Below are some commonly asked questions regarding the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre. SPIN will continue to update this article throughout the public process. To share what you’d like to know please fill out our survey.
Why is the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre closed?
The Sun Peaks Community Health Centre suspended operations in October, as the municipality seeks out a new operator for the clinic.
As the owner of the health centre building, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality ended its lease with the previous operator of the clinic, Supporting Team Excellence with Patients Society (STEPS) in July, citing operational challenges including reduced hours, long wait times, lack of locums and limited access to urgent care.
“We appreciated STEPS stepping in when they did [in 2023] and helping us bridge a critical gap,” Mayor Rob O’Toole told SPIN in July. “But after a year and a half, it became clear that their service model was not meeting the long-term healthcare needs of this community.”
SPIN spoke with O’Toole and STEPS’ chief executive officer Christine Matuschewski to learn more. Read that full story below.
What is the timeline for getting the health centre back in operation?
There is not currently a specified date for getting the health centre reopened. However, the municipality hopes to share more information relating to the process “in a week or so,” chief administrative officer for the municipality Deanna Campbell told SPIN Nov. 4.
“We understand the questions, anxiety and concerns in the community,” she said. “The municipality and council are doing their very best to navigate this process with the best interests of the community in mind, but it is complex.”
What is a request for proposals?
A request for proposals is a public document used to solicit bids for a project or role, offering an overview of specifications, needs and requirements.
After the announcement that STEPS would no longer operate the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre, council devised a working group, which opted to move forward with a request for proposals as “due process and transparency [were] emphasized as vital to public confidence and political accountability,” the working group’s report states. This report was made public during the Oct. 21 council meeting.
The deadline for submissions for the request for proposals was Sept. 30, and one proponent applied.
Who was the sole proposal from?
Initially information regarding the proposal was confidential. However in a statement shared Nov. 12, the municipality confirmed Dr. Catherine Nowierski was the sole proponent.
“SPMRM and the proponent, Dr. Catherine Nowierski, are actively collaborating to re-open the Sun Peaks Health Centre,” the municipality shared in the statement.
The municipality opted to move forward with the request for proposals that “ensures transparency,” according to the report.
Editor’s Note: This section was updated at 11:20 a.m. to reflect the most up-to-date information.
How can residents contribute their thoughts on the process?
Sun Peaks Independent News has created a survey to learn more about residents’ thoughts and feelings regarding the process to find a new operator for the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre. Please fill out this form to share your thoughts.
Those interested in connecting with the municipality can email council directly, send a letter directly to council members or the mayor to be included in the agenda or speak as a delegation at the meeting. If it is a new topic, the request must be submitted before 1 p.m. on Wednesday prior to the council meeting.
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