It has taken years of fundraising, blood, sweat and tears, but finally the new wing at St. Mary’s Hospital is ready to be unveiled.

To celebrate the opening, the hospital is holding an open house on Wednesday, March 20, between 1:30 and 4 p.m. The public will be invited to tour the new building, meet hospital staff and learn about the renovations. An official opening ceremony will take place later this year when construction on the lobby finishes.

Reporter Christine Wood received a private, advanced tour this week. The photos and her front-page story speak for themselves — the new hospital is going to be wonderful.

Some of the highlights include: spacious single occupancy rooms, open sunlit hallways, an expanded emergency department, new work stations for doctors and a plethora of state-of-the-art medical equipment in the new $44.15 million facility.

The project has been a labour of love for more than three years while funding, designs and construction have been taking place.

There have been a few delays, but what major construction project of this size doesn’t experience some delays? From what I have seen and read, it’s certainly going to be worth the wait.

This is going to be a state-of-the art facility, a facility that will meet the needs of a growing area. No longer will many people have to travel into the Lower Mainland for specialist appointments or special medical procedures. They will be able to get that care right here at home.

Hospital staff should be commended for their work and sacrifice these past few years, as I’m sure it has been very hard to do their jobs in the midst of a construction zone. I’m certain there will be a tremendous sense of pride when they start to work in such a beautiful and inviting atmosphere.

The St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation and Hospital Auxiliary members have been instrumental over the years in an aggressive fundraising campaign to allow for the purchase of many pieces of equipment for the hospital.

All of these people represent everything that I love about this community.

We here at Coast Reporter have been with these volunteers every step of the way, lending our support to the fundraising cause and telling the stories of the fundraising campaigns and their success to the wider community.

And the community itself has been tremendous in their support of this project.

I have lived and worked in many communities, but I can honestly say the Sunshine Coast is a fundraising machine. When a cause is identified, this community steps up, and that has certainly been the case with this expansion project.

We should all be proud of what everyone has been able to accomplish. We have a brand new hospital, and in the coming weeks, patients will be moved into the new wing so construction and renovations can begin on the old wing to bring the full renovation to completion.

This is a proud moment in the history of the Sunshine Coast and a cause for celebration. Thanks to everyone for making this happen.