NORTH BATTLEFORD - After a long 15-months, the Battlefords Family Health Centre (BFHC) medical clinic in North Battleford officially re-opened after it suffered water damage in 2023.
Staff, partners and dignitaries participated in an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 22, 2024 to celebrate the occasion.
BFHC is part of Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre, which provides health services to its member First Nations, which includes Lucky Man Cree Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, Little Pine First Nation and Poundmaker Cree Nation. Services are also open everyone. The health centre is owned and operated by Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
BFHC Director Kent Lindgren explained in April of 2023 BFHC experienced a fire sprinkler system break that resulted in major water damage in the building.
"It woke us all up in the early morning hours to come here to have huge amounts of water flowing throughout most of our building...," he said. "As well, it took over most of the basement and our main floor."
He said staff had to think fast to find a solution.
"We really had to pivot quickly. In just a few short days over a long weekend we were able to move our services to other locations and to other spaces, that we then stayed in for the next 15 months, while we did renos and did the work to get us back open," Lindgren noted.
Staff were able to move back into the BFHC space again in late June in 2024.
The water damage impacted infrastructure as well as technology, and medical equipment, so there was a significant amount of work involved to replace equipment and improve the facility itself.
The BFHC also has an Early Learning program space, so it had toys and books for kids damaged too.
"It was sad to see all of that work that's gone into getting those," Lindgren said. "That first weekend was very really quite sad to see your home away from home, the place you spend a lot of your day really just destroyed so quickly."
BFHC was able to use funding from insurance to cover the renovations from the water damage. It also took the opportunity to make some improvements to the facility at the same time while the work was underway.
"We took a bad situation and used it so we could create [upgrades] and do some of that work in the meantime, so we could leverage the work we are already doing from the water damage," Lindgren said. "We took advantage of that, and did a bunch of renos."
In addition to insurance funds, Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre also used its own internal funding to help with the costs for improvements and upgrades.
He noted for Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre's part for renovating the BFHC, the costs have been roughly more than $300,000.
Lindgren credited staff for continuing to offer services during the time the renovations were being completed.
"[They] were really focusing on our patients, and the people and families we serve," he said. "It was [only] three days when we didn't have services. So, it was pretty good for us. We're pretty proud of that."
Lindgren noted now that the project is complete and the building has re-opened, it's good news for the community.
"I think it's [significant] of what this really means," he said. "For us, it's like an entire focus on our families and our community members to really make a difference.
"At the primary health service, we hear all the time about a lack of providers," Lindgren said. "Every day we're not open, it was hard. People need care, and quick timely access to that care. So, it's important we can open this back up. It really is a community space. It's focused on our values. That's a really important part that they get back here."
He noted that BFHC is a unique health centre that integrates traditional First Nation health and culture into primary health services.
Patricia Whitecalf, executive director, was also thrilled to have the facility open again for the community.
“We were able to take a difficult time and significant damage, and re-design the space to fit the current health needs of our families, and to enhance patient- centred care,” she said.
