Improving health-care services for people in northern Vancouver Island region
Press Release
PORT HARDY –
Summary
- The Port Hardy Hospital will be expanding and modernizing its emergency department so more people can access emergency care
- The hospital will also be getting a new sacred space and Indigenous health office, additional parking and improvements to staff workstations
- Construction is anticipated to start in summer 2026
People in Port Hardy and surrounding communities will benefit from upgrades to the Port Hardy Hospital, improving access to health care in the region.
“People in the northern Island deserve dependable, high-quality care in their community,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “These upgrades to Port Hardy Hospital will modernize the emergency department, create culturally safe spaces and improve the facility for patients, families and staff. Investments like this are part of our work to strengthen health-care services in rural and remote regions and make sure all communities have the support they need.”
The total anticipated project cost is $45 million, including $39 million from the Province, $5 million from Island Health and $1 million from the Regional Hospital District of Mount Waddington.
The improvements include:
- upgrades to the emergency department, including a building extension and ambulance canopy
- conversion of existing office and storage space into long-term care rooms for seniors, with up to five beds
- new culturally safe spaces, including a sacred space and Indigenous health office, to support the delivery of culturally safe care
- expanding and modernizing the maternity delivery suite
- expanding and modernizing laboratory services
- morgue expansion
- 21 new parking stalls and rough-in for future electric-vehicle charging stations
- expansion of administrative areas to improve staff workspaces and increase efficiency
“This project will help support patients, staff and the broader community in Port Hardy for decades to come,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Modernizing this facility will strengthen the region’s health-care system, investing in the infrastructure we need to make sure people on the northern Island have access to reliable, high‑quality services close to home.”
Port Hardy Hospital opened in 1980 and is the largest hospital in northern Vancouver Island region, with more than 6,000 emergency room visits annually. This will be the first major upgrade to the hospital since its opening.
“Enhancements to Port Hardy Hospital are helping to ensure people across northern Vancouver Island can access care closer to home, when it matters most,” said Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health. “Emergency department upgrades, the addition of culturally safe spaces, long-term care beds and other important investments will allow the hospital to better meet the unique and diverse needs of the communities it serves.”
Construction on the project is anticipated to start in summer 2026 and will take approximately three years using a phased approach to minimize service disruption, with completion anticipated in late 2029.
“This is an important step for the entire Mount Waddington region,” said Andrew Hory, chair, Mount Waddington Regional Hospital District. “These upgrades will help improve access to emergency care and support better health-care worker recruitment and retention in our communities.”
Supporting health care in northern Vancouver Island region
The project builds on investments to improve access to health-care services in northern Vancouver Island region.
- It includes the launch of a mobile CT (computed tomography) scanner at Port Hardy Hospital in December 2023. Previously, northern Island patients had to travel to Campbell River, more than 230 kilometres away, for CT scans.
- A local shuttle service was established in 2023 between several sites in the region, as well as a daily service that connects northern Vancouver Island with community hospitals in Campbell River and Comox.
- The opening of the Columbia Court health-care staff housing units is expected in late 2026 and will help improve recruitment and retention for staff in the region.
The project is part of the Province’s work to improve and expand health-care services for people on Vancouver Island and throughout B.C.
Learn More:
- To learn more about Island Health, visit: https://www.islandhealth.ca/
Contact:
Ministry of Infrastructure
Media Relations
778-676-2064
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