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.

Substitute teacher Dustin Quezada models some personal protective health care clothing.

Project Liaison Sarah Artis had the chance to teach some very enthusiastic Grade 3 and 4 students at Cassie Hall Elementary School last week about the many jobs that will be at the new Mills Memorial Hospital.

Part of the class curriculum this year is careers. As the school is located immediately next to the new Terrace hospital construction site, teacher Nancy Jay said it made sense for the kids to learn about jobs at the new facility.

Jay said the students have loved watching the hospital go up.

"The kids were super keen and had so many questions. It was really inspiring," said Sarah. "At the end of our hour together a lot of them spoke about jobs they could see themselves doing one day in the hospital."

So kids could get a sense of what it felt like to dress like some health care workers, Sarah brought an assortment of protective clothing and equipment for them to try out.

"Getting geared up was definitely the students’ favourite part of the presentation," Sarah said. "Dressed in hair nets and booties, wearing masks and gloves, a couple of them even yelled out 'This is the best day ever’."

With the hospital more than doubling in size there will be a significant increase in staff and many opportunities for people interested in careers in the health sector.

Northern Health is engaging in a variety of recruitment and retention strategies for the new Terrace hospital and the region as a whole.

Check out month-to-month drone video footage of the new hospital construction in Terrace, from when the project began in June 2021 until March 2023. Thanks to the project’s Design-Builder PCL for sharing the drone footage and creating this video.

It’s easy to see the progress of the outside of the new Mills Memorial Hospital, but not the inside. Here’s a couple photos.

Photo of drywall in new Emergency Department on Level 1 of the new hospital.

Photo of drywall in inpatient unit on Level 3 of the new hospital

Paving will take place today on Haugland Avenue, between Eby and Tettrault Street. just west of the main entrance of the hospital.

In April, a small part of the street was dug up so that the City could connect underground services to the new hospital. Paving the patch that was dug up will complete this work.

Download a pdf of the February 2023 Quarterly Project Update.

WHERE WE’RE AT

Celebrating exciting construction milestones

• Pictured here is one of two medical surgical inpatient units framed in on Level 3 of the new hospital. You are looking down a hallway flanked by single patient rooms.Construction of new hospital has surpassed 50% completion. Project is on schedule, on budget and continues to pass regular inspections with no issues.
• All Level 1 and the majority of Level 2 & 3 exterior panels are installed.
• A total 194 multi trade racks (MTR’s) have been installed inside the new hospital. MTRs are structural steel frames located in the ceiling space above the drywall. They hide and protect and allow for the flow of mechanisms such as gas lines, and mechanical and electrical wires, throughout the facility. The MTRs were designed and fabricated off site to decrease the chance of defects and save time and money.
• The structural steel framing and exterior walls for the ‘penthouse’ (Level 5) are complete. Level 5 is where the majority of the new hospital’s mechanical and electrical components are located, such as the heating and cooling system.
• Discussions and negotiations regarding equipment and furniture suppliers continue. Equipment continues to be delivered and installed throughout the building.
• On Level 0 (the basement), framing, and the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing lines, as well as pre-painting is happening in the following areas:
  • biomedical
  • facilities and maintenance
  • food services

1. On Level 1 (the main floor), drywalling and taping for the following areas continues:
   1. lab services
   2. renal services
   3. cancer care
   4. intensive care unit (ICU)
      

New Seven Sisters taking shape

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 being 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.

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!

Planning for inclusivity, cultural safety, comfort and more

The project’s Indigenous and Community Advisory Working Groups (IAWG & CAWG) met in early 2023. Members continue to provide valuable feedback on how to ensure the new hospital is welcoming, inclusive, locally relevant, and culturally safe.

The most recent discussion included a variety of topics such as landscaping, naming, art and artifacts, increased patient support, the inclusion of various languages throughout the new facility including Sm’algyax, and many other topics.

Input from the CAWG and IAWG is filtered upwards to the MMH Project Steering Committee who, in collaboration with the Project Board, balances the complexities of a capital building project with the needs and wants of the local and regional communities and residents.

