Hospital Day Committee Chair Ellen Cranston receives a $1400 donation to Hospital Day from RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton (left) and Cst. Derrick Gladdish. The funds were raised during "Movember" when the local RCMP detachment auctioned off the 40 year old mustache of fisherman and local legend Lindsey Doerkson.

What is Hospital Day?

Hospital Day is the oldest community holiday here on Haida Gwaii, in which residents come together to play games, enjoy one another's company and celebrate their unique Island lifestyle. A colorful parade starts the day off and is followed by ball games, races and children's events.

The Purpose of Hospital Day

Hospital Day has been an annual tradition here on the Islands since 1908, when islanders came together to raise funds to build the first hospital in “Queen Charlotte City.” For many years thereafter, the annual "Hospital Day" provided the only source of operating revenue for the hospital. To this day, Hospital Day continues to provide monies for purchasing healthcare equipment for various healthcare programs all over the Islands.

But healthcare and wellness are not only about splinting fractures and purchasing hospital hardware. The health of a community is benefited by people coming together. Sharing a common history is part way down the road to having common cause, and a healthier community. Hospital Day is about bringing neighbors together to share a conversation, a cup of coffee and watching the kids have fun.

Nurse Carrie Tamblyn (left) is the lucky winner of the Air Canada ticket raffle. Carrie is shown here receiving her Air Canada voucher and being congratulated by Hospital Day Committee member Linda Scaife. Carrie won two round-trip tickets to any scheduled destination that Air Canada serves in North America.

You are Invited to Our 104th Annual Hospital Day!

Hospital Day 2012 will be held in the Village of Queen Charlotte on Saturday, June 23, starting in front of the hospital with the parade at 10:00 am. This year marks the 104th anniversary of our hospital – of our having healthcare givers and maintaining those services faithfully for over a century!

Hospital Day 2012 will also mark the 57th anniversary of the current hospital building, making it one of the oldest hospital buildings still in use in British Columbia. Many caring people have worked in this building since it opened in 1955, and many more served in the original Queen Charlotte hospital building from 1908 onward. The provincial government has promised the community a replacement hospital structure for more than 20 years, and appreciates that we are the thrifty kind of community that can squeeze 50 years out of each hospital building.

But a healthcare system is more than just a “pile of bricks and mortar.” Its about the people – the volunteers and professional caregivers who have given so much and put down such deep roots into our community.

We hope that you can come and help us honor all of the caregivers who have served us so well over these many years. We sincerely hope that you will come and share our beautiful place in this world!