It is official. The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is proud to announce that Meiklejohn Architects have been awarded the contract for JoeAnna’s House.
JoeAnna’s House, which will be built on the Kelowna General Hospital site at the corner of Royal Avenue and Abbott Street, will provide a much needed home away from home for families of patients having to travel for advanced medical care.
It is an ambitious undertaking and provides a unique opportunity for the construction industry to work together on a landmark community project with lasting impact.
Jim Meiklejohn, owner of Meiklejohn Architects, and lead Architect, Stoke Tonne are very excited to be apart of the project.
Meiklejohn is well-known and respected in the community for their work on a wide range of residential projects in the City including Cambridge House, Cannery Lofts and Cardington Apartments. More recent downtown projects include the Innovation Centre, Kelowna Yacht Club and the new Visitor Centre for Tourism Kelowna. JoeAnna's house feels very special because of the acute need and the passion of the people behind it as well as its amazing site.
“This is a much needed facility in an important neighbourhood so we were very excited about this project and honoured to be invited by The KGH Foundation to submit a proposal for architectural and engineering services,” said Meiklejohn and Tonne.
“We are increasingly focused on making the work we do ‘add to the community’ and are satisfied when we know our efforts help make Kelowna a better place. The hospital is a large regional facility placed in a single family heritage waterfront neighbourhood and we hope this will help soften the transition between the two.”
Every year, thousands of families travel across the Interior of British Columbia for a loved one to receive life-saving treatment at KGH. This can be a difficult time for families, as they are faced with decisions they never thought they would have to make.
“We feel that JoeAnna's House will really benefit the neighbourhood and the community by helping the hospital be more connected to the community,” the team added.
The families that will be using JoeAnna's house will be in need of a home during the most heart-aching time of their lives.
Some families have no choice - they must part ways for the sake of their sick child, premature baby or critically injured loved one.
The news of a sick or injured family member is emotionally and financially draining. For some families, they have no place to go. They are left wondering, what next? Some stay in hotels away from their sick child - for others, this is not an option due to financial barriers. The KGH Foundation and JoeAnna's House will provide families with the opportunity to be together in a time of need.
JoeAnna’s House is a place to call home, a place for miracles and a place that will change everything. Studies show that patients who have their family by their side for support and encouragement heal faster. With the help from JoeAnna’s House, families will be able to stay together throughout the healing process of their sick family member.
The KGH Foundation announced their $8 million 'Better Together' campaign and unveiled the building location in early October of this year. The community instantly rallied around this cause that will probably never directly affect them, which shows the compassion and heart of Kelowna residents.
Lisa Dear, a mother from Creston, B.C., shared her story of how a place like JoeAnna's House would have made her experience in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at KGH a lot easier. “It is going to benefit the community so much as it will be a home away from home. Having a welcoming place where other families going through similar experiences can connect and support each other – even just knowing that you’re not the only one – will make a huge difference".
“This project truly was borne from a legacy of care that so many individuals and organizations in our community have been working towards for years,” said KGH Foundation CEO, Doug Rankmore, referencing the seed work of Cops for Kids and the initial $1 million investment made by the Huber family of Prestige Hotels and Resort in JoeAnna’s House. “So it’s important that we choose the right partners with care to build this very special place.”
“We know Meiklejohn will do a great job. We’re thrilled to be getting started.”
The KGH Foundation is committed to raising $8 million to build a home away from home that will keep families together. A place to relax just steps away from their loved one’s bedside; a place for compassion, comfort and a sense of community when they need it the most. JoeAnna’s House will be that place to call home.
If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.
If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.
