Engagement

In early 2016, as part of clinical planning, Providence initiated a community consultation process. This included public outreach and consultation to share information about plans for the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus and to gather input, with a key focus on understanding the health care needs of the community and how the new St. Paul’s could best support these.

During February and March 2016, Providence Health Care hosted eight community forums, in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health, in the neighbourhoods closest to the current and future St. Paul’s Hospital sites (West End, Downtown Eastside and False Creek). In addition, participants also shared ideas via an online survey, in one-on-one meetings, by email, phone, social media and other means.

Input was captured, summarized and shared with our key planning partners, including Vancouver Coastal Health, the Ministry of Health, City of Vancouver and others to inform project planning, and included as part of our business plan for the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus.

As part of the overall planning for the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus, the City of Vancouver led a process to develop a Policy Statement to guide the redevelopment of the Station Street site. The Policy Statement addresses land use, transportation, density, building types and heights, public amenities and integration with the adjacent neighbourhoods as part of the development of the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus.

The process took place in three phases involving public consultation in the form of open houses and online questionnaires. Following the final phase, City of Vancouver staff, members of the redevelopment team and members of the community attended a City Council meeting to determine whether or not the completed Policy Statement would be adopted. The consideration was successful and in the fall of 2019 the City approved “in principle” the rezoning application under the approved St. Paul’s Hospital and Health Campus Policy Statement as well as the Rezoning Policy for Sustainable Large Developments. Read more here.

For more information on the City of Vancouver’s planning process for the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus, please visit the City of Vancouver’s project site: vancouver.ca/newstpauls.

Through direct engagement, collaboration and partnerships, Providence has worked to understand the unique needs and perspectives of First Nations and Inuit and Metis communities, patients and families. This approach is essential for incorporating Indigenous viewpoints into every aspect of the health care experience. 

Diverse methods are used to maintain meaningful engagement. We have hosted design workshops, focus groups and community engagement events, in addition to surveys, patient journey mapping and regular meetings with community groups, organizations and outreach supports. 

Indigenous engagement has influenced space design, architecture, artwork, interior design, medicine gardens, sacred spaces, landscaping, clinical processes, models of care and new facilities on the future campus, including a potential Indigenous Wellness and Welcoming Centre. 

Throughout the entire planning process for the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus, we’re committed to engagement that:

• is clear about the decisions that need to be made throughout the process
• is clear about what individuals and interest holders will be consulted on and how their feedback will be used
• proactively reaches out to potentially impacted and interested individuals and groups, especially patients, health care interest holders and marginalized populations, to invite them to share their input
• considers a broad range of voices in shaping the decisions and outcomes
• provides participants with the information they need to participate in a meaningful way
• provides many opportunities to participate that reflect diverse needs
• communicates the outcomes of various stages of the process, including how input was considered