Sek'emaws (Sicamous) Health Centre

Construction started in March!

PROGRESS REPORTS

October 31, 2024: The Shuswap Healing Centre is now named the Sek'emaws (Sicamous) Health Centre. "Sek'emaws" is the traditional Secwépemc word for Sicamous.

April 24, 2024: Council authorized the corporate officer to negotiate and enter into a fixed price contract with Scott Builders Inc. for the construction of the Interior of the Shuswap Healing Centre for an amount not to exceed $2,473,522 plus GST. Read the staff report!

March 11, 2024: A groundbreaking ceremony was held at 200 Main Street to commemorate the start of construction. Read the news release!

January 24, 2024: The chief administrative officer provided an update to the committee of the whole. 

• Presentation Slides
• Watch the Presentation/Discussion

December 13, 2023: The proposed interior design of the Shuswap Healing Centre was discussed at the December 13 committee of the whole meeting. 

• Meeting Agenda
• Watch the Discussion

November 22, 2023: Council authorized the mayor and corporate officer to enter into a fixed-price contract with Scott Builders Inc. for the construction of the building shell and site works for an amount not to exceed $6,319,543 plus GST. 

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Recording
• Finance Meeting Agenda
• Finance Committee Meeting Recording

Project Updates:

• May 2023 Project Update
• December 2022 Project Update
• July 2022 Project Update

As construction of the Sicamous Health Centre moves forward, there will be ongoing communication with the community. The public is encouraged to subscribe to the Sicamous (Sek'emaws) Health Centre newsletter and receive project updates directly.

Subscribe to the Sicamous (Sek'emaws) Health Centre Newsletter

The contract for the design and preconstruction services of the Shuswap Healing Centre was awarded to Scott Builders Inc. at the September 8, 2021 regular council meeting. The expression of interest for the comprehensive design of the Shuswap Healing Centre was released in April 2021. 

The design team, which included healthcare consultant Dr. Avein Saaty-Tafoya and Indigenous Architect Douglas Cardinal, visited Sicamous in the Fall of 2021. During the visit, Dr. Saaty-Tafoya participated in several round-table discussions with the District, Splatsin and community stakeholders to gain a better understanding of our community’s healthcare needs. The following month, Mr. Cardinal started the architectural process by guiding the District and Splatsin through design visioning sessions.

The overall design aims to be sustainable, reducing energy consumption in both the construction and operation of the facility. Another important consideration in the design of the Shuswap (Secwépemc) Healing Centre is the Sicamous’ “Live More, Live Well Strategy" which was adopted by Council in 2018. 

• Design Intent
• Scott Builders Inc. 
• Douglas Cardinal Architect

Council has confirmed 200 Main Street as the home of the Shuswap (Secwépemc) Healing Centre, keeping the project closer to the water which has historical and cultural significance to Splatsin who valued “Sek’maws (Sicamous) as an important fishing village.

The proposed positioning of the facility on the property will not only maintain between 0.5 and 0.75 acres of greenspace, but also preserve many of the existing trees. This greenspace will be retained and enhanced to create an outdoor community gathering space on Main Street. 

The construction of this facility will encourage investment in the downtown core by injecting capital and attracting ancillary investment opportunities for both the private and public sectors.

The total lot size of 200 Main Street is 1.58 acres. An important consideration in the project design is the preservation of existing greenspace; over half an acre will be maintained.

This is not a final design.

The future home of the Sicamous Community Health Centre will also encompass allied health services, shared community space, a centre for traditional Indigenous healing and accommodation for visiting health professionals.

The District of Sicamous is currently preparing an operational map for the multi-service concept to provide primary and allied healthcare, public health, pharmacy, lab, social and community outreach services. 

An expression of interest (EOI) was released in July and October of 2023 to seek proposals for social community and allied health services. The EOIs were intended to identify and establish a list of potential tenants to utilize space at the Shuswap Healing Centre. The District is in the process of reviewing submissions.

The District continues to engage the Interior Health Authority about the project.

The project is being funded by the Rural and Northern Communities Fund of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and District capital reserves. Additional funding for equipment is being pursued through the Shuswap Hospital Foundation and the District will utilize the Canada-Community Building Fund for greenspace enhancement.

This ICIP funding was awarded based on the commitment of the District to Truth and Reconciliation efforts; the Shuswap Healing Centre will seek to provide culturally appropriate services that respond to the 94 Calls to Action.

*Project budget updated November 2024.

Geotechnical and archaeological studies have been completed and an environmental study is underway. A detailed project schedule is being finalized with construction anticipated to begin in 2024.

May 2023 Update

December 14, 2022 Project Update

July 29, 2022 Project Update