    • A Physician Lead position, who will help with the transition and recruitment of physicians for the new facilities, is in development.
    • A company that specializes in healthcare facility transitions will support the physical move from the current hospital to the new one.
  • Video: Sleeping Beauty demolition

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    A backhoe opens a hole in the roof of the Sleeping Beauty as the building demolition begins on November 3, 2022. Click on the photo to see a short video.



Page last updated: 27 Mar 2024, 11:51 AM