$100 million fundraised in just 23 months for Lions Gate Hospital expansion

Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) Foundation is celebrating a herculean fundraising feat of raising $100 million for a new hospital facility expansion in a 23-month timeline.

In a release, the North Vancouver hospital’s namesake foundation is on track to begin work in 2020 on a new $166-million expansion that will provide a state-of-the-art, high-tech medical and surgical centre.

See also

• $166-million expansion of Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver approved
• London Drugs owner donates $6.5 million to new St. Paul's Hospital
• This is the design of the new $1.2-billion St. Paul's Hospital (RENDERINGS)
• BC billionaire donates $75 million to St. Paul's Hospital
• BC government announces new hospital building for Richmond

Fundraising to replace the existing half-century old acute care tower began in February 2017, with the largest donations being $25 million from plumbing businessman Paul Myers, $7 million from the Lajil Family of Larco Group, and $5 million each from the Bosa family and Mottershead family.

In total, the foundation received 6,418 donations to reach its fundraising target, which was achieved in a far shorter timeline than expected — it was also their largest fundraising campaign ever.

The remaining $66 million of the project’s cost will be funded by the provincial government through Vancouver Coastal Health.

Artistic rendering of the new acute care building at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. (Vancouver Coastal Health)

“This is a monumental achievement for the North Shore,” said Ryan Beedie, Chair of the LGH Campaign and President of Beedie, in a statement.

“When the Medical and Surgical Centre is built it will be one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the province. This has been made possible by the generosity and passion of thousands of supporters who shared in our mission to make a difference and transform care at LGH.”

A new acute care facility is required, as the existing facility is ageing and has outdated infrastructure, with overcrowded wards and small rooms packed with four patient-beds and shared washrooms. This outdated hospital design makes it more difficult to control infections.

Artistic rendering of the new acute care building at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. (Vancouver Coastal Health)

Last September, the provincial government approved LGH’s business plan of a new facility with 108 single-patient rooms with ensuite facilities and patient-controlled technology, eight state-of-the-art operating rooms, a primary care centre to provide residents without a family doctor faster access to non-acute services, a therapeutically-enhanced environment to help reduce patient recovery times and improve visitor comfort, and a telehealth centre to connect health care professionals with remote patients.

According to the foundation, LGH provides hospital services to the North Shore, Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Sunshine Coast, Bella Bella, and Bella Coola on the Central Coast.

Currently, construction is underway on a new $26-million energy plant. Once this plant is completed, work on the hospital expansion will begin with an aim to open the new facility in 2022.

Artistic rendering of the new acute care building at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. (Vancouver Coastal Health)

This is the latest hospital project to undergo a major renewal. In fact, most of the region’s major hospital facilities are set for a major renewal or expansion, including the relocation and expansion of St. Paul’s Hospital, a new patient care tower for Richmond Hospital, an expansion and upgrade of Burnaby Hospital, the reopening of Riverview Hospital, and the under-construction mental health and drug treatment centre at New Westminster’s Royal Columbian Hospital.

There are also plans to build a second new hospital for Surrey.