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


  • 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.

  • Farewell Sleeping Beauty

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    In preparation for its demolition, Sleeping Beauty has been fenced off and workers have been removing materials from the building.

    Starting Monday, October 31, the Sleeping Beauty building on Tetrault Street will be demolished over approximately five days.

    The demolition of Sleeping Beauty is necessary to make room for the new Mills Memorial hospital and parking at the future facility.

    While the demolition won’t be especially noisy, it may cause airborne dust. Depending on the weather, to mitigate this dust, the contractor will use hoses to dampen the material as needed. Still, we suggest neighbours keep windows closed during this time. It’s cold outside, so hopefully won’t be a problem!

    Temporary closure of Tetrault parking lot

    To accommodate the demolition of Sleeping Beauty, the new, temporary hospital parking lot on Tetrault street will be fenced off and unavailable between Sunday, October 30 and Sunday, November 6. This will ensure the safe movement of trucks removing materials from the site and prevent damage from flying debris.

    We understand any decrease in parking is difficult and we are working to find solutions to relieve this temporary situation next week.

    The Sleeping Beauty sign and building (behind it), before construction of the new hospital began.

    Multipurpose building with a rich history

    Sleeping Beauty was originally built in 1961. Over its lifetime, the building has had many purposes, including but not limited to being a nurses' residence as well as 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 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.

    While it’s sad to say goodbye to a building with such rich history, it’s exciting to make way for the new hospital.

  • 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'.

  • Time lapse video - Crane Removal

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    Over the course of three days, starting Friday, September 30, the two tower cranes were dismantled with the use of other cranes, and removed from the site. Check out a time lapse video showing the process.

  • FAQ: How many new staff will you hire?

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    With an increase in services, a significant increase in the number of staff in various positions will be necessary. Plans for staffing the new facility, including recruitment, retention and training plans, have already started but are not yet finalized.

    Staffing plans consider many factors, including how to balance the duties and workloads of different staff in different departments within the new facility. We are currently working on determining the exact staffing levels that will be needed for the new Mills Memorial Hospital and new Seven Sisters facility. However, we already know significant employment opportunities will likely be available in a number of areas.

    • Care Aides

    • Diagnostics Imaging Technologists

    • Dietitians

    • Facility and maintenance Workers

    • Housekeeping, laundry and food services workers

    • Indigenous Patient Liaisons

    • Laboratory Technologists

    • Licensed Practical Nurses

    • Nurse Practitioners

    • Patient Reception and Health Information Professionals

    • Pharmacy Staff

    • Physicians

    • Physio and Occupational Therapists

    • Registered Nurses

    • Respiratory Therapists

    • Social Workers

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



  • Cranes are coming down!

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    The cranes have been part of views from every direction in Terrace for the last year, including this one from Lanfear Hill.

    Terrace’s skyline will change drastically in the next few days.

    As of Tuesday, October 4, the two tower cranes on the Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) construction site will be gone.

    The cranes garnered significant attention when they first went up. For several months, local residents – including many excited children – would stand on the sidewalk near the Sande Overpass watching them work. Similarly, local photographers and videographers took the opportunity to catch visuals of the cranes swiveling and lifting, as this is the only time Terrace has ever had something like this in town.

    The cranes will be dismantled over the course of four days, starting Friday, September 30. The crane on the south end of the site, closer to Haugland will be taken down first and the crane on the north end will follow.

    Tower cranes are made up of a vertical tower (the mast) and an outstretched jib (the working arm). The jibs will be removed first, then the vertical towers taken down in pieces. This is the reverse order of how the cranes were put up.

    The two cranes were initially erected just over a year ago, in August 2021, for the purpose of moving heavy equipment and materials. With the structural bulk of the new hospital complete, from here on, either smaller, mobile cranes or teleporters, which are forklifts with an extending boom, will be used to move materials to upper floor locations.

    Cranes being erected last summer. Fun facts about the MMH tower cranes and its operators!

    • Each operator works with a person on the ground, called a rigger or a swamper. A rigger’s main responsibility is to safely hook up loads for the operator to move with the crane.

    • Each morning the MMH crane operators would start their shifts at 6am and meet to discuss plans for the days with safety being at the forefront of these discussions. They’d start climbing up their towers to the crane cab at approximately 6:20 am, often in the dark but under the bright lighting on the top of the mast guiding their way. After running safety tests and inspections, they’d start moving materials around 7am. Shifts were 12 hours long, ending at 6pm, and the operators take their breaks in the cab, not leaving their post until the end of their shift.

    • Each crane has two radio systems for on site communications. One is used to communicate with the rigger. The other communicates with the other crane operator.

    • Crane operators must consider many factors when moving materials on site, including but not limited to, what’s happening on the ground, the weight and shape of the materials, the outside climate (especially the wind), how to best mitigate risks, and much more.

