A site for the construction of a new Comox Valley Hospital on Ryan Road within the Crown Isle development in Courtenay has been approved.
“This is a very exciting day for all residents of the North Island,” said Don McRae, MLA Comox Valley. “I am very pleased with the selection of this site as the best location possible to serve residents of the Comox Valley and the broader North Island.”
Comox Valley consulting firm Fletcher Pettis made an initial examination of a number of sites in the communities of Cumberland, Courtenay and Comox.
VIHA took this analysis and further examined the top six sites that had been identified by the consulting team with the selection of the final site approved by the BC Government North Island Hospitals Project Board.
“VIHA examined these sites very thoroughly to ensure we were selecting a hospital site that could meet the needs of all residents of the North Island,” said Don Hubbard, VIHA Board Chair.
“We are confident that this is the best site on which to build a hospital to meet the needs of today and also into the future.”
The current hospital site in Campbell River had previously been confirmed as the site of the new hospital that will be built in Campbell River. With both sites now confirmed, the consultant team can undertake the work necessary to produce a business case that incorporates the costs associated with building on each site.
In the Comox Valley, VIHA has entered into an agreement with Silver Sand Land Corp. (Crown Isle) for the purchase of the site once the project receives a funding commitment from the provincial government.
The parcel of land being purchased is 15 acres with an option on a further five acres to allow for the future growth of services at the site. The proximity of the site to North Island College allows VIHA to host health care students from that institution to get hands-on training in a hospital environment in the Comox Valley. In-hospital training will also occur at the new Campbell River Hospital.