Ksyen Regional Hospital

Ksyen Regional Hospital, formerly Mills Memorial Hospital, is a 78-bed regional medical facility located in Terrace, British Columbia.^[1][2][3][4] It serves as the primary healthcare hub for northwestern British Columbia, including communities in the Nass Valley (Aiyansh and New Aiyansh, now Gitlax̱t’aamiks; Canyon City, now Gitwinksihlkw; Greenville, now Lax̱g̱alts’ap; and Kincolith, now Ging̱olx), the unincorporated community of Thornhill, and others.^[5] The hospital, currently operated by Northern Health, offers a range of acute care services and acts as a referral centre for more specialized treatments.^[6] A new, significantly larger and more modern hospital building officially started construction in 2021, and opened to the general public on November 24, 2024.^[7][8][9]

Healthcare in Terrace began informally with Tsimshian people utilizing the nearby Lakelse Hot Springs as a natural healing site.^[10] With the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in the early 1900s, physicians like Dr. W.P. Johns and Dr. Seymour Traynor provided basic medical services, often traveling by canoe.^[10] Early medical care was delivered in makeshift facilities such as homes, hotels, and temporary structures.^[10]

The need for a formal hospital became apparent during the 1936 Skeena River flood and the Second World War.^[10] Dr. Stanley Gordon Mills, a decorated veteran of the First World War and a pioneer in Terrace’s healthcare, was instrumental in advocating for a proper hospital.^[11] In 1948, the Red Cross opened a 10-bed outpost hospital in Terrace, marking the first significant step toward establishing modern medical infrastructure.^[11]

By the 1950s, population growth and increased healthcare demands led to the formation of the Skeena Hospital Improvement District.^[11] Through the collective efforts of local advocates, including Dr. Mills, George Little, and Bert Goulet, land was secured, and funding was raised for a larger, purpose-built hospital.^[11] Construction began in 1960, and the new facility, then called the Terrace and District Hospital, officially opened in 1961.^[11]

In 1962, the hospital was renamed Mills Memorial Hospital to honour Dr. Stanley Gordon Mills and his wife, Edith Mills, who both tragically died in a house fire shortly after the hospital’s opening.^[12] Dr. Mills had spent decades advocating for improved healthcare facilities, and Edith had been head nurse at the new hospital.^[11] Their gravestone in Kitsumgallum (Kitsumkalum) Cemetery poignantly reads, “Life’s Work Well Done.”^[13]

Mills Memorial Hospital has undergone several expansions since its opening, including:

• A $1.2 million expansion in 1968, adding an intensive care unit and more beds.^[11]
• A $6.3 million renovation in 1977, upgrading most departments.^[11]

Despite these upgrades, the facility has struggled to meet modern healthcare standards due to aging infrastructure and increasing demand.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]}

In 2019, a project to replace the existing Mills Memorial Hospital was announced.^[22] Construction of the new facility began in 2021, and it officially opened its doors to the public on November 24, 2024.^[23][24][2] The new facility, spanning approximately 356,500 square feet and featuring 78 beds, is nearly twice the size of the current hospital. Designed as a regional healthcare hub, the upgraded hospital provides expanded trauma services, orthopedic surgeries, pathology, radiology, and pharmacy services.^[25]

Additionally, the new hospital aims to enhance healthcare delivery in northwest British Columbia and address staffing challenges by improving working conditions and supporting medical education.^[26] It will continue to serve as a training site for medical students through the Northern Medical Program, a partnership between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).^[27][28]

In early November 2024, Northern Health announced that the new facility would be renamed Ksyen Regional Hospital.^[29][30][31] The name “Ksyen” is derived from the Tsimshian language and refers to the Skeena River, an important cultural and ecological feature of the region.^[32] The renaming reflects efforts to acknowledge the Indigenous heritage of northwest British Columbia and align the hospital’s identity with the local history and traditions of the area.^[33]

Ksyen Regional Hospital, formerly Mills Memorial Hospital, has historically been supported by community initiatives, from early grassroots fundraising efforts to the current advocacy for improved healthcare.^{[34][35][36][37][38][39][40]} Volunteer organizations, such as the Dr. REM Lee Foundation, and auxiliary groups, such as the Mills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, continue to play a vital role in supporting hospital operations.^[41][42][43]

• Emergency services
• Laboratory and radiology (x-ray) services
• Obstetrical care
• Outpatient ambulatory-care procedures
• Renal services and hemodialysis unit
• Mammography screening program
• A 20-bed psychiatric unit^[7]