Letter to Our Community – September 8, 2026

Dear Community Members and Partners,

For many years, the Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society has supported individuals and families navigating end-of-life care. Our vision is to build on that work by establishing a dedicated, 10-bed Hospice House for the East Kootenay, providing compassionate, 24/7 end-of-life care in a peaceful, home-like environment.

We know there is considerable community interest in where a future Hospice House could be located, particularly as the City of Cranbrook (the City) seeks public feedback on potential municipal properties. We want to provide clarity about our needs, our process, and where the project currently stands.

Why a Hospice House is needed in the East Kootenay

Currently, there are three designated hospice beds in our area, but there is no dedicated, standalone hospice facility. For individuals who can no longer remain at home, this can mean receiving end-of-life care in other healthcare settings or travelling outside the region to access a dedicated hospice house.

Our vision is to create a place specifically designed around the needs of people at the end of life and the family and loved ones supporting them. The proposed Hospice House would include 10 patient rooms, spaces for families, gardens and outdoor areas, and the clinical and support spaces required to provide specialized care.

What we need in a site

The location of a Hospice House matters. Through our planning work, we have identified several important considerations for a future site, including:

• accessibility for patients, families, healthcare professionals, and emergency services;
• a quiet and peaceful environment appropriate for end-of-life care;
• sufficient land for the building, outdoor spaces, parking, and potential future needs;
• appropriate servicing, zoning, and development potential; and
• the ability to meet applicable healthcare, licensing, accessibility, and building requirements.

These criteria have guided our review of potential properties.

Where the site-selection process stands

The City has identified five City-owned properties for consideration. The Hospice House Steering Committee has carefully considered each of these opportunities and how they could support the vision and needs of the proposed Hospice House. Based on the information available to us and our work to date, two properties remain viable from the Society’s perspective: the Mount Baker RV Campground property and the Highlands property.

Based on our review to date, the other three City-owned properties do not align as closely with the requirements identified for the project. This does not mean that a final site has been selected. The City is undertaking its own public engagement and decision-making process, and we respect the importance of hearing from residents, including people who may be directly affected by any future decision.

We appreciate the City’s ongoing consideration of the Hospice House project and the potential properties that have been identified. Our responsibility is to be transparent with the community about what the Hospice House requires and which of the properties we believe could support the project.

At the same time, our search is not limited to the properties currently being considered by the City. We remain open to exploring other potential sites that may meet the needs of a future Hospice House. If you are aware of a property that may be suitable, are interested in discussing a potential land donation, or would simply like to speak with us about other opportunities, we welcome the conversation. Please contact us at [email protected] or 250.417.2019.

The process for building the Hospice House

Securing an appropriate property is an important milestone, but it is one part of a much larger process. Once a site is secured, significant work will remain, including detailed planning and design, regulatory and municipal approvals, continued work with Interior Health Authority, fundraising, and ultimately construction.

The proposed Hospice House represents a significant community undertaking, and we know people will have questions along the way. We are committed to providing clear information as the project develops and to listening to the community throughout the process. We invite you to visit www.ckhospice.ca, where you can find answers to frequently asked questions about the Hospice House and the site-selection process.

Thank you to everyone who has supported hospice care in our region and to those who are taking the time to learn more about this project. Together, we are the hands that serve and the hearts that care.

Most sincerely,

George Watson, Chair of the board
Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society
[email protected]