Did you know? The Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation (NVHCEF) owns the land around the hospital grounds, and is committed to ensuring it will be used for health care. The entire property was donated by Allan Collet, a local Rancher, in the early 1960s to be used strictly for health care in perpetuity. The Nicola Valley General Hospital was subsequently built in 1964.
In the late 1990, the Provincial Government at the time were liquidating some properties owned by Health Districts and the NVHCEV decided to attempt subdividing the property to protect it from future development. We felt this was a worthwhile investment in ensuring the property would continue to be used for health care and paid for the subdivision. This means the property outside of the paved area and buildings is now owned by the Foundation.
The NVHCEF has since leased approximately 1 acre to the Community Garden, and a small piece back to Interior Health to fit the Emergency Room and ambulance bay into their design during the expansion project.
Interior Health maintenance staff takes care of the grounds, and we help out by purchasing miscellaneous equipment they need to do so, and my paying for care of the pine trees. It's a win-win for health care in the Nicola Valley and we are ready to assist with leasing property for IHA, as long as it is for health care purposes. We are anticipating a request to expand parking for additional vehicles, which we will gladly assist with.
The work of the NVHCEF in fundraising for patient care equipment and facilities continues, and we appreciate your support. Donate today or learn how you can get involved and become a champion for health care in the Nicola Valley.
