Yukon, Canadian Cancer Society announce Kordyban Lodge construction

The ground adjacent to the University Hospital of Northern B.C. is no longer a parking lot. Today, the Canadian Cancer Society B.C. and Yukon together with local government representatives and supporters celebrated the start of construction on the Kordyban Lodge by breaking ground.

The Society also announced that Wayne Watson Construction, a Prince George contracting company, was awarded the contract to build the Kordyban Lodge. The Kordyban Lodge will be built on land that was donated by the City of Prince George in collaboration with School District 57 and the Ministry of Education.

The total capital cost of the Kordyban Lodge is expected to be $10 million and will be the fourth Canadian Cancer Society Lodge in B.C. The three others are located in Victoria, Vancouver and Kelowna. The Kordyban Lodge is scheduled to open to patients at the same time as the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North, in the fall of 2012.

The 25,000-square-foot, 36-bed lodge will serve cancer patients from communities throughout Northern B.C. by providing accommodation for individuals and their caregivers travelling to Prince George for treatment.

The Lodge will provide full-meal services as well as other features to support patients, including a family room, the Novak Family Spiritual and Meditation Room, the West Fraser Timber Lounge, Canfor Corporation and Canfor Pulp Lobby and Volunteer Reception Area, massage therapy room, library, activity room, and wig and prosthetics rooms. It will provide a compassionate and positive environment for people living with cancer in Northern B.C. and will reduce the economic and emotional cost of travel. This has been shown to enhance the quality of life during treatment and enhance patient outcomes.

In 2011, it is estimated that more than 21,000 people will be newly diagnosed with cancer. Of these patients, 1000 will reside in the North, a number projected to increase significantly over the coming years. The Kordyban Lodge will support cancer patients and their families from rural communities across the North.

Source: CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY (BC AND YUKON DIVISION)