August 8, 2025
RED FM News Desk
British Columbia government announced that the construction is now underway on St. Vincent’s Heather, a new long-term care home that will increase access to care for seniors in the Lower Mainland.
“This new long-term care home is a meaningful step forward as more seniors need support to age with dignity and stay connected to their communities,” said Minister of Infrastructure, Bowinn Ma. “We’re building a modern, welcoming space where seniors can feel at home and receive the care they deserve – all while strengthening local health-care capacity and creating good jobs in the community.”
The new 13-storey facility will accommodate 240 residents and is expected to open in 2028. It will offer 15 new beds while also welcoming seniors from older Providence care facilities, which will then have their space repurposed for other healthcare needs in the Lower Mainland.
Key Features of St. Vincent’s Heather
Community Living: Ten floors will be divided into 20 households, each supporting 12 residents in private rooms with shared living, dining, kitchen, and laundry areas.
Dementia Support: The design and daily routines are based on a model that helps people with dementia stay active, social, and feel more at home.
Onsite Amenities: The facility will feature a theatre, a hair salon, a library, a café bistro, a chapel, and rooms for physiotherapy and exercise.
Cultural Inclusivity: The building’s design was created in collaboration with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. It includes Indigenous-centered features like a sacred room for spiritual care and a medicine garden with traditional healing plants.
Community Integration: The site will also include a 37-space child care center, a community center, and a public plaza to help the neighborhood stay connected.
Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care, stated that the new facility will provide an environment “rooted in dignity, connection, and community, where older adults in Vancouver can stay active, engaged, and supported close to the people and places they love.”
The project is part of the province’s plan to improve seniors’ care across B.C. Over the past five years, the government has invested approximately $3.5 billion to expand and improve the quality of care for seniors.
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