Friday, November 10, 2023 – Victoria Hospice has withdrawn a proposal to purchase a 1.3 acre parcel of land on Richmond Road from School District 61 for a new hospice site, effective October 27, 2023.
“After careful consideration we have determined that the Richmond Road site is not the right location for our new facility,” said Trudi Brown, Victoria Hospice Society Board Chair. “We appreciate the input we have received from the community that helped us reach this decision and we remain committed to finding a new location where we can continue to offer compassionate end-of-life care.”
Engagement with the Friends of Bowker Creek, the Bowker Creek Initiative, the Camosun Community Association, and neighbours was key to informing the organization’s decision to withdraw the proposal.
“Victoria Hospice is built on community and lasting relationships, and we understand the concerns raised about the potential impact of development around Bowker Creek,” Brown said. “We want to celebrate any new location in partnership with the community and look forward to doing so in the future.”
The Greater Victoria School Board passed a bylaw to dispose of the land adjacent to the Lansdowne Middle School South Campus in March 2022, and the bylaw was approved by the Ministry of Education.
Subdivision of the site was part of an agreement for the potential purchase of the property from School District 61. Victoria Hospice submitted a subdivision application to the District of Saanich on Sept. 15 2023, which allowed the organization to gain more information about developing the site.
The nearly 80-year old Richmond Pavilion building on the Royal Jubilee Hospital campus where Victoria Hospice is located, is considered to be inappropriate for redevelopment or expansion.
“We are exploring all available options in our ongoing search for a new location and modern campus of care for the community,” Brown said.