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St. Mary’s to be renamed

Sechelt Hospital

St. Mary’s Hospital will officially be renamed Sechelt Hospital in a ceremony expected to be held later this month.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) confirmed Tuesday afternoon that it is renaming the 83-year-old hospital to build stronger ties with the community and support concerns by the Sechelt Nation about the existing name.

The name change comes after an extensive consultation process with the public and various stakeholders that started last year.

VCH, in recognition of the historic role the Sechelt Nation played in the location of the current hospital, has agreed that the traditional name — shíshálh — will also be used on signage and in other circumstances as appropriate.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to connect the hospital more closely to the community where it sits and improve safety by making it easier for the many visitors, residents and outside health care providers to find it,” said Lauren Tindall, VCH director of the Sunshine Coast.

Tindall adds that along with the use of the traditional shíshálh name on signage, VCH will also recognize the valuable contribution of the hospital auxiliary, foundation and church in the hospital’s history through a display in the lobby.

The decision to officially change the name from St. Mary’s Hospital — the only hospital in Canada with a denominational name that has no denominational support or governance — arose after the opening of the newly renovated facility in late 2013. The Sechelt Nation asked VCH to consider renaming the hospital in the spirit of reconciliation and to remove a name with links to the residential school system.