Feature

Sunny Hill Health Centre: A New Beginning

Darpan News Desk Contributed, 23 Sep, 2020

Kids and families at the new Sunny Hill Health Centre at BC Children’s Hospital will now receive care in a place designed just for them.

Sunny Hill Health Centre is the only paediatric developmental care and rehabilitation centre of its kind in BC. Patients here may be recovering from life-altering events like traumatic injuries or strokes, or receive assessments or care for developmental conditions like cerebral palsy. These children often show resilience beyond their years. Now, a new beginning awaits them. The brand-new Sunny Hill Health Centre re-opened its doors on the campus of BC Children’s Hospital in late August as a one-of-a-kind facility, thoughtfully designed for the kids and families who count on it. Built as part of the third and final phase of BC Children’s and BC Women’s Redevelopment Project, the new Sunny Hill was made possible through the significant support from the Government of British Columbia, Provincial Health Services Authority and our committed and generous donors.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation also launched the Sunny Hill Enhancement Initiative, which raised additional donor funding, and exceeded its $14 million goal, with a significant capstone gift from the Lalji Family. Donor support from across BC is helping to create a new facility that is just as special as the children it serves, and enables its experts to deliver care that’s tailored to them. This donor generosity is helping to elevate the care patients receive with highly innovative technology, advanced purpose-built spaces and specialized equipment. In addition, curated artwork throughout the facility helps to create a warm and calming healing environment.

Healing Spaces

The new Sunny Hill will open up a world of possibilities and hope, creating a home-like and welcoming environment for kids,families and staff. Some of the remarkable spaces include: OUTDOOR GARDEN: for patients to practice and improve their mobility in a real-world environment with varying terrains GYM: a large, purposeful space with a basketball court, practice kitchen and state-of-the-art technology provides countless therapy and recreational opportunities POOL: a cherished spot where kids can feel weightless and free—but now, with movable floors and water jets to help them build muscle strength, or learn how to walk again In addition, with significant support from several of our most generous donors, the new facility has embodied the vision for what is possible at Sunny Hill.

Some of the spaces inspired by their support include: BLAAUW FAMILY HILLTOP PATIO: this beautiful outdoor space accessed from the gym is a calm haven for relaxation and active therapy for children and their families DR. HILARY AND PATSY HUI PATIENT AND FAMILY LOUNGE: for inpatient families staying at Sunny Hill, this home-like area is a sanctuary for recreation, privacy and social connections DJAVAD MOWAFAGHIAN WELCOME GALLERY: the main entry point where visitors step into a healing environment flooded with natural light and engaging sculptures and murals PETERSON FAMILY GATHERING SPACE: for families spending long days here, this welcoming lounge has a child play area, an enclosed dining space and engaging art.

Art With A Purpose

The Children’s Healing Experience Project at Sunny Hill curated a collection of original paintings, murals, interactive installations, sculptures and Indigenous artwork. Twenty-eight artists and five community partners, all from Canada, contributed their expertise and passion to the project. Sunny Hill patients and families had the final say in the selection of the artwork. Each piece is “kid approved” and helps support the therapeutic needs of each space.

Advanced Equipment & Technology

The new Sunny Hill is also equipped with the latest technology and innovation designed to help customize therapy and recreational activities for patients, which in turn can help improve their overall health outcomes. For instance, Western Canada’s very first functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike and stepper helps build muscle strength during supported cycling and walking patterns through low-energy electrical pulses to simulate body movements.

Thank You To Our Generous Donors

When it comes to advancing children’s health care and transforming lives, it takes every one of us. We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of compassionate support from our donors, the 2018 A Night of Miracles Gala Cabinet and supporters, volunteers, community partners, and Canadian artists, who all shared in the vision to provide the very best to patients across the province who rely on Sunny Hill Health Centre. In particular, in addition to several donors who gave significant gifts toward the Sunny Hill Enhancement Initiative, we also want to recognize those donors who supported the new facility through the efforts of the South Asian community. Thank you.