‘A Historic Day for Health Care’: Kamloops Breaks Ground on $386M BC Cancer Centre | Radio NL

Kamloops marked a significant step forward in regional cancer care Thursday with the official groundbreaking of a $386-million BC Cancer Centre, the first of its kind in the city. The new facility, located at Royal Inland Hospital, is designed to provide life-saving care closer to home for thousands of patients across the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap region, many of whom currently face long, exhausting journeys to Kelowna or Vancouver for treatment.

Health Minister Josie Osborne called the project a historic investment that will ease suffering and save lives.

“This is a historic day for Kamloops and for everyone in the region who has ever had to leave their community to receive cancer care,” Osborne said. “We are making a major investment that brings critical treatment much closer to home.”

Radiation Treatment Without the Travel

The state-of-the-art centre will feature three linear accelerators—machines used for delivering targeted radiation therapy—as well as a CT simulator, MRI suite, outpatient care clinic, oncology pharmacy, and spaces for patient consultation and treatment planning. Once operational, it is expected to provide care for more than 1,200 radiation therapy patients each year, accounting for over 16,500 treatment sessions annually.

Radiation oncologist and BC Cancer executive Dr. Paris-Ann Ingledew said that for patients who currently have to endure daily travel for weeks on end to receive radiation, the new centre represents a monumental improvement in their care journey.

“One in two people diagnosed with cancer will require radiation therapy,” said Ingledew. “This centre will allow patients to stay connected to their families and community while receiving treatment—something that’s essential for their well-being and recovery.”

The BC Cancer Foundation, which is leading a $5-million fundraising campaign to support the centre, emphasized that the investment brings long-awaited relief and new possibilities for local patients.

“This is a major step forward in delivering the world-class care BC Cancer is known for to more communities in the Interior,” said Sarah Roth, president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation. “Progress on the upcoming BC Cancer Centre in Kamloops brings new hope to patients and their families who deserve timely access to treatment without the added burden of travel.”

Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma & Health Minister Josie Osborne

A Project Fueled by Regional Partnerships

Local governments and health authorities have played a major role in advancing the project. The Thompson Regional Hospital District contributed $45.1 million, one of its largest commitments ever.

“So many families are affected by cancer in some way, and for decades, families in the Thompson-Nicola region have had an added burden of travelling many hours for treatment,” said Mike O’Reilly, Chair of the Thompson Regional Hospital District. “With three new LINAC machines in Kamloops, our residents will receive radiation treatment much closer to home. Additionally, we congratulate EllisDon on this contract award and look forward to their quality work.”

Interior Health, which is overseeing expansion of services within RIH to support the cancer centre, says the impact of this project will be felt far beyond the city.

“The BC Cancer Centre marks a significant advancement in cancer care for the community and surrounding region,” said Sylvia Weir, president and CEO of Interior Health. “Interior Health is proud to play a key role in making this project a reality. When complete, thousands of patients and families will have access to increased services and support, advanced technology and radiation care closer to home.”

Weir added that expansions to the existing community oncology clinic, pharmacy services, and a new MRI will shorten wait times and improve the working environment for medical staff.

Personal Impact Drives Support

Few speakers captured the human toll of travelling for treatment better than Rosemary Wynne, a local volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program. She helps patients get to and from chemotherapy and oncology appointments, including all-day trips to Kelowna.

“Some of our clients spend up to 12 hours a day on the road, five days a week, for multiple weeks,” said Wynne. “It is physically and emotionally exhausting. Yet they do it bravely, with no complaints.”

Wynne said the announcement of the Kamloops cancer centre gives patients hope—and volunteers like herself a sense that the community’s collective efforts have paid off.

“It brings me such comfort to know our city will soon have the care it so desperately needs,” she said, also acknowledging local support like the Thompson Hotel, which provides parking and key storage for Wheels of Hope vans.

Cultural Inclusion and Indigenous Partnerships

In collaboration with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, the facility will include culturally appropriate spaces to support Indigenous healing practices. A sacred space will be incorporated into the design for ceremonies and quiet reflection.

“This is more than bricks and mortar,” said Dr. Ingledew. “This is about embedding cultural safety into cancer care—creating a space where Indigenous patients can feel seen, respected, and supported.”

Why the Centre Won’t Include a PET-CT Scanner—for Now

Although the centre is a major leap forward, not all desired services could be included in the initial design. Notably absent is a PET-CT scanner, a diagnostic tool frequently requested by clinicians and community advocates.

Provincial officials explained that space constraints on the RIH campus, surrounded by existing buildings and challenging topography, forced difficult decisions about what services could be accommodated. Priority was given to radiation treatment, which serves more patients with greater frequency.

“In an ideal world, we’d have everything—chemotherapy, radiation, PET-CT scans—all in one place,” said Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma. “But we had to make decisions based on urgency, space, and construction feasibility.”

She did not rule out future expansion or installation of a PET-CT scanner at another site in Kamloops, depending on future funding and space availability.

Costs Rise, But Commitment Remains Strong

The project’s estimated cost has grown to $386 million, up from previous estimates by roughly $27 million. Minister Ma attributed the increase to global economic pressures, including tariffs, labour shortages, and supply chain disruptions.

“We’re seeing these kinds of cost escalations across the country and around the world,” Ma said. “But despite the pressures, we made the decision to push forward. This project is too important to delay.”

The government’s design-build partner EllisDon will now move forward with detailed construction planning. Full operations at the cancer centre are expected by 2028, with supporting renovations in RIH completed by 2029. A four-storey, 470-stall parkade will also be built to support increased patient and staff traffic.

A Legacy for the Interior

The Kamloops BC Cancer Centre is part of a broader 10-year Cancer Action Plan for B.C., which includes new centres in Surrey, Burnaby, and Nanaimo, along with upgrades to six existing cancer facilities.

Provincial officials say Wednesday’s event marks not the end, but the beginning of a new era in how care is delivered to rural and regional patients.

“This centre is the single largest cancer care investment in this region’s history,” said Ma. “It’s a legacy project that will change how people in the Interior access cancer care—now and for generations to come.”