New Westminster, B.C. – {September 4, 2018} – Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life are helping to shine a light on mental health at Royal Columbian Hospital by contributing $100,000 to the new Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre.
Their donation to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation will support a project that will provide 75 mental health beds, including Fraser Health’s first older adult psychiatric unit, as well as a psychiatric high acuity unit and new and expanded outpatient clinics. These modern amenities will replace the aging 30-bed Sherbrooke Centre and are currently under construction as part of the redevelopment of the hospital.
“This new facility will provide a significant opportunity for ground-breaking research, increased psychiatric training and state-of-the-art patient care,” says Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation President and CEO Jeff Norris. “Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life are helping to ensure patients receive the exceptional care they deserve as we set the stage for mental health care for decades to come.”
Together, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life serve the financial security needs of more than 13 million people across Canada and are members of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies. They have long histories and deep roots in their communities.
“We’re proud to support the new mental health centre at the Royal Columbian Hospital,” said Debbie Down, Director, Community Relations, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. “Our organization is committed to improving the mental health and well-being of Canadians. We recognize that this facility will help ensure those facing mental illness will get the help they need, when they need it.”
Opening in 2020, the Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre is part one of a multi-phase $1.35 billion redevelopment at Royal Columbian Hospital. Phase one is budgeted at $258.9 million.
Subsequent phases of redevelopment will see the construction of an acute care tower that includes a new emergency department, more operating rooms and interventional suites, more inpatient beds and an underground parkade. Existing buildings will also be upgraded.
About Royal Columbian Hospital – Your care is critical
At Royal Columbian, the most seriously ill and injured get their greatest chance at life. We are the only hospital in B.C. with trauma, cardiac, neurosciences, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care on one site. We look after some of the most seriously ill and injured patients, and we do it with the support of donors like you.
Since 1978, donors to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation have helped fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at Royal Columbian Hospital.
About Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life
Great-West Life is a leading Canadian insurer, focused on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. For more than 125 years, our customers across Canada have trusted us to provide for their financial security needs and deliver on the promises we have made. Together with our subsidiaries London Life and Canada Life, we serve the financial security needs of 13 million people across Canada.
As an Imagine Caring Company supporting the principles of corporate citizenship and benchmarks for community investment established by Imagine Canada, our companies contribute at least one per cent of pre-tax profit in support of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. In 2017, we contributed $13.5 million to communities. To learn more, visit greatwestlife.com.