The Project Board for the North Island Hospitals Project has announced the appointment of Tom Sparrow as the new Chief Project Officer for the North Island Hospitals Project.
The Project Board is the governing body that will provide leadership to the project. Members on the Board include representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Partnerships B.C., the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District and the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
Sparrow will be responsible for managing the project and ensuring both hospitals are built on time and on budget.
The North Island Hospitals Project includes a new 95-bed hospital in Campbell River and a new 153-bed hospital in the Comox Valley. The estimated capital cost of the two hospitals is up to $600 million, which will be shared by the Province and the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District.
Construction is anticipated to start in 2013 with completion slated for 2017. The new hospitals in the Comox Valley and Campbell River will be built as a public-private partnership (PPP).
The PPP model was chosen for this project as it will deliver the greatest value for taxpayers, and provides an excellent opportunity to benefit from private sector innovation and partnership.
Sparrow has a long history of success and experience working as the project lead for many government projects including most recently as Project Director for the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa project and as Chief Project Officer for the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project for Partnerships BC.
Sparrow is a Certified Project Manager (PMP) and holds a MSc, Health from the University of Victoria and a MBA from Athabasca University. He has also been actively involved with the Project Management Institute.
“We are happy to welcome Tom to Vancouver Island,” said VIHA president and CEO Howard Waldner. “Tom’s success with the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa project as well as his experience with many other projects will be of great benefit as this project moves forward.”
— Vancouver Island Health Authority