Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of Just Like Home Lodge Construction

Construction has officially commenced on the Just Like Home Lodge, a new housing facility in Campbell River, designed to accommodate patients and their families who are traveling for medical care unavailable in their local communities. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 10, organized by the Strathcona Regional District alongside partners including the Campbell River Hospital Foundation and Seymour Pacific Homes.

Local government officials were present at the event, including Mayor Kermit Dahl, North Island MLA Anna Kindy, MP Aaron Gunn, and regional directors. Mark Baker, chair of the Strathcona Regional District board, emphasized the impact of the new facility, stating, “The Just Like Home Lodge and Workforce Housing will directly benefit patients, families, and healthcare workers across 32 communities and improve healthcare access for more than 57,000 people in our region.”

The ceremony commenced with a ground blessing led by Yaxawidi (Shawn Decaire), hereditary chief of the We Wai Kai Nation, marking the event’s significance on the traditional unceded territory of the Ligwiłdax̌w people.

Facility Features and Community Impact

Set to open in the summer of 2024, the Just Like Home Lodge will include ten private units equipped with washrooms, along with shared amenities such as a kitchen, laundry facilities, a day room, and communal living spaces. The facility aims to alleviate the housing shortage experienced by healthcare professionals in the region by also providing 20 rental suites for workforce housing, ranging from studio to two-bedroom units.

Baker noted the importance of these self-contained units in attracting essential healthcare staff, including doctors and nurses, to the area. The regional district has described the lodge and workforce housing project as a “transformative investment” that will enhance patient care and bolster the stability of the healthcare workforce throughout the region.

The total capital costs for the project amount to $2 million, which has been raised in collaboration with the Campbell River Hospital Foundation. These costs cover various expenses, including the building itself, parking, furnishings, laundry facilities, internet technology, security cameras, and other contingency costs.

Once open, the facility will charge a modest fee for those who stay, although the specific amount has yet to be determined, as stated on the Strathcona Regional District’s website.

For further details about the project, interested parties can visit justlikehomecr.ca. The establishment of the Just Like Home Lodge represents a significant step forward in supporting healthcare access and addressing housing challenges on Vancouver Island.