District of Houston Study notes of draw of Terrace as a Regional hub, with medical appointments and shopping the focus

In what has been an ongoing theme for Prince Rupert City Councillor Barry Cunningham, the prospect of more medical services gravitating to Terrace has been a concern which he has raised often on behalf of residents.

It was a topic once again raised at the start of February, as the Councillor called for a correspondence campaign from the City and others in the community, designed to address concerns over the future of orthopaedic surgeries in Prince Rupert and other potential changes in health care on the North Coast.

And if the Councillor is looking for some additional background towards his concerns locally, the findings from a District of Houston survey provide a good glimpse as to just how much that Terrace has become the centre for both medical requirements and commerce across Northwest BC.

The Report from Urban Systems, was delivered to the Houston Council in February and many of the findings related to the Commercial sector in Houston sound quite familiar to Prince Rupert ears. 

With a lack of shopping options locally driving many Houston residents to other communities, with Terrace becoming a destination, often as a result of the need to travel for medical specialists appointments.

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The Full report which you can access here, is well worth a read, channelling as it does many narratives familiar to the North Coast.

Prince Rupert council members have not made much note of the Commercial migration as part of their recent thoughts on Health care in the community. But as the Houston report shows, it seems like another  area for concern, as more and more services are moved further down Highway 16.

Health care on the North Coast was the focus last week for the region's MLA Jennifer Rice, who counselled patience for residents. Ms. Rice noting of health care worker shortages across the North and how the provincial government is working to transform health care. 

Though  her comments for the Legislature did not speak specifically to the local concerns over any current loss, or potential further loss of services in Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert Council has often discussed the prospect of forming an Advisory Committee on Health Care, a topic that was part of the dialogue when Northern Health officials met with Council in the fall of 2021.

So far however, since that extensive forum took place in November there has been no follow up to that topic in a public session of Council, with few details revealed as to what that kind of engagement with Northern Health will be going forward for Prince Rupert.

More notes on Health Care in the region can be explored from our archive pages.