Latest news from the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project 

2025

April 22 - Earth Day: Cowichan's future hospital sets new standards in healthcare efficiency and sustainability

This Earth Day, the Cowichan District Hospital (CDH) Replacement Project is celebrating its future as a sustainable healthcare facility, with more space for patient care and a reduced environmental footprint. Cowichan’s new hospital is the first fossil fuel-free hospital in BC and Canada’s first hospital to achieve Zero Carbon Building – Design™ certification from the Canada Green Building Council. Read the news release: Read the media release here and check out our spring site tour in the video below.

April 20 - New CDH on CHEK News: Cowichan District Hospital closing the gap between Indigenous communities and the medical system

Tchadas Leo from CHEK News stopped by to learn how the Project teams are working collaboratively with Indigenous peoples, staff and patient partners to transform hospital care journeys at the new CDH. Read the story and watch the video on CHEK News.

March 31:

When the new Cowichan District Hospital (CDH) opens in 2027, design decisions being made today will ensure it is providing the safest possible care to the growing population of the Cowichan Valley, while also ensuring the safety of staff. With a building three times the size of the existing facility, the CDH Replacement Project Nuts'a'maat Alliance has been collaborating with program staff, and using evidence-based design research, to tackle persistent healthcare challenges. Read the full story in the Island Health Magazine.

January 28: Art@CDH program news

Check out the first edition of the Art@CDH program newsletter.

January 15: Double Your Impact: $5 Million Match Campaign

The Cowichan District Hospital Foundation is thrilled to announce a landmark partnership with Jimmy Pattison to support the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment for Cowichan’s new hospital. This initiative features matching donations up to $5 million, providing a unique opportunity for community members to double the impact of their gifts toward the new hospital that is currently under construction.

Donate today to double your impact.

2024

December 10: New CDH - Virtual Update for Staff and Community 

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project team invited all staff and community members to a live MS Teams webinar on Tuesday, December 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Thank you to everyone who tuned in live, and to all who submitted questions in advance via Slido, and during the webinar Q&A. Timestamps are provided directly below the video. 

Time stamps:

• Territory Acknowledgment and Introduction - Westley Davidson
• Traditional Welcome – Stuart Pagaduan: 2:20
• Quick Facts, timeline, Indigenous Relations Team update – Westley Davidson: 3:02
• Construction progress, timelines - Sean Quimby – 5:21
• Clinical updates, current to future services, program enhancements, UBC Faculty of Medicine spaces, Psychiatric Emergency Services, Community Oncology Network space, compliance checks, wayfinding - Dr. Pat Gallagher, Island Health – 9:50
• Operational Readiness, the journey from Design to Day 1– Corry Pettigrew 17:18
• Cowichan Health & Care Plan – Jennifer Sirup 22:21
• Art@CDH Art Program and site design – Kathryn Gagnon and Shane Czypyha 27:11
• BC Infrastructure Benefits - Skilled trades workforce and opportunities - Greg Johnson 35:27
• Cowichan District Hospital Foundation update - Naomi Low 39:33
• Questions & Answers – 41:37

November 7: Mass timber comes to life in the new CDH Community Hall!

We’re excited to unveil the stunning mass timber features in the Community Hall at the new Cowichan District Hospital (CDH)! This eco-friendly material supports sustainability while bringing the beauty of the surrounding landscape indoors. The use of wood as large posts and crossbeams, allowing an open concept such as the Theew’t-hw (Coast Salish Big House), creates an entrance that fosters connection. A big thanks to our team and partners for the intricate installation and creative approach to meeting rigorous infection prevention and control requirements. This is a big step inside, bringing us closer towards our vision to create the most welcoming place of healing and hope.

Join our CDH site stars as they tour their new community hall for the first time here: 

November 1, 2024: Join us for the Art@CDH Open House event on Friday, November 1 from 1-4 p.m. at the Cowichan Community Centre (Genoa Room). 

Learn about the various art opportunities at the future Cowichan District Hospital and Cowichan Urgent & Primary Care Centre. Find out how your art can play a transformative role in community healing. Meet with project staff, designers and more! Drop-in any time between 1 and 4pm. Click here to register. A heartfelt THANK YOU to the hundreds of artists who took the time to visit with us at the Cowichan Community Centre! Next steps will be posted on our Art@CDH page, but please be sure to register to receive program updates.

