Powell River Regional Hospital District has officially changed its name, according to a media release from qathet Regional District.
The name change was initiated to provide more clarity around the purpose of the regional hospital district to act as a funding mechanism for hospital and health-care services throughout the region and Tla'amin Nation. Upon written request, Tla'amin offered that the hospital district board consider "qathet" as the new name, according to the release.
"On February 29, 2024, the Ministry of Health provided Powell River Regional Hospital District with Supplemental Letters Patent, officially changing the name to qathet Regional Hospital District," the release stated. "Effective immediately, the Powell River Regional Hospital District will henceforth be known as the qathet Regional Hospital District."
Powell River Regional Hospital District was incorporated by letters patent pursuant to the Hospital District Act on December 19, 1967, which provides that the lieutenant-governor in council may amend the letters patent of a regional hospital district to change the name.
"We see this name change as an opportunity to support an inclusive and welcoming environment, and improve public awareness of the regional boundaries of the qRHD," said George Doubt, qathet Regional Hospital District board chair. "Given that the name change was a known concern and was likely to have a significant impact, the board and province requested public input prior to making the decision. As directors, we take our orders from the public, and the majority of those who responded did so in support of a name change."
Powell River General Hospital was renamed qathet General Hospital in 2022.
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