The new state-of-the-art hospital in Terrace has reached another important milestone as it has been gifted a Tsimshian name, Ksyen Regional Hospital, Terrace. The name recognizes the territory in which the hospital was built and the region it serves.
Local First Nations and municipal leaders had discussions together about the naming of the hospital. It was agreed that a Tsimshian name proposed by the Kitsumkalum First Nation would be the name submitted to be approved by the Northern Health Board of Directors and the Province.
Ksyen (KUH-see-yen) is the Sm’algyax name for the Skeena River. Sm’algya̱x is the language spoken by the Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) people, who have lived for thousands of years on the North Coast of British Columbia. Northern Health will be collaborating with Kitsumkalum and Kitselas on a name gifting ceremony soon.
Ksyen Regional Hospital, Terrace, will also recognize the history and important contributions that Dr. Stanley Mills and others have made to health care in the region -- including Dr. Mills’ role in bringing the current hospital to the community. Dr. Mills will be recognized in the new facility with a history wall and will have the ambulatory care unit named in his honour.
“With this new hospital we now have a significant and meaningful opportunity to recognize and honour the historic past, the first peoples and the Indigenous territory that this facility is on,” said Northern Health Board chair Colleen Nyce. “I am grateful for the collective input and discussion that has brought us to this decision, and in particular I thank both Kitsumkalum and Kitselas First Nations for coming together to allow this very appropriate Tsimshian name to be used.”
Nyce added, “We will always hold the first Terrace Hospital, Mills Memorial, in our hearts with deep and lasting memory. I am so pleased that the new Ambulatory Care Unit will continue to carry the name of Dr. Mills.”
Northern Health has worked collaboratively with local and regional First Nations to ensure the new hospital is culturally safe and welcoming, through an Indigenous advisory working group which provided input on the new facility throughout the life of the project. The new, state-of-the-art hospital is located at the north end of the current hospital grounds and is undergoing final preparations for opening.
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