Location
2166 Mt. Newton X Road
Saanichton, BC V8M 2B2
Phone 250-544-7676 Tool-Free 1-877-370-8699
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital has a long tradition of outstanding medical care. Patients have long understood the many benefits of our hospital. For many needs, residents of the peninsula appreciate being close to home. Our phenomenal team of nurses consistently receives rave reviews for their compassion as well as great care.
The new Multi-faith Chapel at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital is open and being used regularly. Years in development, former Chaplain Les Bonnell is credited with the idea of a chapel at the hospital. However, it is less well known that Mrs. Ruth Cowan made the first donation of $1,000 in 2001. Her daughter Audrey Waugh felt that, after that first donation, it was incumbent upon her to see the project through to completion. Her visits to Saanich Peninsula churches brought in many contributions, both large and small. The Foundation completed the fundraising in 2005, making this a chapel that has been funded entirely through the generosity of the community.
Saanich Peninsula Hospital (SPH) is a community hospital serving approximately 30,000 households on the Saanich Peninsula area of Vancouver Island. The hospital was built in 1974 as an Extended Care facility and has grown to become a full service hospital with 48 acute care beds and 144 extended care beds. The hospital was amalgamated into the Capital Health Region of Greater Victoria in 1997 and into the Vancouver Island Health Authority in 2002.
Carvers from Tseycum, Tsartlip, Pauquachin and Tsawout have created welcoming totems at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
The lawns of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital have been transformed and are home to four 15-foot, locally carved cedar totem poles. A collaboration driven by first Nations communities on Vancouver Island supported by a number of partnerships on the traditional territory of the WSANEC First Nation communities. 'These totem poles honour the ancestors and represent the peoples who have always been in this territory and share a message of how we can work better together as neighbors and partners. They are also a way to honour and the recognize the service providers and caregivers, supporting them to reflect on cultural humility, and how to best offer culturally safe services in a health care setting.' Lydia Hwitsum, board Chair for the First Nations Health Authority.
For the $120,000 project, large cedars were donated by Western Forest Products and carved in several distinctive styles in a few months by Tsartlip carver Charles Elliott, Tseycum carver James Jimmy, Pauquachin carver Mark Henry and Tsawout carver Doug LaFortune, who said his pole was 'a log for a long time — it took a long time to come out.' Charles Elliott at the Tsartlip Village [WJOL̵EL̵P] in Brentwood Bay knows good logs from bad, and was delighted to receive a beautiful piece of old growth red cedar, knot free. Good carvers only work on old growth timber.
Charles explained the design of his pole. His pole has a marine theme to celebrate the Salish Sea which connects all living beings in this territory. The frog [WEXES] sitting at the bottom is a guardian creature who announces change and new beginnings. They are at home on land and water and connect the two worlds.
The orca [KELL̵OLEMEC'N is the ruler of the Salish Sea that surrounds the W̱SÁNEĆ Peninsula and is visible from the hospital. In Coast Salish culture, orcas are the most respected creature of the sea, revered for their intelligence and power. They also set a good example for humans, as they protect their young and stay true to their pod. The drummer[WDILEM] and orca sing a traditional welcoming song to all people coming to the hospital. The kingfisher [T̸ETĆELE], diving down from above, demonstrates its prowess as a fisherman and shore keeper in Coast Salish culture. They watch over the shores from the skies, trees and cliffs, and protect other living beings by announcing the arrival of visitors with their call.
Mark Henry is from the Pauquachin First Nation [BOḰEĆEN]. Mark and his brother Herman are two of ten siblings, all of whom are working throughout BC. At forty years old, Mark is the youngest son and, according to Herman, has always worked with his hands. In order to get the inspiration he needed to carve his fifteen foot pole, he spent two days simply walking around the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, listening and observing life at the hospital.
After spending time at the hospital, Mark had the vision needed to create the pole that would represent his people. The pod of orcas [qulΪanumutsun] at the bottom of this totem represents the nurses who work together as a team to skillfully guide, teach and protect their young. The sun [sumshathet] that rises over our land and mountains is for the Elders, because they say they love seeing the sun come up every day. It provides warmth and hope, and enables all living things to grow and thrive. The eagle [Yuḧwelѐ] at the top is there to provide strength and vision to all those who come to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Like Charles, Mark uses a small chainsaw to remove the large pieces of the log, but the real artistry is done by hand. Mark explained that it takes about three months to finish a pole.
Doug Lafortune and his brother Aubrey are carvers who have passed the knowledge and skills to Doug's son, Bear. All three men are involved in the creation of the Tsawout pole. The story behind Doug's pole is a welcoming figure [S'WQENÀ L̵EN] with outstretched hands greets all those who come to the hospital. The lively, spirited otters [SKA'E<Ṯ] swim playfully around the welcoming figure. The stately blue heron [SNEK̵E], keeper of the cool, early morning fog, stands for hours on the shoreline, symbolizing patience and perseverance. The SENĆOŦEN word for blue heron means, 'loud noise.' Herons and otters are predominant figures in Coast Salish culture and there are many of them in the W̱SÁNEĆ territory.
Finally, James Jimmy of the Tseycum First Nation. James' carving represents the legend of the Tseycum Messenger[WC̸ESES ET]. In ancient times, a man from Tseycum carried messages between villages. He was always accompanied by a wolf [STK A̸ A̸YE], who was his faithful companion. One day, he needed to swim to Salt Spring Island to deliver a message but the wolf would not leave the shore of Tseycum. When the messenger turned to look back from the water, he saw the wolf on the beach. The Creator had turned the wolf into a rock that remains to this day at Tseycum.