September 18, 2024: Call for artists interested in enhancing healing environments at the future Cowichan District Hospital 

To enrich healing environments indoors and outside the new Cowichan District Hospital, expected to open in 2027, Island Health is pleased to announce a call for artwork to be commissioned for display at the site. Local artists are invited to contribute their creativity and vision to foster spaces of healing, hope and comfort for patients, families, staff, medical staff and volunteers. Read the news release.

August 7, 2024: Summer Update 

Check out our summer update to catch up on the progress since our last newsletter and see the dramatic changes and milestone moments that have occurred over the past six months.

July 22, 2024: Behind the Scenes: New CDH Emergency Department Mockup 

Terra and Tere take us behind the scenes of the future Cowichan District Hospital Emergency Department in our Mockup Minutes series!

Our care teams share a deep commitment to their community and a clear vision for improving health care journeys for all. See their process for developing a new care model for patients and a new workspace for people providing emergency services.

July 3, 2024: Read about us in the Summer 2024 edition of Island Health Magazine

Print copies are available at Island Health facility locations. Check the entrances for news stands.

July 2: Urgent and primary care centre coming soon to Cowichan 

People living in Duncan and the surrounding area will soon benefit from having better access to team-based longitudinal and urgent primary care through a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC). Read the Province of BC's news release.

June 14, 2024: CDH's National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

Our project team was honoured to attend Cowichan District Hospital's National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration with staff and community partners. The hospital event occurred earlier in the month with the understanding that staff and Indigenous Leaders may wish to participate in the community events held on June 21.

May 23, 2024: New Cowichan District Hospital reaches milestone

On May 23, we celebrated a major construction milestone for the future CDH. To commemorate structural completion of the Diagnostic & Treatment Centre, project partners gathered to watch as crews raised a 12-metre steel beam into the roof of the top floor, with more than 1,000 signatures from staff at the current hospital, team members working on the build and community partners. Click on the image below to watch a video from this exciting event and check out our Flickr albums for more photos of the Topping Off Celebration and our Healthcare staff beam signing/BBQ. For additional details, read the Province of BC's news release.

April 30, 2024: Staff BBQ and Beam Signing Celebration

In preparation for structural completion of the Diagnostic & Treatment Centre at the new hospital, the Nuts'a'maat Alliance was honoured to be able to bring the project closer to staff at the current CDH. Before making its way to the rooftop of the D&T, the Alliance delivered a 12-metre steel beam made to the current hospital for a staff BBQ/beam signing celebration in honour of healthcare staff and user group contributions towards the design of their future workplace. More than 400 CDH staff stopped by to enjoy a burger and sign the beam with their teammates. The Project team enjoyed chatting with staff from all programs, at all stages of their healthcare careers; some just starting out – as early as day two of their orientation – while others were celebrating their final day of work before embarking on retirement.

Visit our Flickr album for more photos from this special day.

April 17, 2024: Caring for patients while caring for the planet

Read the spring edition of Island Health Magazine to learn how the new Cowichan District Hospital is raising the bar on environmental sustainability in acute care facilities. 

February 5, 2024: Progress Update

Work on the new CDH continues to progress at a steady pace over on Bell McKinnon Road. Check out our winter update to see the dramatic changes since our last check in, and enjoy some  behind the scenes snapshots to see how we're working with staff and community members to develop this important health and care resource for people in Cowichan.

2023

Innovation and inclusivity for accessible care journeys

December 4, 2023

A huge thanks to Cowichan community member Mitch and guide dog Mario for joining us at the new CDH construction trailer. The project’s Inclusive Diversity Focus Group created innovative, 3D tactile tour models so Mitch could review the hospital plans and share how the design for the new hospital can support positive care journeys for people who are blind or partially sighted. Read more.

Vancouver Island University students visit

November 10, 2023

The project team was delighted to host students from Vancouver Island University's Women and Indigenous Peoples in Trades and Construction Foundation at the new Cowichan District Hospital Site construction site.

As one of the region's most innovative and multifaceted capital infrastructure projects, we are proud to support training and employment opportunities for the next generation of skilled trades teams on Vancouver Island.

Fun fact: Depending on the trade, people who begin as first year apprentices on the project this year can potentially become a Journeyperson by the time the new hospital is completed, and will be ready to take on the next capital infrastructure project in Vancouver Island communities.

Fall 2023 Virtual Community Update

October 18, 2023

Thank you to all who joined us on Zoom and to all who submitted questions on Slido and during the info session. For those unable to tune in live, please see the following recording. Time stamps are noted below the video.

