Health Vision Sea to Sky

Updated May 23, 2024

Update on the progress of the Health Vision Sea to Sky project

In December 2023, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) successfully completed Health Vision Sea to Sky phase one engagement. We greatly appreciated the input and insights of Sea to Sky communities. A What We Heard report from the phase one engagement is available here.

Currently, VCH is working on development of the draft clinical services plan. The plan will be informed by best practices for the delivery of health-care services, community input from the phase one engagement, and incorporate the latest data to reflect current and projected health-care needs. Development of the plan requires input and review from staff, medical staff, and health-care partners. We anticipate that VCH will begin the second phase of engagement on the draft clinical services plan in Fall 2024.

During the second phase, VCH will host virtual and in-person engagement sessions in Sea-to-Sky communities. All community members, including government, Indigenous and community partners, will be invited to learn about the draft plan, ask questions and provide input.

We thank you for your participation and interest in this project. Your input plays a vital role in shaping the future of health care for the Sea-to-Sky corridor, and we are deeply appreciative of your continued engagement and support.

If you have any questions about Health Vision Sea to Sky, please don't hesitate to contact us at healthvisionSTS@vch.ca(External link).

Updated March 3rd, 2024

Health Vision Sea to Sky - Phase Two Update

Phase one of the Health Vision Sea to Sky engagement sought input to inform the future of acute, long-term care and community services in the Sea to Sky corridor. From June to October 2023, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) engaged with the public, key community partners, health-care staff and residents around the challenges, opportunities and priorities for health-care services in the Sea to Sky corridor. All six First Nations served by VCH in the Sea to Sky corridor were also engaged as part of this process. The first phase of the engagement is complete and we would like to thank everyone who has participated in the engagement so far.

Phase one engagement included the following:

• interviews and focus groups with key community partners and decision makers
• staff and public survey (with close to 1,400 responses)
• discussions with six First Nations in the Sea to Sky corridor.

Outreach for phase one of the engagement included mailouts to residences in the Sea to Sky corridor, posters at key community locations in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, as well as the sharing of engagement materials with community partner organizations for further distribution.

See here(External link) for the What We Heard report.

The team is now preparing for phase two of the engagement, which will begin once the draft clinical services plan is complete. In December 2023, BC Stats released an updated set of population projections that affect Sea to Sky clinical services plan calculations. The data prepared as part of the clinical services planning is currently being revised with the new projections, which has impacted project schedules. As such, the next phase of engagement is expected to start in early summer of 2024. During this phase, VCH will host in-person engagement sessions in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. All community members will be invited to learn about draft plans and provide input.

We thank you for your understanding and ongoing interest in the project. We will provide an update in the coming months regarding the second phase of engagement. In the meantime, if you have any questions or require additional information about Health Vision Sea to Sky, please contact us at healthvisionSTS@vch.ca(External link).

Your feedback is helping shape the future of health care in the Sea to Sky corridor, and we are deeply appreciative of your continued engagement.

Updated December 5th, 2023

The Phase One of the engagement is now complete. Please see the summary report of key findings from community engagement here.

VCH is planning for the future in the fast growing Sea to Sky region, with an aim to maintain access to safe, high-quality health care now and in the future.

To respond to the current and future health and wellness needs of the Sea to Sky corridor, VCH is developing an integrated high-level health services master plan for the Sea to Sky corridor, and specific health-related site plans for the Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton areas. We are asking for input from First Nation partners, local communities, local governments, staff, medical staff and other interested parties.

The Sea to Sky integrated high-level master plan will address health and wellness needs as well as future population growth, seasonal fluctuations and aging projections for the Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton areas. The North Shore will also be considered because many people in the Sea to Sky corridor rely on North Shore health services and Lions Gate Hospital.

We want to hear from you

In June 2023, VCH began engagement with First Nations partners, local communities, local governments, staff and medical staff and other interested parties in the Sea to Sky corridor. Phase One of engagement is now complete and Phase Two is expected to start in 2025.

Do you live or work in the Sea to Sky corridor? Subscribe to stay involved in the upcoming Health Vision Sea to Sky engagements.

How your input will be used

Your input will be considered to help develop the Sea to Sky integrated high-level master plan, which will be used to plan for health services in the region for the next five to 10 years and beyond.

Collaboration with First Nations

VCH continues to take every opportunity to collaborate with First Nations and partner organizations in the design and delivery of health services. VCH is committed to creating a culturally safe health system that will be responsive to the unique health needs of the Indigenous patients, clients and residents. Our approaches are informed by the recommendations of In Plain Siqht Report(External link), The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action(External link) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples(External link), and through conversations with the population.

VCH is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.2 million people, including the First Nations, Métis and Inuit in our region, within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai'xais, Lil'wat, Musqueam, N'Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla'amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv and Xa'xtsa.

We humbly acknowledge that the land which VCH serves in the Sea to Sky corridor is the traditional and unceded territory of the Lil’wat, N’Quatqua, Samahquam, Skatin, Squamish and Xa’xtsa Nations.