Woodfibre LNG is committing $900,000 to purchase a new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at Squamish General Hospital. This donation completes the Squamish General Hospital Foundation’s fundraising contribution to the new CT scanner.
Health Minister Adrian Dix officially announced the hospital is getting a CT scanner on Monday. Having a CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital will provide improved access to essential diagnostic health services for residents of Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Currently, Squamish residents must travel to North Vancouver or Whistler to receive a CT scan.
“This is wonderful news!” said Karen Vanzella, President of the Squamish Hospital Foundation, “With Woodfibre LNG’s generous donation towards our long-awaited CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital, this much needed medical service is finally a reality for Squamish.”
She added that over 20 years ago, the beloved Dr. Laverne Kindree saw the need for a CT Scanner at Squamish General Hospital. “Since then, we have all worked tirelessly towards making this a reality. We are grateful to donors like Woodfibre LNG, Vancouver Coastal Health, and so many others in Squamish for helping to make this important medical service commence soon.”
Beyond the immediate benefits for residents requiring a CT scan, the addition will also help free up local ambulances and improve response times in Squamish as there will be no need to transfer emergency patients who require an urgent scan. It will also help reduce wait times significantly for the region.
“A CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital is a critical diagnostic apparatus the medical staff have long advocated for,” said Dr. Annie Gornall, Squamish Medical Staff Association President. “The Squamish medical staff are sincerely grateful to the Squamish Hospital Foundation, Vancouver Coastal Health and all our community members who have advocated for a local CT scanner. The generous donation by Woodfibre LNG will ensure that this project moves forward without delay. We sincerely thank everyone.”
The Squamish Hospital Foundation has been fundraising for a CT scanner and has raised $200,000 towards its purchase. With significant funding from Vancouver Coastal Health now in place, the added $900,000 donation from Woodfibre LNG will complete funding requirements.
“Woodfibre LNG is tremendously pleased to complete the funding required to purchase a CT scanner for the Squamish Hospital. We recognize that Squamish’s healthcare needs are growing along with its population. Hence, the community needs local access to state-of-the-art medical imaging,” said Christine Kennedy, President of Woodfibre LNG Limited.
“On behalf of Squamish Nation members living in the Squamish Valley, I am delighted that a CT scanner will be available in our community,” said Nation elder and matriarch Gwen Harry. “Squamish General Hospital opened in 1954 and has been supported over the years through the generosity of many. I am so pleased that Woodfibre LNG will make this significant donation to complete the Squamish Hospital Foundation’s fundraising requirements for the CT Scanner.”
In thanking Woodfibre LNG for their significant gift, the Squamish Hospital Foundation also acknowledged the kind generosity of all those who contributed to the fundraising effort to date. In the last five years, the Foundation has raised more than $1.35 million toward improving healthcare facilities and services in Squamish and the region.
The Foundation also wishes to acknowledge the tireless dedication and hard work of the doctors, nurses, other caregivers, and volunteers at the Squamish Hospital for their ongoing commitment to ensuring Squamish residents have access to the best healthcare services and facilities. Today’s announcement caps many years of persistent effort by many to secure this CT scanner for the hospital.
The Squamish Hospital’s CT scanner is expected to be operational sometime in 2025.