Latest news from the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project
2023
May 26: 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.
May 18: Check out the amazing photo that was taken at 6775 Bell McKinnon Road: Photo of the Week.
May 2: 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.
February 2: 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.
January: 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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October 27:
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
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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
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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
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Community Info Session on June 30
June 23: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
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June 10: Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project Update
- BC Government News Release & Video
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Next steps taken for new Cowichan District Hospital - BC Government Media Release
April 1: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.”
- Land Transfer Ceremony
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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
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December 18: Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project Request for Qualifications Issued
2019
- Fall Update
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Feb: Patient partner volunteers needed for Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project engagement session in early March.
2018
- Notice for Bell McKinnon neighbours
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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
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November: Drop-in Community Information Sessions happening throughout the Cowichan Valley.
- Notice for Bell McKinnon neighbours
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October: Notice for Bell McKinnon Neighbours Minor activity at the Proposed Hospital Site on Bell McKinnon Road.