Zoom info session

October 11, 2023

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project team invites all community members to a live Zoom webinar on Wednesday, October 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

We're excited to bring you behind the scenes for an update on the progress of the new facility, with a focus on environmental sustainability. You'll also hear from our partners at the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation, whose members generously support exceptional care in Cowichan, and BC Infrastructure Benefits, the employer for the skilled trade workforce building your new CDH.

Click here to join the Zoom webinar. Presentation will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by a question and answer session. 

Visit Slido and enter code #NewCDH to submit your questions in advance and our panelists will answer them during the Zoom Q&A.Please note that the webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend the live session. Email us for more information.

Download the event flyer.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2023

Site crews building the future CDH honoured National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by wearing orange shirts, participating in Reconciliation events and raising awareness. Site crews and sub-trades also helped raise an orange shirt and red dress high above the site on Saturday, in collaboration with community members and colleagues whose loved ones survived residential schools.​

At the current CDH, Jennifer Jones, project director, Indigenous Relations, Cowichan Tribes elder, Doreen Peter, and Garrett Elliott, CI manager, Indigenous Health, co-hosted a cultural safety workshop for hospital staff. This virtual and in-person event offered opportunities to learn about the local Indigenous communities that CDH serves, cultural traditions specific to the people of the Cowichan Valley, and resources for supporting culturally safe care.

The hospital continued its focus on Cultural Safety throughout the weekend. On September 30, there was a site-wide honouring of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a traditional Indigenous meal for lunch; including fish soup, salmon, and bannock. Each tray was accompanied by a bookmark or sticker with “Every Child Matters" artwork and an info sheet describing the day's significance.

The Project is pleased to include an Indigenous Kitchen in the future CDH to support culturally safe care journeys for Indigenous patients and families.

Cowichan Exhibition Fall Fair

 September 15-17, 2023

The CDH Replacement Project team, recruitment teams and CDH Foundation staff had a spectacular time at the Cowichan Exhibition fall fair! Those who stopped by our ‘pop up’ information booth received guided tours through the project’s architectural renderings, blue prints and answers to their questions regarding the new hospital build. 

Representatives from Island Health Clinical Operations, CDH replacement project Indigenous Relations, and Recruitment were on hand to share how this exciting new addition to the Cowichan valley is continuing to unfold. Active recruitment campaigns continue to focus on hiring clinical staff for the current hospital site, opportunities for new grads and a myriad of opportunities to help build the new CDH as part of the skilled trades teams with BC Infrastructure Benefits.

Thank you to all who stopped by to chat with us. We're already looking forward to the next one! Find more pictures at our Flickr album below.

Diagnostic & Treatment Centre tour

August 30, 2023

You don’t need wings to fly through the new Cowichan District Hospital. Join us for an uplifting tour of the future Diagnostic & Treatment Centre, Patient Registration and lounge spaces, Emergency Department and an inpatient unit, and get a sense of what the new facility will look like when it opens for patient care in 2027.

Summer update

August 2023

Construction teams are also making amazing strides at the site on Bell McKinnon Road. We’ve started to come up and out of the ground as the crews work on the “slab on grade” portion of the Diagnostic & Treatment Centre. Check out our summer update to catch up on the progress to date and meet some of the people who share a passion for creating a new hospital that works for patients, staff and the environment.

Summer Magazine Feature

June 28, 2023

The summer edition of Island Health Magazine shines a light on all of the people and programs that are working to improve health and care for people in Cowichan communities. This season's edition features:

An update on the new CDH (p.5) An introduction to the construction industry's first Project Elder and Indigenous Cultural Advisor (p.8) Supporters of the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation (p.9) An overview of the Cowichan Health & Care Plan, a community-centred approach that is helping patients manage their health at home or in community while avoiding hospital admissions (p.10) Learning from Indigenous knowledge in Cowichan: research projects to improve access to culturally safe care in Cowichan (p.14) Rethinking our relationship with water - a discussion about the importance of protecting and conserving this critical resource, featuring Dr. Shannon Waters, Cowichan Valley Medical Health Officer) p.28) Summer recipes, job opportunities and much more!

CDHRP Team in the community

 June 28, 2023

Members of the Cowichan District Hospital Nutsa'maat Alliance had a spectacular time chatting with everyone who visited our pop-up info table at the Duncan Farmers Market on June 24 and the Cowichan Valley Job Fair at the construction site on June 26!

