Tom Sparrow, chief project officer of the North Island Hospitals Project, will be the keynote speaker at the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce's 94th annual general meeting April 18.
The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Crown Isle Resort. Chamber members and the public are welcome to attend but should be aware that pre-registration is required.
"Mr. Sparrow will explain the opportunities that the new hospital project will bring to the Comox Valley and the surrounding areas," says Chamber president and CEO Dianne Hawkins. "This state-of-the-art hospital represents a 71-per-cent increase of space from the current hospital. It will have internationally renowned Labour- Delivery - Recovery - Post Partum (LDRP) rooms for maternity care and provide a formal affiliation with the University of British Columbia and medical school.
"We are really excited about this development considering that the hospital project will serve to stimulate the local economy through the creation of approximately 1,000 new jobs, as well as provide broad economic benefits."
A highlight of Sparrow's presentation will be details on a new collaboration between the Comox Valley and Campbell River Chambers of Commerce, Vancouver Island Construction Association, Vancouver Island Economic Alliance and the North Island Hospitals Project of the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
This group effort will see the creation of "industry speed dating events" in the Comox Valley and Campbell River in late May.
These events will provide opportunities for local businesses to interact with each of the three consortiums bidding on the hospitals project to promote their companies and services.
The North Island Hospitals Project will construct two new state-of-the-art hospitals with a total cost of $600 million; $334 million for the Comox Valley Hospital and $266 million for the Campbell River Hospital.
The Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District will contribute 40 per cent to the overall project, approximately $240 million.
In addition to the keynote presentation, the Chamber's AGM will see the swearing in of three new board members — Kevin East of Ambassador Shuttle Service, Mackenzie Gartside of Verico Select Mortgages and John Gower of Gower Design Groups — as well as Marg Szafron of Prestige Video Transfer, who was re-elected. Outgoing board members who will be thanked for their terms of volunteer service: past president Jeff Lucas of Cascadia Liquor store; and directors Linda Graceffo of Sparkling Graphics and Tom McAlister of Holden and Smart.
Tickets to the Chamber's AGM are $20 for members ($25 for prospective members) and advance registration is required. Hot and cold appetizers and tea and coffee will be served. A cash bar will be available.
Pre-register on the Chamber's website at www.comoxvalleychamber.com/news-events. Or, for more information, call 250-334-3234.
— Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce