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Transforming Critical Care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH)

See the incredible journey from concept to completion. This time-lapse video captures the construction of the new ICU at NRGH, a testament to the community’s unwavering support and dedication to enhancing healthcare for all.

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.

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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

Use this Slider to see the project as it progressed from March through October 2021

Just drag the slider from right <- left, and an additional slider will be revealed for you to see the next stage of progress.

A New Era for Critical Care

Celebrating the Community’s Role in Enhancing Healthcare for Central Vancouver Island

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.

Phase 2: Expanding Care – The New High Acuity Unit (HAU)

Photos from September 2024

improving healthcare services for the entire region

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.

The HAU will replace the current temporary eight-bed unit, adding 12 more high-acuity beds. This expansion will allow even more patients to receive critical care in times of urgent need.

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.

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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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.”

READ THE ENTIRE DONOR STORY

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.

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It’s in Our Nature to Give

With the support of the community, we bridge the gap left from what government provides to ensure that patients receive optimal care with state-of-the-art equipment, and that our frontline medical teams have the supports they need to deliver the best healthcare possible.

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