New Westminster, B.C. – {June 17, 2025} – The newest milestone in the lead up to the opening of a transformative addition to Royal Columbian Hospital took place today as the Jim Pattison Foundation, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, Royal Columbian Hospital, Fraser Health and EllisDon officially unveiled the external signage marking the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower. Jim Pattison, renowned philanthropist and businessman, made a transformational donation of $30M towards the new facility in 2022. His gift is being honoured with the naming.
More than a decade of planning and construction has led us to this momentous occasion, bringing the state-of-the-art facility one step closer to first patient day in early 2026. Frontline caregivers know firsthand how the new facility will change care at Royal Columbian Hospital.
“The opening of the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower brings opportunity for us to do more with more: an expanded ER footprint, an interventional Superfloor including expansion to our operating rooms, interventional radiology and interventional cardiology resources with the most up-to-date equipment,” said Dr. Matt Bernard, Physician Lead, Royal Columbian Redevelopment. “This new facility helps cement Royal Columbian Hospital as a Fraser Health referral centre for some of the province’s most seriously ill and injured patients.”
An original brick from the 1912 Royal Columbian Hospital building that stood on the current site of the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower was also laid by Mr. Pattison to commemorate the occasion of the sign unveiling.
“From its humble beginnings in 1862, with just 30 patient beds and one doctor, Royal Columbian Hospital has grown to become an indispensable leader in critical care in BC,” said Jeff Norris, President and CEO, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. “From that first hospital to this state-of-the-art facility, it has taken our entire community to get here. We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Pattison and the Jim Pattison Foundation, as well as all our partners who made this moment a reality.”
About Royal Columbian Hospital
As BC’s leading critical care hospital, one in three British Columbians rely on Royal Columbian Hospital. We are the only hospital in BC 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. Visit rchfoundation.com for more information.
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For more information, please contact:
Melissa Davis
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications
604.802.5699
melissa.davis@fraserhealth.ca