WHERE WE’RE GOING

Recruiting and retaining staff

Last year, Northern Health created a new position, a Recruitment and Retention Ambassador for Northwest BC, to assist with staff recruitment and retention initiatives for facilities throughout the region. Brad Leier was hired into the position in November 2022 and a big part of his role is focused on recruitment for the new facilities planned for Terrace: the new Mills Memorial Hospital and Seven Sisters.

The recruitment aspect of Brad’s role is centered around building recruitment capacity in the Northwest through establishing and maintaining partnerships with community partners including the local schools and school districts, Indigenous employment and training offices, community service groups, WorkBC centres, and post-secondary institutions. Brad’s day-to-day work includes conducting school visits, recruitment presentations, helping prospective staff navigate the application process, participating in career fairs, as well as working with career and employment councillors to increase their awareness of the many careers available with Northern Health.

Brad Leier, NH’s new NW Recruitment and Retention Ambassador, lives in Terrace on a farm with his wife Dena and their two kids Jackson and Melanie. The other aspect of Brad’s role – retention – sees him supporting initiatives aimed at creating the best work environments possible across the Northwest.

Brad lives in Terrace with his wife Dena and their two children, Jackson and Melanie. Moving from Alberta 12 years ago, he now calls BC home. Brad has over a decade of experience in healthcare and has worked in a variety of positions within both the health and post-secondary sectors. When he’s not working, you will find Brad on his small farm – Graham Acres Homestead – where he and his wife are in the process of launching a creamery, thanks to their growing herd of dairy goats.

Preparing for the big moves and future operations

The new Seven Sisters is set to open less than a year from now, and the new hospital should be in operations in 2025, in little more than two years. That may seem like lots of time but there’s a significant amount of work to do to prepare to move into and operate both new facilities.

In her new role as Transition Coordinator, Anne Chisholm is tasked with coordinating and supporting staff, physicians, and managers, to become ready to provide care, services and supports in the new hospital and Seven Sisters. She will also support community partners and patients in getting to know the new facilities.

LEARN MORE

Go to letstalk.northernhealth.ca/MMH

A worker installs the last of the new Seven Sisters roof frames with the help of a crane on February 13, 2023.Let’s Talk MMH is our one-stop shop for everything related to the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project.

The site has regular project updates, a link to the construction camera and much more. It’s also where you can provide feedback and ask questions about the project.

Check out our two construction cameras

Check out what the construction site looks like in real time on our two construction cameras. One camera is aimed at the new Mills Memorial Hospital and the other shows the new Seven Sisters site.

The link to the cameras is on Let’s Talk MMH. You can download photos, videos an do all kinds of other cool stuff.

Email us at letstalkMMH@northernhealth.ca

Send us an email if you’ve got questions or feedback, or if want to receive email updates like this.

Brad Leier, NH’s new NW Recruitment and Retention Ambassador, lives in Terrace on a farm with his wife Dena and their two kids Jackson and Melanie.

Last year, Northern Health created a new position, a Recruitment and Retention Ambassador for Northwest BC, to assist with staff recruitment and retention initiatives for facilities throughout the region. Brad Leier was hired into the position in November 2022 and a big part of his role is focused on recruitment for the new facilities planned for Terrace: the new Mills Memorial Hospital and Seven Sisters.

The recruitment aspect of Brad’s role is centered around building recruitment capacity in the Northwest through establishing and maintaining partnerships with community partners including the local schools and school districts, Indigenous employment and training offices, community service groups, WorkBC centres, and post-secondary institutions. Brad’s day-to-day work includes conducting school visits, recruitment presentations, helping prospective staff navigate the application process, participating in career fairs, as well as working with career and employment councillors to increase their awareness of the many careers available with Northern Health.

The other aspect of Brad’s role – retention – sees him supporting initiatives aimed at creating the best work environments possible across the Northwest.

Brad lives in Terrace with his wife Dena and their two children, Jackson and Melanie. Moving from Alberta 12 years ago, he now calls BC home. Brad has over a decade of experience in healthcare and has worked in a variety of positions within both the health and post-secondary sectors. When he’s not working, you will find Brad on his small farm – Graham Acres Homestead – where he and his wife are in the process of launching a creamery, thanks to their growing herd of dairy goats

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.

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

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.

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.