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  • First ever Indigenous Advisory Working Group

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    Sharon Bryant of Kitsumkalum First Nation (right front) and Isabelle McKee of Kitselas First Nation (left front) are both members of the MMH Indigenous Advisory Working Group. Here they are pictured at a ground blessing ceremony on site last spring. In the back row are Gerald Nyce of the Kitselas Health department, and Northern Health Board Chair Colleen Nyce.

    In light of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation this Friday, September 30, we wanted to tell you an important way Northern Health has engaged with Indigenous groups on the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project.


    First ever Indigenous Advisory Working Group supports design of new Terrace hospital

    With a budget of more than $600 million, the Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) Replacement project, which includes the building of a new hospital in Terrace, is the largest capital project Northern Health has undertaken to date.

    Northern Health engages with Indigenous groups, communities, and patients in many ways. And to date, all Northern Health capital projects, including the MMH project, have been supported by Capital Advisory Committees, which include representatives from local First Nations.

    The MMH project, however, was the first Northern Health capital project to be supported by an Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) specific to the project.

    “Being part of the IAWG and being able to provide feedback on plans has been wonderful. It’s exciting to be able to help create a safe space, share our culture and the ways it may be best represented in the new hospital. Unity and input from the group will help Indigenous patients feel safer and more welcome at the new facility,” said Sharon Bryant, a member of the Kitsumkalum Nation and the MMH Indigenous Advisory Working Group.

    The MMH IAWG was formed in the spring of 2021. Members include representatives from the Nations of Kitsumkalum, Kitselas, Nisga’a and Gitxsan, Metis Nation of BC, Kermodei Friendship Society, and First Nations Health Authority.

    The purpose of the MMH Indigenous Advisory Working Group is to have a table for Indigenous input into design aspects of the project. The group provides input pertaining to considerations unique to Indigenous culture and practices to ensure the new hospital will be culturally safe, welcoming, respectful and relevant.

    Aspects of the project that may be influenced by this group include but are not limited to patient experience, culturally appropriate design, artwork, signage, and other local considerations of interest that arise as the group meets.

    “Northern Health is tremendously grateful for the participation of the members of this group. Their input is extremely valuable, and will help Northern Health in its ongoing desire and commitment to have culturally safe care occurring in culturally safe facilities,” says Ciro Panessa, Northern Health Chief Operating Officer, Northwest Health Service Delivery Area.

    The MMH Replacement project consists of the building of a new hospital in Terrace and a new Seven Sisters facility, which provides a mental health rehabilitation and recovery program on the same property as the Terrace hospital. Among many other exciting new features, the new hospital will be more than double the size of the current facility, with almost double the number of beds, double the number of psychiatry beds, and double the number of emergency department treatment spaces.

    In addition to the IAWG, the MMH Replacement Project is also supported by a Community Advisory Working Group, which also has representatives from local First Nations.

    Input from the CAWG and IAWG is filtered upwards. It first goes to the MMH Capital Advisory Committee. Then it goes 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.

    Let’s Talk MMH is where you’ll find everything you want to know about the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement Project and all the groups we’ve described.

    Note: The graphic used for this story was specially designed by Gitxsan artist Cori Johnson for Northern Health to recognize National Truth and Reconciliation/Orange shirt day. Read more about the graphic and the artist.

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  • PCL golf tournament raises money for hospital foundation

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    Dianne Rooker (left) and Heather Bellamy of the REM Lee Hospital Foundation at the PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. 2022 Mills Memorial Hospital Project Golf Tournament

    Good weather and a good cause made for a great wrap up to two great days at the Skeena Valley Golf & Country Club this month.

    PCL Constructors Westcoast hosted a golf tournament in Terrace on September 6 and 13 to raise money for the Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation, which in turn raises money for two local health facilities: Mills Memorial Hospital and Terraceview Lodge.

    Tournament participants included representatives from sponsors, PCL and the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement Project team. The tournament's leading sponsors include Air Canada and Diversified Transportation. Other sponsors include All North, Clean Harbors, Flynn, HDR Architecture, Houle Electrical, IG Wealth Management, Janitors Warehouse, Modern Niagara, Robertson Wall and Ceiling, Smith and Andersen, Soprema, Sunbelt Rentals, Sunco Drywall, Totem Ford Terrace, United Rentals and Willscot.

    PCL is the contractor designing and building the new Mills Memorial Hospital and Seven Sisters in Terrace. The golf tournament is one of several volunteer and fundraising initiatives the company has undertaken to benefit the local community.

    The tournament took place over the course of two afternoons to accommodate participants working on alternate shifts.

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  • 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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  • July 2022 - Quarterly Project Update

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    Download a pdf of the July 2022 Quarterly Project Update.


    CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION!

    Where we’re at

    In June, we celebrated a year of construction! Here’s a few numbers from work completed to date.

