TimberWest pledges $100,000 to the new North Island Hospital

CAMPBELL RIVER / COMOX VALLEY – TimberWest is announcing a $100,000 contribution towards the new North Island Hospital to add cultural elements to support the joint effort that is underway by Island Health, First Nations Health Authority, and the Aboriginal communities of the North Island in creating a healthcare setting that is welcoming and reflective of the environment and traditional territories within which the two campuses of the North Island Hospital are situated.

“The North Island Hospitals Project respects the values, culture and history of local First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples,’ said Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. “On behalf of the provincial government, I thank TimberWest for this donation, which will go towards providing a healing environment for patients and families within the North Island Hospital, which is opening this fall.”

“TimberWest’s contribution will help strengthen partnerships and respectful relationships with Aboriginal communities, Island Health, TimberWest, and the local hospital foundations,” said Dr. Jeff Beselt, Executive Medical Director of Island Health’s Geography 1. “Once the new North Island Hospital opens to the public this fall, the two campuses will serve as a place of healing and well-being for our community members for many generations to come. We’re grateful to TimberWest for partnering on this long-lasting community legacy.”

The North Island Hospitals Project acknowledges that the new hospitals will be located within the traditional territories of the K’ómoks, Wei Wai Kum, and We Wai Kai First Nations. The partnerships with Aboriginal communities will continue as Island Health is working on providing safe and quality healthcare, which is reflective of the cultures it serves. Success in partnerships with Aboriginal communities is reflected, for example, in the design of traditional plants and medicine gardens, and the implementation of traditional foods into patients’ menus.

“This generous contribution from TimberWest is much appreciated,” said Ian Knipe, Director of Aboriginal Health for Island Health. “We’re honoured to work with TimberWest, the foundations and other key stakeholders to better create a welcoming environment for Aboriginal Peoples – one where they feel safe and respected – to help improve their health outcomes.”

TimberWest will make its contribution through the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation and the Campbell River Hospital Foundation.

“It’s wonderful to partner with companies like TimberWest that clearly share the Foundation’s values and vision of a community healthcare system that encompasses thousands of people from all walks of life, belief systems, cultures and customs,”  commented Lynn Dashkewytch, Executive Director of Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation.

“This is a wonderful and generous demonstration of support from an important sector of our community and North Vancouver Island,” stated Stacey Marsh, Executive Director of Campbell River Hospital Foundation. “The first Campbell River Hospital was built in 1912 with support from logging companies and we’ve grown into a diverse collection of people and industries.  We’re proud to call TimberWest a partner in supporting quality health care.”

“We’re honoured to be a part of the North Island Hospitals Project,” said Jeff Zweig, President and CEO of TimberWest. “This unique initiative blends art and culture with medicine and science. The goal is to create a place of healing and wellness that will serve the needs of our forest communities for generations.”

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Island Health’s $606.2 million North Island Hospitals Project includes a new $331.7 million, 153-bed Comox Valley Campus in Courtenay on Lerwick Road near Ryan Road, and a new $274.5 million, 95-bed Campbell River Campus on the existing hospital site at 375 – 2nd Avenue. Currently, both campuses are scheduled to open by late 2017.

TimberWest’s corporate history includes the principal contribution to the St. Joseph’s General Hospital in the Comox Valley in the early 1900’s in support of the many logging families moving to the area. The company has been operating for over 100 years on the BC Coast. All its public and private forest lands are third-party certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. TimberWest is privately owned by two leading Canadian pension funds. 

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