The British Columbia Government has announced the opening of a new, modern, six-storey acute care tower at Lions Gate Hospital on 9 March 2025.

This development aims to provide the North Shore and neighbouring communities with enhanced access to health care services.

Named after local philanthropist Paul Myers, the facility will feature amenities, including eight operating rooms and a medical device reprocessing department.

It also has areas for pre-operative and post-operative care, including anaesthesia intervention and isolation rooms.

The tower’s design, which emphasises patient- and family-centred care, includes 108 private patient rooms with ensuite washrooms.

Vancouver Coastal Health, the operator of Lions Gate Hospital, has collaborated with Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation advisers to ensure the space is welcoming and culturally appropriate for Indigenous patients and families.

Key aspects of the project, such as lounges, a House of Elders office, a sacred space, a rooftop garden with a walking path, and additional bike storage, have been incorporated to support the well-being of patients, families, and staff.

Advanced technologies and an upgraded nurse call system are set to improve patient experiences and enhance safety.

Construction of the new tower began in 2021, with a total capital cost of around C$325m ($227.54m).

The funding is a joint effort between the Province, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and Vancouver Coastal Health, with Paul Myers contributing C$25m to the foundation’s C$100m campaign.

Lions Gate Hospital clinical nurse educator Jillian Morland said: “The clinical spaces are larger and designed for flexibility and efficiency to better accommodate our teams. The technology upgrades, such as access to Vocera and Masimo, will enable us to deliver the highest quality care possible.”

With the addition of the new tower, Lions Gate Hospital will have a total of 329 beds and 10 operating rooms, continuing to provide a full range of acute-care services and specialised services to patients from the Sea-to-Sky corridor, Sunshine Coast, and Central Coast communities.