Ksyen Regional Hospital Explained

Ksyen Regional Hospital, formerly Mills Memorial Hospital, is a 78-bed regional medical facility located in Terrace, British Columbia.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} It serves as the primary healthcare hub for northwestern British Columbia, including communities in the Nass Valley (Aiyansh and New Aiyansh, now Gitlax̱t’aamiks; Canyon City, now Gitwinksihlkw, Greenville, now Lax̱g̱alts’ap; and Kincolith, now Ging̱olx), the unincorporated community of Thornhill, and others.^[5] The hospital, currently operated by Northern Health, offers a range of acute care services and acts as a referral centre for more specialized treatments.^[6] A new, significantly larger and more modern hospital building officially started construction in 2021, and opened to the general public on November 24, 2024.^{[7] [8] [9]}

History

Early healthcare in Terrace

Healthcare in Terrace began informally with Tsimshian people utilizing the nearby Lakelse Hot Springs as a natural healing site.^[10] With the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in the early 1900s, physicians like Dr. W.P. Johns and Dr. Seymour Traynor provided basic medical services, often traveling by canoe.^[11] Early medical care was delivered in makeshift facilities such as homes, hotels, and temporary structures.^[12]

Founding of Mills Memorial Hospital

The need for a formal hospital became apparent during the 1936 Skeena River flood and the Second World War.^[13] Dr. Stanley Gordon Mills, a decorated veteran of the First World War and a pioneer in Terrace’s healthcare, was instrumental in advocating for a proper hospital.^[14] In 1948, the Red Cross opened a 10-bed outpost hospital in Terrace, marking the first significant step toward establishing modern medical infrastructure.^[15]

Post-war expansion and advocacy

By the 1950s, population growth and increased healthcare demands led to the formation of the Skeena Hospital Improvement District.^[16] Through the collective efforts of local advocates, including Dr. Mills and George Little, land was secured, and funding was raised for a larger, purpose-built hospital.^[17] Construction began in 1960, and the new facility, then called the Terrace and District Hospital, officially opened in 1961.^[18]

Naming of Mills Memorial Hospital

In 1962, the hospital was renamed Mills Memorial Hospital to honour Dr. Stanley Gordon Mills and his wife, Edith Mills, who both tragically died in a house fire shortly after the hospital’s opening.^[19] Dr. Mills had spent decades advocating for improved healthcare facilities, and Edith had been head nurse at the new hospital.^[20] Their gravestone in Kitsumgallum (Kitsumkalum) Cemetery poignantly reads, “Life’s Work Well Done.”^[21]

Modern era

Upgrades and expansions

Mills Memorial Hospital has undergone several expansions since its opening, including:

• A $1.2 million expansion in 1968, adding an intensive care unit and more beds.^[22]
• A $6.3 million renovation in 1977, upgrading most departments.^[23]

Despite these upgrades, the facility has struggled to meet modern healthcare standards due to aging infrastructure and increasing demand.^{[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]}

Redevelopment

In 2019, a project to replace the existing Mills Memorial Hospital was announced.^[32] Construction of the new facility began in 2021, and it officially opened its doors to the public on November 24, 2024.^{[33] [34]} The new facility, spanning approximately 356,500 square feet and featuring 78 beds, is nearly twice the size of the current hospital. Designed as a regional healthcare hub, the upgraded hospital provides expanded trauma services, orthopedic surgeries, pathology, radiology, and pharmacy services.^[35]

Additionally, the new hospital aims to enhance healthcare delivery in northwest British Columbia and address staffing challenges by improving working conditions and supporting medical education.^[36] It will continue to serve as a training site for medical students through the Northern Medical Program, a partnership between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).^{[37] [38]}

Renaming to Ksyen Regional Hospital

In early November 2024, Northern Health announced that the new facility would be renamed Ksyen Regional Hospital.^{[39] [40] [41]} The name “Ksyen” is derived from the Tsimshian language and refers to the Skeena River, an important cultural and ecological feature of the region.^[42] The renaming reflects efforts to acknowledge the Indigenous heritage of northwest British Columbia and align the hospital’s identity with the local history and traditions of the area.^[43]

Community involvement

Ksyen Regional Hospital, formerly Mills Memorial Hospital, has historically been supported by community initiatives, from early grassroots fundraising efforts to the current advocacy for improved healthcare.^{[44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50]} Volunteer organizations, such as the Dr. REM Lee Foundation, and auxiliary groups, such as the Mills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, continue to play a vital role in supporting hospital operations.^{[51] [52] [53]}

Amenities

• Emergency services
• Laboratory and radiology (x-ray) services
• Obstetrical care
• Outpatient ambulatory-care procedures
• Renal services and hemodialysis unit
• Mammography screening program
• A 20-bed psychiatric unit^[54]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2024-11-07 . The new hospital has been gifted with a Tsimshian name . 2024-11-19 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
2. Web site: Link . Rod . 2024-11-06 . New Terrace hospital given Indigenous name . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
3. Web site: Matthews . Jaylene . 2024-11-06 . Terrace Hospital Settles on Name Change . 2024-11-19 . CFTK-TV . en.
4. Web site: 2024-11-06 . New Terrace hospital gifted Tsimshian name . 2024-11-19 . stories.northernhealth.ca.
5. Web site: Mills Memorial Hospital . 2024-11-19 . find.healthlinkbc.ca.
6. Web site: 2024-11-18 . Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement . 2024-11-19 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
7. Web site: 2021-07-06 . Construction starts on new Mills Memorial Hospital . 2024-11-25 . news.gov.bc.ca . en.
8. Web site: 2024-11-18 . It's Hospital Move Week! . 2024-11-19 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
9. Web site: Spencer . Sabrina . 2024-11-19 . It’s Move-In Week for Ksyen Regional Hospital . 2024-11-19 . CFNR Network . en.
10. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-01 . Health history of Terrace, B.C. . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
11. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-01 . Health history of Terrace, B.C. . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
12. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-01 . Health history of Terrace, B.C. . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
13. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-01 . Health history of Terrace, B.C. . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
14. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
15. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
16. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
17. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
18. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
19. Web site: Link . Rod . 2024-02-13 . New Terrace hospital’s name shrouded in mystery . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
20. Web site: Wiebe . Wiebe . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
21. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
22. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
23. Web site: Wiebe . Kelsey . 2017-02-08 . This is how Terrace, B.C. got its first modern hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
24. Web site: Link . Rod . 2024-02-26 . Hospital move-in date set for later this year . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
25. Web site: Link . Rod . 2021-12-17 . New Mills Memorial project faces cost increase . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
26. Web site: McRae . Bill . 2016-09-18 . Madame Premier: hospital needs attention . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
27. Web site: Link . Rod . 2024-03-25 . Northern Health adds orthopedics to Terrace surgical services . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
28. Web site: Link . Rod . 2017-03-20 . Work underway for MRI space at Mills . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
29. Web site: Lieuwen . Jackie . 2017-08-11 . Terrace hospital increasing capacity for heart-scans . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
30. Web site: Gervais . Brittany . 2019-08-28 . Lack of long-term care keeping Terrace seniors in hospital for months . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
31. Web site: Bogstie . Ben . 2020-06-26 . Rotary Club of Terrace donates $10,000 to Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
32. Web site: Link . Rod . 2021-07-06 . New Terrace hospital officially a ‘go’ . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
33. Web site: 2021-07-06 . Construction starts on new Mills Memorial Hospital . 2024-11-25 . news.gov.bc.ca . en.
34. Web site: 2024-11-18 . It's Hospital Move Week! . 2024-11-25 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
35. Web site: 2024-11-18 . Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement . 2024-11-19 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
36. Web site: 2024-06-25 . Terrace's Mills Memorial Hospital undergoes a sustainable transformation . 2024-11-19 . BC Hydro . en-CA.
37. Web site: Cameron . Grant . 2022-03-09 . Mills Memorial Hospital build breathes new life into Terrace health care . 2024-11-19 . Journal of Commerce . en-US.
38. Web site: 2013-01-07 . Tour our Campuses - Northern Medical Program . 2024-11-19 . www.unbc.ca . en.
39. Web site: 2024-11-07 . The new hospital has been gifted with a Tsimshian name . 2024-11-25 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
40. Web site: Link . Rod . 2024-11-06 . New Terrace hospital given Indigenous name . 2024-11-25 . Terrace Standard . en.
41. Web site: Matthews . Jaylene . 2024-11-06 . Terrace Hospital Settles on Name Change . 2024-11-25 . CFTK-TV . en.
42. Web site: Link . Rod . 2024-11-06 . New Terrace hospital given Indigenous name . 2024-11-25 . Terrace Standard . en.
43. Web site: 2024-11-07 . The new hospital has been gifted with a Tsimshian name . 2024-11-25 . letstalk.northernhealth.ca.
44. Web site: Kaur . Prabhnoor . 2024-08-21 . Sikh community raises money to name cancer care unit at Terrace's new hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
45. Web site: Link . Rod . 2023-06-15 . Northwest B.C.’s largest fundraising effort: $14.5M for new neonatal care unit at Terrace’s hospital . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
46. Web site: Vaz . Alexander . 2024-02-01 . Seabridge Gold supports new Terrace neonatal intensive care unit . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
47. Web site: Gervais . Brittany . 2018-07-18 . Kitsumkalum Walk for Health raises $17,500 for new hospital microscope . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
48. Web site: Link . Rod . 2022-10-28 . Mills Memorial Hospital build budget increases . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
49. Web site: 2024-11-13 . PRPA Helps Provide Northwest Newborns and Mothers with Specialized Care Closer to Home . 2024-11-20 . Prince Rupert Port Authority . en-US.
50. Web site: Spencer . Sabrina . 2024-05-17 . Prince Rupert Port Authority Enhances ENT Services at Mills Memorial Hospital . 2024-11-20 . CFNR Network . en.
51. Web site: 2014-04-09 . Volunteers take pride in helping others . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
52. Web site: 2012-11-18 . 'Crazy' quilt to be raffled off for hospital auxiliary . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
53. Web site: Elias . Viktor . 2023-05-12 . Terrace’s Mills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary faces volunteer shortage, reduced hours . 2024-11-19 . Terrace Standard . en.
54. Web site: 2021-07-06 . Construction starts on new Mills Memorial Hospital . 2024-11-19 . news.gov.bc.ca . en.