    • Over 100,000 tonnes of rebar
    • 63 different slabs poured with 17,000 cubic metres of concrete
    • More than 80 local businesses secured work on the site (see full list on Let’s Talk MMH)

    The project remains on schedule and on budget.

    Where we’re going

    Several exciting things will be happening before the end of the year.

    • Both tower cranes will be coming down.
    • Outside shell of the new hospital will be complete.
    • Internal and external information sessions about the project will be offered.

    Project completion

    The project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2026. The “substantial completion” date, however, is scheduled for September 2024. Substantial completion is the point when Northern Health will take possession of the new hospital and continue work towards getting the facility ready for patient use. After that, the current facility will need be decommissioned and demolished, and the landscaping and parking will also need to be completed.

    Note that capital projects are complicated and many variables can affect timelines and deliverables.

    Go to Let’s Talk MMH for a downloadable pdf of the visual timeline.


    NEW HOSPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

    New ambulance garage will increase patient comfort and care

    Patients arriving at the new Mills Memorial Hospital by ambulance can expect a more comfortable and private experience as a result of a new, enclosed, drive-through ambulance garage.

    At the current hospital, ambulances back into the emergency department lot behind the hospital. Patients are then transported out of the back of the ambulance, through the elements, into the main emergency entrance.

    With the new garage, which has two bays, patients will be transferred in a fully enclosed, temperature-regulated space. Once the ambulance pulls into the garage, the doors will shut to protect patients and staff from the outdoors and weather, which can be extreme at times in Terrace. Patients will then be transported directly into the emergency department, far away from the main emergency entrance.

    The new garage was designed to meet industry standards in consultation with BC Emergency Health Services, which oversees the BC Ambulance Service.

    The new ambulance garage is on the northeast corner of the new hospital, near Keith Avenue.

    What spaces will be available for families to visit and gather?

    The new hospital has been designed with all types of patients and visitors in mind, including patients with large extended families, and patients with no family.

    All rooms in the new facility will be private and allow families to gather comfortably and privately. Each room has its own bathroom and window, as well as visitor seating.

    Several other spaces have also been placed throughout the facility. For example, family rooms, quiet rooms, and the TV lounge. This gives patients multiple places to go with their visitors other than their room. It also allows patients who may get lonely to have places to go and be around others.

    The spiritual space on the first floor is also available for families to gather. The space has a large gathering room, as well as a small gathering room, a storage area, and a kitchenette. It also has technology in the larger room so that family members can join those in the room virtually.

    Outside, several gardens with seating are also planned throughout the site.


    PROJECT WORKING GROUPS

    Engagement is a major part of Northern Health capital projects. We’ve engaged various stakeholders and partners in a variety of ways, sharing information and gathering input, as the project has developed and progressed.

    A significant way we have received valuable input into the new hospital has been through both the MMH Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) and MMH Community Advisory Working Group (CAWG).

    The work of the IAWG and the CAWG informs the project to help ensure a facility that reflects and supports the communities served by Mills Memorial Hospital. Over the last few months, both groups have met several times with members of the MMH Replacement Project Team to provide feedback on a variety of topics. Aspects of the project that may be influenced by these groups include but are not limited to patient experience, culturally appropriate design, artwork, signage, and local considerations of interest that arise as we meet.

    Input to date from both groups has been extremely valuable and we are tremendously grateful for the participation of the members.

    Input from the CAWG and IAWG is filtered upwards. It first goes to the MMH Capital Advisory Committee. Then it goes 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.

    There is a lot going on behind the scenes in the construction of a new hospital, but a simplified version of reporting, when it comes to these groups, looks like the graphic on this page.

    Both the IAWG and CAWG are schedule to meet next before the summer’s end.

    Terms of reference for both working groups and the MMH Capital Advisory Committee can be found in the documents section of this website. Take a look to find out more info about the groups' purpose and membership:


    MORE INFORMATION

    Go to Let’s Talk MMH

    Go to letstalk.northernhealth.ca/mmh for regular project updates, photos, videos and other relevant documents. 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 and is where you can provide feedback and thoughts on the project.

    Get in touch

    Got questions or feedback, or want your email added to our quarterly update distribution list? Email: letstalkMMH@northernhealth.ca

    Sarah Artis, the project liaison for the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement Project, will respond.

    Check out the construction camera

    The Mills Memorial construction camera is 24/7. The link to the camera is on Let’s Talk MMH and has downloadable progress photos and time lapse videos.

    The photos below are from Saturday, July 2, 2022.

    The top photo shows the new hospital construction. The white material you see on the first floor is insulation. The siding that will ultimately cover the outside of hospital will cover the insulation.

    The bottom photo shows the future site of the new Seven Sister facility. This is the southwest corner of the site, to the west of the current hospital’s main entrance.


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