A concept rendering of Prince Albert's proposed $300 million hospital expansion. (Government of Saskatchewan)

By Glenn Hicks

renewal

Victoria Hospital renewal project to start next year: province

May 4, 2021 | 1:00 PM

The provincial government says construction on the estimated $300 million renewal of the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert is expected to begin next year.

That would further boost construction activity already set for the city with other planned projects expected to get underway, as well as provide a possible knock-on effect for housing starts, according to one industry representative.

In a media release Tuesday, the government said Stantec Ltd. (Stantec) has been selected as the design team for the redevelopment. Stantec will be responsible for technical advisory work and leading the design of the expansion and renewal.

“Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert is the major hub for essential health care services across Northern Saskatchewan,” Health Minister Paul Merriman was quoted as saying, in part. “Our government is pleased to see this project moving forward, and looks forward to working with the local community and our indigenous partners to ensure it includes all the services and amenities they require.”

The Prince Albert Victoria Hospital project is expected to cost more than $300 million and includes a new acute care tower, the replacement of the existing mental health space and renovations to the current facility. Upon completion, the total number of beds available is expected to increase by approximately 40 per cent, with space to expand further as needed.

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Stantec will begin work immediately, which will lead to a multi-stage procurement for design and construction this fall. The construction phase is expected to begin in 2022.

Construction and health care jobs

“I’m excited we’ll have ground turning and construction started next summer,” Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave told paNOW, noting the renewal project is a major undertaking involving many stakeholders, including the P.A. Grand Council. The project has significant implications for improved healthcare access among Indigenous communities and the North.

Hargrave added the construction, followed by the improved healthcare space, will collectively provide many jobs.

“People love to work in a new facility. We’re going to get more equipment…and with 40 per cent more beds, that automatically means we’re going to have that many more staff,” he said.

Hargrave added the work at the hospital could happen in tandem with other construction jobs, like the new recreation and aquatic centre, and what he called ‘rumblings’ regarding forestry industry proposals in Prince Albert at the pulp mill and in manufacturing.

Shaun Cripps, President of the Prince Albert Construction Association said the prospect of the hospital renewal happening from 2022 is good news.

Possible boost for housing starts

“The general outlook in the city is the most exciting it’s been in a long time,” he said. “There’s lots of projects coming down the pipeline and if they all go, there’s going to be a lot of work to go round.”

Cripps said there are a lot of qualified people in areas like drywalling, flooring and painting hoping to secure sub-contracts on the various projects and he feels a mini-boom could also prompt a recovery in housing starts.

“If we get the new recreation centre and the hospital going that’ll trickle down to the residential stuff too. That’s where it benefits the smaller guys and it should give the residential sector a shot in the arm. It helps the entire industry as a whole.”

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glenn.hicks@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow