Enbridge contributes to build Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in Kamloops and Prince George
Bright lights, beeping machines and that sterile hospital smell. This is what surrounds the parents caring for a sick or premature child in the hospital.
But inside Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, there’s now a space that offers families a place to rest, recharge and reset.
In June, Ronald McDonald House British Columbia & Yukon officially opened a family support space—known as the “Family Room”—in the hospital’s main building. The Family Room provides a welcoming, home-like space for families navigating difficult medical journeys.
Located steps away from neonatal and pediatrics wards, the space includes a fully stocked kitchen and dining area, a cozy living room and children’s play space, laundry facilities with complimentary detergent, a bathroom with a shower, towels and toiletries, and a sleeping room for families in need.
It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to any family with a child or expecting mother receiving care.
“The Family Room is meant to allow families to remove themselves from the hospital setting,” said Stephanie Mosher, Vice President of Philanthropy at Ronald McDonald House British Columbia & Yukon. “There are no beeping machines. The walls are painted differently. It’s designed to feel like a separate space so families can rest or step away for a moment from what they’re going through.”
Ronald McDonald House is a charitable organization providing a home away from home for families whose children need medical treatment and support. It operates support housing and Family Rooms throughout BC. The Family Room in Kamloops provides families in the community with a place to go to in their local hospital, especially on rough days.
“It’s been a goal of ours to expand across the province for a number of years,” added Mosher. “With local hospitals renovating to expand their pediatric and neonatal programs, it just makes sense to bring our services closer to where the families live.”
Another Ronald McDonald Family Room is set to open in University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George this fall, extending support to northern BC families.
Enbridge contributed $25,000 to build the Family Rooms in Kamloops and Prince George, where its regional offices are located and many of its employees live. This partnership with Ronald McDonald House is a meaningful example of shared values in action.
“We’re so excited to have partners who help us realize our vision of family-centered care,” said Sarah Reid, Director of Marketing and Communications at Ronald McDonald House British Columbia & Yukon. “Especially as we expand into the Interior and northern BC, having companies like Enbridge who understand the value of keeping families together during medical hardship is truly inspiring.”
