Preliminary sitework is set to get underway for the new BC Cancer centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). Once complete in 2028, cancer patients living in Central and North Vancouver Island will be able to receive the care they need closer to home.
“It’s very gratifying to see this critically important and life-saving facility begin to take shape,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “We are one step closer to the cancer care that people who live in the central, west coast, and northern regions of Vancouver Island need – from prevention and detection right through to treatment.”
In the spring of this year, work will begin to expand parking availability at the hospital, including a new surface level parking lot at Boundary Avenue and Nelson Street, followed by construction of a new three-storey parkade at the northeast corner of Dufferin Crescent and Boundary Avenue. The parking lot is slated to be complete in 2025 and the parkade in 2026. Combined, these projects will bring 190 new parking spaces to the NRGH campus.
“The beginning of preliminary sitework marks an important milestone in the advancement of cancer care for people in the region,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair. “When it opens, the new BC Cancer centre will become a beacon of hope, recovery, and support in the fight against cancer.”
Tree removal on the site will begin in late February and be complete prior to the start of the spring bird nesting season. Island Health worked with an accredited arborist on a tree management plan to determine which trees can be safely retained and identify those that need to be removed.
Minimal disruptions to parking and traffic patterns are anticipated during the tree removal period; however, patients, visitors and staff/medical staff should plan for additional time when travelling to NRGH.
A partnership between BC Cancer (Provincial Health Services Authority) and Island Health, the new BC Cancer centre at NRGH will address the critical need for radiation treatment services for residents of Nanaimo and surrounding communities. The new cancer centre will provide radiation therapy, including a CT simulator and linear accelerator vaults to provide radiation treatment. The centre will also offer an outpatient oncology ambulatory care unit with exam rooms and consult rooms, a PET/CT diagnostic scanner, systemic therapy, an oncology pharmacy and outpatient dispensary, and a sacred space.
“This project will greatly enhance access to cancer care, benefiting not only Nanaimo residents but also those in central and northern Vancouver Island communities,” said Tracy Irwin, chief operating officer, BC Cancer. “Since the project was announced last April, many hours have been spent refining the design, engaging partners, and ensuring that the new centre provides patient-centred care for years to come.”
Construction of the cancer centre building is currently scheduled to start this fall and be complete by 2028. More information is available on the BC Cancer website.
The new cancer centre is a part of B.C.’s 10-year Cancer Action Plan, which outlines immediate steps to better prevent, detect and treat cancers, delivering improved care for people facing cancer now, while preparing for the growing needs of the future.
Image is a rendering and may not represent the final design of the new BC Cancer Centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.