Totem Lodge, adjacent to Sechelt Hospital, will be repurposed for Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) mental health and substance abuse programs, according to Johan Marais, VCH’s regional director of capital asset management and planning. The announcement was made at the Sunshine Coast Regional Hospital District Board meeting on July 18.
Following the relocation of Totem Lodge’s residential clients to the newly opened Silverstone care facility earlier this year, a building assessment revealed that the structure still has significant life left, Marais reported. Necessary upgrades will be carried out while the building remains vacant.
The future use of the portable units currently housing VCH mental health services on the hospital grounds remains undecided. Marais stated that an evaluation of these units is needed to determine whether they can continue to be used or if they need to be removed.
Uncertainty Surrounding Shorncliffe’s Future
The future of Shorncliffe, another VCH intermediate care facility whose residents were moved to Silverstone, remains uncertain. Marais noted that a capital assessment of Shorncliffe indicated that repurposing the facility is not feasible at this time, and further investigation is required. The site’s potential future use will be considered as part of VCH’s ongoing health vision process.
Sechelt area director Darren Inkster expressed concerns about the deteriorating state of Shorncliffe, highlighting the impact of encroaching vegetation. Marais assured that the building is secured, maintenance is ongoing, and the site is under VCH’s consideration for necessary protective measures.
2025 Cost-Shared Hospital Capital Projects
The board reviewed VCH’s proposed 2025 capital cost share projects for Sechelt Hospital. These proposals have been referred to staff for further reports to be presented at the next meeting. Among the requests is $871,000 for replacing the hospital’s dishwasher, which dates back to the facility’s last major upgrade in 2008. The project will address mould caused by water leaks and upgrade the flooring before installing the new equipment.
Additionally, $750,000 has been requested for a hospital water resiliency project. This initiative aims to reduce water usage and explore the addition of infrastructure for emergency water storage, responding to concerns raised by Elphinstone area director Donna McMahon about the hospital’s significant water consumption from the SCRD’s Chapman water system.
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