The art room inside a new long-term care centre to be built adjacent to Delta Hospital will be named in recognition of local philanthropist Mary Ann Burrows.
In December of 2023, the Harlow and Mary Ann Burrows Foundation committed to donating $250,000 to support Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation’s $18.25-million "Coming Home" capital campaign — the organization's largest-ever fundraising effort.
On Thursday (Dec 12.), in recognition of this generous donation, the foundation announced the art room located inside the new Beedie Long Term Care Centre will be named the Mary Ann Burrows Art Studio.
“We are incredibly grateful for Harlow and Mary Ann Burrows’ steadfast dedication to enhancing healthcare and wellness in our community,” Lisa Hoglund, executive director of Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, said in a press release.
“This donation is an incredible way to honour Mary Ann’s passion for art and her belief in the power of creativity to improve mental well-being. We are proud to name this meaningful space in her honour and to highlight the impact of their generosity on our community.”
Announced in June of 2023, the Beedie Long Term Care Centre will replace the aging Mountain View Manor on the Delta Hospital Campus of Care and expand capacity at the site from 92 to 200 beds, while also adding a 32-space adult day program for people living more independently and a stand-alone 49-space childcare facility.
The new long-term care facility — to be named in recognition of Ryan and Cindy Beedie's $5-million donation (the largest in DHCHF's history) — will be built, owned and operated by Fraser Health on currently vacant land next to Delta Hospital. Capitol costs will be funded with $179.7 million from the Ministry of Health, in addition to funds raised by the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation.
The centre’s design focuses on small “households” accommodating 12 or 13 residents, each with their own single-bed room and bathroom. These units will also feature social and recreational spaces found in a typical home, such as a living room, dining room, activity space and access to the outdoors, according to a Ministry of Health press release.
There will also be community spaces and services for residents, families, visitors and staff, including art and activity rooms, a hair salon and a sacred space.
According to Thursday's press release, the Mary Ann Burrows Art Studio "will be an inspiring, therapeutic art and wellness space where all residents of Delta’s new 200-bed long-term care home can engage in art and music therapy, gardening, woodworking, crafting and other wellness activities designed to improve quality of life. The studio aims to foster creativity, support mental health, and provide a soothing environment for residents."
Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.
Last month, the foundation's 25th annual Moonlight Gala raised a record-breaking $1,391,470 towards building the new long-term care centre, capping off a year of significant donations in support of the Coming Home campaign.
In January, the Delta Hospital Auxiliary Society donated $3 million to the Coming Home campaign — a record amount for the auxiliary.
In May, DHCHF received a pair of $1-million gifts, one from the Delta Agricultural Society, another from the Boates Family Foundation. The latter donation was designated towards the construction of the centre's child daycare facility.
To donate to Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation’s Coming Home campaign, visit dhchfoundation.ca/capital-campaign.
