Do you think St. Mary’s Hospital in Sechelt should be re-named? And if so, what should it be called?

Last fall’s opening of the newly-expanded and renovated St. Mary’s Hospital marks an important milestone in the hospital’s 73-year history. This revitalization is an opportunity to consider the possibility of a new identity for St. Mary’s that reflects the vibrancy and makeup of the SunshineCoast and those served by this hospital.

Background

While the hospital was named in recognition of furnace donation by St. Mary’s Church in Vancouver, the current facility lies on land donated by the Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) in 1964 for the sum of one dollar. Over the years, the ties between the original namesake have become more distant while the ties between the SIB and the communities of the SunshineCoast have grown stronger.

We recognize that there may be different views within the community about potentially changing the name of a hospital that has served them well for over seven decades. That is why we are seeking the opinion of the public and our staff to determine if there should be a new identity for St. Mary’s Hospital and what it might look like.

What do you think?

There are two ways to give us your thoughts:

·      During the month of March, please send us your opinion in an email to feedback@vch.ca with “St. Mary’s Hospital re-naming” in the subject line.

·      Or you could visit an Open House at the new lobby at the hospital on Monday, March 31st anytime between 4 and 8 pm.

Under BC’s naming policy, Cabinet will have the final say in the re-naming of the St. Mary’s Hospital and we want to make sure as many voices from the SunshineCoast are heard.

We look forward to hearing all of your thoughts and ideas.