KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Kelson Group Property Management has announced that they will be committing $1.5 million to the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Patient Care Tower through a multi-year donation. The money is being earmarked to support the expansion and modernization of the Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Department of the hospital.
Beginning with its first management property in 1974, the local family owned Kelson Group is always pursuing and responding to the needs of the people it serves through its properties across Western Canada. At 80 years old, Founder and President Ron Fawcett continues to ensure that Kelson Group works diligently to achieve his vision of communities united where people make significant, long-lasting changes in the lives of their neighbours.
Because of that dedication to purpose, the name “Kelson Group” has become synonymous in our region with a philanthropic commitment to helping all people not just live, but live better. This $1.5 million donation to the RIH MHSU Department, the largest gift RIH Foundation has received from the company, will continue that legacy.
“We believe mental health is becoming increasingly important to focus on for the overall health of our communities, especially as we strive to help people live better,” says Kelson Group Vice President, Jason Fawcett. “We see how declining mental health affects our residents and the people in our communities and we want to help. With a broad demographic in our buildings we want to ensure we’re doing everything we can to house people well while providing the supports they need.”
The statistics now say that one in five Canadians will experience mental health issues in their lives – that’s approximately 45,000 individuals in our region with that number expected to grow. In the Kamloops area alone, the need for inpatient beds for mental health patients is expected to increase by 47% over the next 20 years*.
“The Patient Care Tower Project is going to modernize the MHSU Department at Royal Inland Hospital,” says Debi Morris, Health Service Administrator, MHSU Interior Health West. “Our inpatient unit built in 1962, needs updating. The new department will be an inviting, calm and therapeutic environment where patients can be cared for in the spaces they deserve. Our exceptional staff will be able to provide a high level of care in a fresh and modern setting. The new floor will have private patient rooms, comfortable lounges, outdoor courtyards and lots of natural light—all conducive to healing and recovery. We are extremely grateful to Kelson Group for their generous support of our new department.”
Kelson Group, who continue to diligently support RIH both monetarily and through service on its Board of Directors, does so because they know the value of investing in the overall wellness of people. “If mental health isn’t prioritized then people can’t be good neighbours and we can’t help them live better,” says Fawcett. “The new Patient Care Tower is key to ensuring that the hospital is a first-class facility that is able to deliver critical services to our community for generations to come. This is a long-term investment that we’re happy to be a part of with this donation.”
* 2016-17 Facility Profile, Interior Health
