Windsor Plywood Critical Care Building Opens at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Phase 1 – Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A $5.5 million fundraising effort equipped a new, modern ICU that opened in 2023. This space increased capacity by 50% over the previous capacity, providing advanced technology and a better healing environment for the sickest patients.

Phase 2 – High Acuity Unit (HAU) & Physician Offices: An over $5 million fundraising effort to equip the new HAU added 12 specialized beds for patients requiring a higher level of monitoring and care than a general ward, along with physician offices to support coordinated, round-the-clock treatment.

The new Windsor Plywood Foundation Critical Care Building features 12 bright, spacious patient rooms in the ICU and another 12 in the High Acuity Unit, increasing the capacity from the previous critical care space. It also includes dedicated to staff areas for rest and rejuvenation, as well as a welcoming family waiting area, a private consultation room, and two state-of-the-art medication rooms to support safe, efficient care delivery.

Naming donor, The Windsor Plywood Foundation, played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life, making the largest single donation in NDHF’s history, a record-breaking $3 million gift, that accelerated the campaign’s completion.

Windsor Plywood founders Randle and Frances Jones had a long legacy of giving back to the communities where they lived and worked. They made their first personal donation to NDHF in 1990, and since 2009, the Windsor Plywood Foundation has contributed annually to NRGH, supporting areas such as renal care, the emergency department, surgical services, medical imaging, and cardiac care.

“The impact and legacy of Randle, Fran, their children and the entire Windsor Plywood Family is precedent setting,” shared Dr. Kenyon, Senior Intensivist at NRGH. “The ICU is the heart of our hospital, enhancing staff morale and clinical skills and helping to drive the evolution and acquisition of essential healthcare services desperately needed to improve standard of care in our region and outcomes of residents living in North and Central Island.”

For frontline teams, the impact has already been realized. “The new ICU and HAU have transformed our ability to care for the most vulnerable patients,” said Jane Marriott, Clinical Nurse Leader – HAU Build. “These purpose-built spaces give our team the environment and technology we need to provide the highest quality care, close to home, for patients and families in our community and beyond.”

“This building is the culmination of years of planning, construction, and unwavering community support,” said Barney Ellis-Perry, CEO of the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation. “To open the doors to this world-class critical care facility is nothing short of historic for Central and North Vancouver Island. The generosity of our donors has ensured that our doctors, nurses, and healthcare teams have the tools they need to save lives for decades to come.”