As British Columbia continues to grapple with a surging mental health and addiction crisis, communities across the province are stepping up with bold new proposals and fundraising efforts aimed at transforming local healthcare infrastructure. In the Cowichan region, local leaders are pushing for the soon-to-be-vacant Cowichan District Hospital to be repurposed as a center for addiction treatment and psychiatric care, while in the Kootenay Boundary, a major fundraising drive promises to double its impact on mental health services thanks to a significant corporate match.
On November 5, 2025, North Cowichan council voted unanimously to send a letter to British Columbia’s Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, and Island Health, urging them to consider the potential of the existing Cowichan District Hospital as a site for comprehensive addiction and mental health services. This comes as the new Cowichan District Hospital, currently under construction on Bell McKinnon Road, is expected to open its doors in 2027, leaving the current facility’s future up in the air.
Mayor Rob Douglas, who introduced the motion, made a compelling case for urgent action. According to Douglas, the Cowichan region—particularly along the Trans-Canada Highway Corridor—has seen a significant rise in homelessness over the past decade. He pointed to a mix of factors fueling this crisis: rising housing costs, persistently low vacancy rates, a long-term decline in government investment in social housing, the widespread availability of cheap and highly addictive substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine, and the closure of psychiatric institutions such as Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.
“While many unhoused individuals primarily need access to affordable housing, others face more complex challenges involving addiction and mental health disorders,” Douglas said during the council meeting. He cited the 2024 homeless count, which revealed that 59 percent of respondents were struggling with addictions, and 55 percent were experiencing mental health issues. These sobering statistics underscore the interconnectedness of homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges in the community.
Douglas also highlighted the financial barriers to treatment, noting that residential rehabilitation can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 per month—a price tag that puts recovery out of reach for most people unless they can secure support from an employer, union, or family. “To ensure equitable access to treatment, public investment in subsidized treatment beds is essential,” he argued, emphasizing the need for government intervention in expanding access to care.
Some local organizations are already working to fill the gap. The non-profit Together We Can recently opened a new treatment center on Norcross Road, offering 10 beds and seeking government support to expand to 20, with a goal of ensuring at least half are publicly funded. Yet, as Douglas pointed out, “the demand for subsidized treatment beds continues to exceed supply, particularly in the Cowichan region. In addition, recovery programs are not designed to treat mental illnesses, and so individuals with both an addiction and mental health challenges are left with few or no options for treatment that addresses both.”
The soon-to-be-vacant Cowichan District Hospital, with its 12.7-acre footprint and 114 beds spread across four floors, presents what Douglas and his colleagues view as a promising opportunity for redevelopment. “If the money is spent to repurpose and renovate it, we could get way more than 144 beds in that place. This is one of the best things that we can advocate for,” said Councillor Bruce Findlay, voicing strong support for the proposal. Findlay also cautioned against the risk that the province might simply demolish the building or declare it seismically unfit, urging investment in upgrades rather than replacement.
The idea of repurposing the hospital has garnered attention beyond North Cowichan. The City of Duncan’s council had previously voted to submit a resolution supporting the concept at the next Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities meeting. However, in February, Duncan’s council decided to step back and consult with other local governments in the region, reflecting the complexity and importance of a coordinated regional approach.
As the Cowichan region debates the future of its healthcare infrastructure, another part of British Columbia is rallying community support for mental health through a different avenue. The Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) Health Foundation recently announced the return of its annual Light-Up the Hospitals! Pledge Day, set for December 5, 2025. This year’s event comes with a major boost: Teck Trail Operations has pledged to match donations up to $100,000 during the one-day fundraiser, effectively doubling the impact of every dollar given.
All proceeds from the event will go toward the KBRH Health Foundation’s $2-million Mental Health Matters campaign, which was launched earlier this year. The campaign’s ambitious goals include funding critical upgrades to the Daly Pavilion (the hospital’s acute care psychiatric unit), Harbour House (a residential rehabilitation facility supporting long-term recovery), and the creation of a child-friendly outdoor space designed to make the hospital more welcoming for young patients.
“Teck has a long and proud history of supporting healthcare initiatives in the Trail region, dating back almost a century ago,” said Matt Parrilla, General Manager of Teck Trail Operations. “We’re honoured to continue that legacy by pledging to match the first $100,000 in donations made during the Light-Up the Hospitals! Pledge Day, in support of the Mental Health Matters Campaign at KBRH.” With this latest commitment, Teck Trail Operations has now contributed more than $1 million to healthcare campaigns in the region since 2000, according to the KBRH Health Foundation.
The planned improvements at KBRH are designed to modernize mental health infrastructure, promote patient dignity, and strengthen trauma-informed care. “Mental health is a key priority for Teck,” Parrilla added. “And this campaign represents a vital step forward in enhancing care in the community including the development of a pediatric outdoor space, helping to ensure that mental health services are revitalized and accessible to those who need them most.”
Lisa Pasin, Executive Director of the KBRH Health Foundation, expressed gratitude for Teck’s ongoing support. “We are incredibly grateful to Teck for their outstanding leadership and commitment to mental health in our region. Their matching donation will inspire others to give and help us move closer to achieving our $2 million campaign goal.”
The community is encouraged to participate in Light-Up the Hospitals! Pledge Day by visiting Waneta Plaza on December 5 or by donating online, by phone, mail, or in person at the foundation office. Every dollar donated—and matched by Teck—will help strengthen mental health services for the region’s most vulnerable.
Across British Columbia, the message is clear: communities are determined to address the growing mental health and addiction crisis with creativity, compassion, and collaboration. Whether through repurposing existing hospital infrastructure or rallying donors for critical upgrades, the province’s residents and leaders are working to ensure that no one is left behind in the struggle for recovery and dignity.