It was a pleasure to share the architectural renderings with the community, answer questions about the new CDH and support job seekers to reach their employment goals in construction and healthcare.  A HUGE thank you to all who joined us at these events and to our hiring partners working on the new hospital and other exciting projects across Cowichan.

Learn more about the project (including job opportunities!) at Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project.

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day

 June 15, 2023

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Team is grateful to have had the opportunity to gather with Indigenous community members, vendors and Island Health staff at Cowichan District Hospital on June 15, 2023, to participate in an early National Indigenous Peoples Day event to recognize, celebrate and honour the Indigenous peoples whose histories and cultures are rooted in this land.

Job Fair

June 26, 2023: Job Fair

This event is a unique opportunity for local job seekers to connect with representatives from various employers who are actively recruiting, explore potential career paths, and learn about current and future employment prospects in the region.

Duncan Farmer's Market

 June 24, 2023

Spring update

 May 26, 2023

It’s springtime and construction on the new Cowichan District Hospital is in full bloom! Watch this short video and learn about the Nutsa’maat Alliance, the integrated team delivering this exciting project. See what the site crew has been up to so far in 2023 and find out how you can join the construction or healthcare teams who are working to build a community of care in a community that cares. 

Photo update

May 18, 2023

Check out the amazing photo that was taken at 6775 Bell McKinnon Road: Photo of the Week.

Concrete pour

 May 2, 2023

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project team finished the largest concrete pour for the new hospital! With three 52-metre-tall concrete pumps and an average of 19 concrete trucks arriving at site per hour from 5 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., 30 workers unloaded an impressive 2,220 cubic metres of concrete.

This remarkable team even completed the pour five hours ahead of schedule. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this milestone and to the neighbours of North Cowichan for their patience as we completed this important work.

Zoom info session

February 2, 2023

Virtual Info Session - Check out the renderings for your new hospital! The Project team thanks all who joined us for a live Zoom webinar on Thursday, February 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We have recorded the session for those who may have missed it, and are always happy to hear your feedback.

Contact newcdh@islandhealth.ca for more information.

Excavation preparation

January 2023

Site prep work is underway at the future hospital location on Bell McKinnon Road. We are preparing the site for excavation and will be providing a community update in the not too distant future. Stay tuned for more details on this page, or email newcdh@islandhealth.ca to receive project updates.

2022

Harvesting Opportunities

April 29: Cowichan Tribes share harvest opportunities at site of the new Cowichan District Hospital

 Every now and then, a day comes along to remind us about the importance of partnership and community. For members of the CDH Replacement Project team, April 29 was one of those days. 

Call for Patient Partners

January 25: Thank you to all who responded to our call for Volunteer Patient Partners! We are reviewing your areas of interest and expertise and will be reaching out to applicants in the coming weeks.

2021

Fall Project Update

December 2: Fall 2021 Project Update

This is the place to find out what we’ve been up to and what lies ahead. Inside this edition:

Behind the scenes – The CDH Mental Health & Substance Use team shares how expanded spaces in the future hospital will support better care experiences for patients and families

Patient Partners needed – Find out how you can volunteer to review proposed design solutions during the design and construction phase Joe Elliott, project director for Indigenous engagement, discusses the importance of Indigenous participation and culture safety; and more news you can use to stay up-to-date on the Cowichan District Hospital replacement project.

Call for Patient Partner Volunteers

 November 16: Volunteer Patient Partners Needed

Lend your voice to the new Cowichan District Hospital (CDH)! Patient Partner volunteers are needed to help inform the design of the new CDH. Island Health is seeking patient partners who would like to join the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project Patient Partnership Group (PPG) to help the team ensure the new hospital reflects Island Health’s vision to provide excellent health and care to everyone, everywhere, every time.  

As a patient partner, you will help provide input into the design of the new hospital by working with program user groups representing Ambulatory Care, Emergency, Paediatrics, Perioperative, Maternity, Medical/Surgical Inpatient Units and Mental Health & Substance Use, Medical Imaging and others.

Please join us in this exciting opportunity to help shape your new hospital! To learn more, visit our posting on the Patient Voices Network (kindly RSVP by December 15).

Virtual Info Session

 October 27: Community Info Session 

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project and Island Health Cowichan Valley leadership team invite all community members to a live Zoom webinar on Wednesday, October 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The presentation will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a question and answer session.

Visit www.sli.do and enter code #newcdhinfo to submit your questions in advance and our panelists will answer them during the Zoom Q&A.

Please note that the webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend the live session. Email newcdh@islandhealth.ca for more information. (See below for video). 

Site Surveying at Bell McKinnon & Herd Road

October 12-22: Site Surveying in the Bell McKinnon & Herd Road area (map included) 

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project proponents will be conducting surveys of the surface features along Bell McKinnon and Herd Road during this time. 

Ground surveys will be conducted October 12-15.  Drone surveys over the new hospital site, Bell McKinnon and Herd Road will be conducted October 18-22 (daytime weather dependent). Altitude: 30-100 metres. Noise: 75db.

All necessary permits have been obtained and drone operation will comply with all Transport Canada regulations. 

 

B2B Networking Opportunity

September 22: Business to Business Networking Event 

Infrastructure BC is inviting local contractors, suppliers and businesses who might be interested in working with, or providing products and services to the successful proponent team regarding the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project. This virtual event also allows the prospective proponent teams to enhance their knowledge, understanding, and awareness of local services available, and to build relationships with local contractors, suppliers, and businesses. 

Community Info Session

 June 23: Community Info Session on June 30

COWICHAN VALLEY – The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project and Island Health Cowichan Valley leadership team invite all community members to a live Zoom webinar on Wednesday, June 30 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. 

The presentation will begin at 6:00pm, followed by a question and answer session.

Visit www.sli.do and enter code #newcdh to submit your questions in advance and our panelists will answer them during the Zoom Q&A.

Please note that the webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend the live session. Email newcdh@islandhealth.ca for more information, or click the thumbnail below to view the recording. In recognition of A Day to Listen: Amplifying Indigenous Voices during Indigenous History Month, we are grateful to be joined by Cowichan Tribes Elder, Ron George, who will be providing an opening prayer for this session. We are also pleased to feature a project update from Joe Elliott, project director for Indigenous engagement.

 

Summer Project Update

June 10: Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project Update

BC Government News Release & Video

 April 1: Next steps taken for new Cowichan District Hospital - BC Government Media Release

NORTH COWICHAN - Cowichan Tribes unceded traditional territory - People in the Cowichan Valley are closer to a modern hospital as significant milestones have been reached, including the land transfer and the issuing of a request for proposals (RFP).

“Now more than ever, we recognize the critical importance of our health-care system, and our commitment to replace Cowichan District Hospital acknowledges the priority we place on timely access to high quality health-care services close to home,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “These key milestones bring us closer to getting shovels in the ground to bring the very best health-care facility to the growing communities of the Cowichan Valley.”

Read more

 

Land Transfer Ceremony

March 25: Land Transfer for a New CDH acknowledging Cowichan Tribes unceded traditional territory.

Cowichan Tribes Councillor and Elder Albie Charlie met with Island Health President & CEO Kathy MacNeil and Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital District Chair Aaron Stone to commemorate the land transfer for the new Cowichan District Hospital. As project partners, we gratefully acknowledge these lands belong to the Cowichan Tribes people and we commit to working and walking respectfully beside one another as we build a new place of healing.

2020

Request for Qualifications

December 18: Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project Request for Qualifications Issued

2019

Fall Update

December 9: Cowichan Valley Health & Care Fall 2019 Update Find out what we’ve learned from Indigenous communities, how we’re planning for an environmentally responsible facility, and hear how the Perinatal Working Group is incorporating community feedback into their plans for a new CDH.

Patient Partner Focus Group

September 11: Patient Partners needed for a focus group in October.  Thank you to those patient partners who joined us on September 23.

Summer Update

August 27: Cowichan Valley Health & Care, summer 2019 update Read how local care teams & Cowichan Valley citizens are contributing towards the new hospital plans and are working together to set the stage for healthier communities and a sustainable healthcare system.

Spring Update

May 3: Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project business plan update A behind the scenes look at our first master site planning meeting.

Planning for better health in Cowichan

April: A Different Perspective for Hospitals Dr. Shannon Waters discusses the benefits of planning for a health promoting hospital in the Cowichan Valley.

Patient Partners needed

Feb: Patient partner volunteers needed for Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project engagement session in early March.

2018

Notice for Bell McKinnon neighbours

December: Notice for Neighbours of Bell McKinnon, Anzio, Westcott & Norcross Road: Low level helicopter flight over proposed hospital site on Monday, December 10, 2018. 

Drop-in Community Info Sessions

November: Drop-in Community Information Sessions happening throughout the Cowichan Valley.

Notice for Bell McKinnon neighbours

October: Notice for Bell McKinnon Neighbours Minor activity at the Proposed Hospital Site on Bell McKinnon Road.