Together, Transforming Critical Care

See the incredible journey from concept to completion. As you watch the ICU take shape, know that each brick, each piece of equipment, and each newly opened room is a direct result of your generosity. A testament to the community’s unwavering support and dedication to enhancing healthcare for all.

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Together, we are revolutionizing critical care for the 460,000 residents who rely on NRGH for lifesaving medical services

Phase 1: ICU Completion

In 2019, we set out to raise $5 million to outfit NRGH’s new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with state-of-the-art technology. Thanks to your generous support, the new ICU opened in June 2023, marking a new era for critical care on Vancouver Island.

The ICU has expanded from 10 beds to 12, each equipped with cutting-edge technology that supports the highest level of patient care in a modern, clean, and welcoming environment.

This critical upgrade ensures that more people can access the lifesaving care they need when they need it most. Your contributions have made this transformation possible.

High Acuity Unit Construction Update

Exciting developments are underway at the High Acuity Unit (HAU) of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital! During a recent tour, Jane Marriott, the Clinical Lead for Critical Care, and Bryan Quaife, the Project Lead, shared the incredible progress being made. They highlighted several significant construction milestones that have been achieved, showcasing the team’s hard work and dedication to enhancing patient care.

2025 Tour Highlights

Patient Room Progress

Patient rooms are in different stages of completion, with some fully drywalled and painted.
Each room features large windows for natural light, significantly improving patient healing and comfort.
Ceiling lifts are installed in rooms, with a magnetic gantry system for safe patient transfers.

Airborne Isolation Rooms & ICU Expansion

The facility is increasing from 9 critical care beds to 24, including 8 dedicated airborne isolation rooms for enhanced infection control.
These rooms offer dual functionality, usable as standard patient rooms when isolation is not required.

Improved Medical Infrastructure

Every patient bed is now equipped for hemodialysis, removing the need to move patients for treatment.
Each room is fitted with headwall systems instead of ceiling-mounted booms, allowing for more space and a streamlined workflow.

Enhanced Nurse & Physician Workspaces

Collaboration stations and nursing stations have been strategically designed to improve efficiency and visibility between patient rooms.
A quiet physician office has been added to address noise and privacy concerns.

Family & Patient-Centered Care Enhancements

Dedicated family rooms with sleeping areas, and reclining chairs for long-stay visitors.
Six patient rooms include recliners, encouraging mobility and patient well-being.
A new minor procedure room is incorporated to facilitate on-site interventions such as chest tubes or cardioversions.

Medication & Equipment Management Upgrades

A secure medication room with automated dispensing cabinets will allow faster and safer access to medications.
A new pneumatic tube system will enable rapid transport of specimens and medications throughout the hospital.

Electrical & HVAC System Enhancements

The unit is undergoing final power distribution adjustments to ensure reliability.
Negative pressure systems have been installed in isolation rooms to ensure controlled airflow and infection prevention.

Phase 2: High Acuity Unit (HAU)

The project is on track, with many areas nearing final completion. These improvements will greatly enhance patient care, infection control, and the working environment for medical staff.

Following the ICU campaign’s success, we have entered Phase 2: raising $5 million to equip the new High Acuity Unit (HAU), a vital addition to NRGH’s critical care services.

Thanks to incredible support from our community and major gifts from donors like the Windsor Plywood Foundation, we are well on our way to completing this phase, with the HAU expected to open by summer 2025.

Honouring Our Donors

the power of generosity

Donor Recognition and Stories

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations. Each gift, big or small, has played a crucial role in bringing these essential healthcare upgrades to life.

Explore the stories of our donors—why they chose to give, what healthcare means to them, and how their contributions have made a lasting impact.

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A Gift in Loving Memory of Linda Dianne Cowling
At Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH), the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is more than a medical facility—it is a testament to the generosity and gratitude of those who believe in quality healthcare close to home, among its many meaningful contributions, like the patient room dedicated “In Loving Memory of Linda Dianne Cowling.”

For the Cowling family, this is a heartfelt expression of appreciation for the compassionate care they have received and a lasting tribute to Linda, a woman whose warmth and resilience touched so many lives.

Remembering Linda Cowling
Linda Dianne Cowling faced significant medical challenges from a young age after contracting polio, but she never let them define her. Though an injury ended her dream of becoming a teacher, she dedicated her career to supporting students as a school secretary, finding fulfillment in helping others.

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In 2014, a group of friends came together for a casual golf day, enjoying a shared passion for sports and friendship.
What began as a lighthearted gathering soon took on a significant purpose after the loss of their dear friend, Pat Docherty, in late 2016. Pat, a beloved member of the Nanaimo community, was born at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) and lived a life filled with love for hockey, baseball, and especially golf. His friends decided to honour his memory by turning their annual golf outing into the Pat Docherty Memorial Tournament, raising funds for causes close to Pat’s heart.

Since 2017, the tournament has raised an outstanding $429,000 for charitable organizations across Central Vancouver Island. Of that, $353,405 has gone directly to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, with a focus on transforming critical care at NRGH. The tournament, which brings together Pat’s lifelong friends, business associates, and local supporters, has become a heartfelt tribute to his legacy, each year driving their mission to make a meaningful impact in the community.

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Helping to Equip Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s new Intensive Care Unit to meet the needs of our Growing Community
A Legacy of Community Support and Partnership
Coastland Wood Industries has long been an essential part of Nanaimo’s community, providing stable employment and fostering partnerships with the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Under the leadership of Bob Shields, Coastland has supported the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation for decades, including over 13 years of involvement in the Foundation’s Golf for Life event. Their continued support ensures that NRGH can meet the evolving needs of the region’s healthcare system.

The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is proud to recognize Coastland Wood Industries’ generous support in the development of the new Critical Care Unit (ICU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). The Shields Foundation gift became a combined effort. To deepen their impact, Coastland set up a matching initiative, where employee donations were matched dollar-for-dollar. This collective effort enabled the hospital to acquire state-of-the-art equipment, significantly enhancing its capacity to care for ICU patients. Partners like Coastland Wood Industries have led to a new, fully equipped, state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit, benefiting patients and transforming critical care for residents in the Central and North Island communities.

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The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is thrilled to celebrate our incredible donors who have made the Critical Care Building at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) possible, including the five Rotary Clubs who came together in support of an isolation room. This significant milestone marks another chapter in the ongoing development of the Critical Care Building, which began construction in February 2021.
A Vital Asset for the Community
The new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which opened in June 2023, has been operating at full capacity, highlighting the critical need for advanced medical facilities in the region. The second phase of this development, the High Acuity Unit (HAU), is on track for completion by summer 2025. These advancements are crucial for providing high-quality care to the Central and North Island communities, ensuring that patients receive the best possible treatment close to home.

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Last week, the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation team, partners, and select donors had the unique opportunity to tour the construction of the High Acuity Unit on the final floor of the new three-story Critical Care Unit, nearing completion at NRGH.

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As many of you know, in 2020, the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation (NDHF) launched its largest fundraising campaign to date to replace the eight-bed ICU, which was then rated the worst in Canada. Through incredible corporate and individual gifts and record-breaking annual giving programs, the community came together and exceeded the $5 million target to fund all the state-of-the-art critical care equipment required for the new ICU.
The new ICU opened in June 2023 and is routinely operating at full capacity.

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MAJOR DONOR Recognition

Windsor Plywood

The Windsor Plywood Foundation’s record $3 million gift for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s (NRGH) new Critical Care expansion makes an immeasurable and lasting impact on healthcare for Central and North Island residents.

The gift builds on more than 30 years of philanthropy in our community by Windsor Plywood founders Randle and Frances Jones. Cathy Brown, Executive Director of Windsor Plywood Foundation, shared, “This donation is particularly meaningful to the Windsor family as it helps honour my father, who recently passed away. Throughout his lifetime, he made it a priority to give back to the communities where his customers lived and worked… We are delighted to be able to contribute to this important and much-needed Critical Care addition.”

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Stay Involved: Join Us in Making a Difference

Stay connected with us for updates on Phase 2 progress, donor stories, and other ways you can make an impact on healthcare in our region.

Your support helped bring the ICU to life, and now we need your help to complete the High Acuity Unit (HAU). Every donation gets us closer to ensuring that NRGH has the critical care capacity to meet the needs of our growing community.