Folks needing to stay in Dawson Creek for short- or long-term medical reasons will soon have a new, more affordable option thanks to the South Peace Health Services Society.
Recently, the society broke ground on improvements to a new project called the Bulterys Community House.
Named after long-time Dawson Creek doctor Octaaf Bulterys, the house is designed to strengthen health care services for patients, by supporting their families and provide additional accommodations to health care professionals in Dawson Creek and throughout the Peace Region.
In December of 2018, the society—with financial assistance from Lake View Credit Union—purchased the property for the community house near the Dawson Creek and District Hospital.
Shaely Wilbur, President of the South Peace Health Services Society, say that patients have a much faster recovery when support systems are in place, and the new house, when it is ready, will remove the stress of finding affordable accommodations for patients, whether it be overnight or for a longer period of time. “The last thing anyone should have to worry about is affording a place to rest when they are receiving medical care,” says Wilbur. “The SPHSS board recognized this was a worry and has worked towards where we are today.”
The South Peace Health Services Society is a relatively new not for profit society dedicated to enhancing medical care in the region by continuing its efforts for Doctor and Nurse retention and providing affordable accommodations for patients from the region who are receiving medical treatment in Dawson Creek. It formed in June of 2017, when the City of Dawson applied for Rural Dividend funding to form the society. “The partners were Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, Pouce Coupe, Area D and Area E. We were formed, and in order to form that society, each community appointed a liaison to the board. Since then, recognizing we are going through the process to become a charitable organization, and recognizing that some were appointed from council, that put us in a conflict of interest. In talking to our legal counsel and BC Societies, we knew we needed to elect our own board.” So while the board is made up of elected officials around the region, including Councillor Chris Norbury of Tumbler Ridge, they are all volunteers. “Our Board of Directors is composed of elected volunteers from the South Peace area and represents the essence of medical care: families,” says Wilbur. “Whether it is through our medical family or the family support for a patient, together we build stronger health.”
Norbury says that, while this project is happening in Dawson Creek, it is important for residents of Tumbler Ridge. “With specialized healthcare services only being available in bigger centres Dawson Creek is centralized to provide care for our region. The Dawson Creek hospital is getting a 95 million dollar upgrade and the Bulterys Community house will allow people from Tumbler Ridge to access those services by having an affordable place to stay while awaiting or receiving treatment.”
He says a perfect example of this would be for women who are pregnant. “Families approaching their due date can stay in the Bulterys Community house for only $20 a night vs $100+ at a hotel.”
That works out to $600 for a month. Wilbur says that an expectant mother from Fort Nelson is expected to come down two or three months before their due date. “That mother is paying $1500/month for accommodations, and she’s expected to be there two to three months in advance, plus food and transportation. It’s not cheap.”
Before the community house can be put into service, some renovations have to happen at the location. “An addition of two accessible rooms and washroom, and renovate existing rooms for accommodation. Whether you have minor mobility issues, or you are a quadriplegic, you will have a place to stay. Project completion would provide seven bedrooms, a shared kitchen and eating area, and shared laundry,” says Wilbur. “There is full washroom facilities on each floor, one room with an en-suite and a half bath in the common area of the main floor.”
In addition, there will be two public family rooms. “On the front of the house, we are removing the car port and adding in reception area as well as another family room. We will have two family rooms. One will be more of a tranquil silent place. A fireplace, but no TV, no electronics. The other room will allow for family and children who might be a bit noisier, who want to watch TV, play some games, to give space to all demographics.”
The other addition is a carriage house, with two bedrooms, and a shared kitchen and living space. “This will be used by locums, specialists, nurses coming in to work at the hospital,” says Wilbur. “They are separate, because we’re human, and if you’re not feeling well, you’re likely to go knock on the door of the doctor in the room next to you. So we’re separating them.”
Wilbur sits on the Dawson Creek council. She says the city is proud to be home to the facility, but it is not for people from Dawson. “It’s for Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, and Hudson Hope and Fort Nelson and everyone around us. We’re proud to say we are home to the house, but we know who it’s for.”
While the community house is mostly for appointments, Wilbur says it will be open year round,. “We have decided we are never going to close. We are going to be open Christmas. We are going to be open holidays. We will be open 24/7. The reason is emergencies happen. Someone could have a car accident and be in the Dawson Creek Hospital, but they have a spouse who is in a different community who has no place to stay. We’re doing our very best to make sure we are exclusive.”
Currently, says Wilbur, Tumbler Ridge hasn’t donated to the project. “That’s okay,” she says. “We haven’t asked for financial support.” When she came before council in August, the society’s ask was very moderate. “We are asking for written support and 15 hours of staff time to help with leaflets for the community, as well as a commitment to see the project to completion.”
With the communities heading into budgeting, she says they are asking councils to consider what they want to donate to the society. Rather than a big lump sum, Wilbur is hoping the councils will set aside a consistent budget amount, say $5000 a year for the next ten years. “We don’t expect our municipalities to dump a big wad of cash in our lap, but we are asking that council keeps us in mind as to what you want to contribute to the project.”
While the property was purchased in December, and the ground breaking happened in August, Wilbur says they expect to have the keys by the end of the year have the house open by February of last year.
