Dr. F. W. Green Memorial Home
Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home, a 60-bed long-term care home in Cranbrook, is being replaced and expanded. A new five-storey building will be constructed on the same site at 1700 4 St. South, Cranbrook, adding 87 new long-term care beds and three hospice beds for a total of 150 beds. Construction is expected to start in Summer 2025.
The new care home will be designed in a "household" model, with each household accommodating 12 to 18 residents. Every resident will have a single-bed room with dedicated washroom. Households will feature home-like social and recreational spaces, including a living room, dining room, activity space and access to the outdoors.
The care home will also offer community spaces and services for residents, families, visitors and staff, such as activity rooms, a hair salon, sacred space and a 25-space adult day program for people living more independently in the community. As well, a child care space with capacity for 37 children will be included in the new build.
Construction will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 of the facility is anticipated to open in 2027, relocating all existing residents, with Phase 2 scheduled to open in 2029.
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Dr. F.W. Green: A Cranbrook Legacy That Lives On
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Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home, located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa Nation in Cranbrook, is a shining example of compassion and dedication as it owes its name to a remarkable man whose legacy continues to inspire the community, Dr. Frank William Green.
“The Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home is a place of compassion, dedication and commitment to the well-being of the residents, recognizing the incredible team and the inspiring vision of its founder, Dr. F.W. Green.” Diana Smylie, long-term care activity worker at Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home.
The team at Dr. F.W Green Memorial Home honour the man who inspired the creation of the long-term care home. Dr. F.W. Green's portrait can be seen in the main area of the facility.
Known as Dr. F.W. Green, Frank was born in Victoria, B.C., on March 15, 1870. His journey into the world of medicine began at McGill University in Montreal, where he earned his M.D. degree at the young age of 22. He then returned to Victoria to work as a physician before making his way to the shores of Kootenay Lake at Kuskanook in the East Kootenay region to practice as a surgeon for the Canadian Pacific Railway, caring for the construction workers of Crowsnest Railway.
His next endeavours included establishing a medical practice with his colleague, Dr. J.H. King, in Cranbrook and serving as a Captain in the medical corps to examine recruits for the World War I, which later earned him the honour of being named an Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 24 (Cranbrook). When the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 emerged, Cranbrook was no exception to this devastating plague, and Dr. Green’s dedication and care to the community during this time was admired by many.
In recognition of his extraordinary efforts, the Cranbrook Legion led the establishment of the Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home in 1959. This long-term care centre was created to honour Dr. Green's memory and to provide a place of comfort and care for the residents of Cranbrook. The home remains a testament to his enduring impact on the community.
(Sources: Cranbrook History Centre, Interior Health archives)
Photo caption: The team at Dr. F.W Green Memorial Home honour the man who inspired the creation of the long-term care home. Dr. F.W. Green's portrait can be seen in the main area of the facility.
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Environmental assessment underway at Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home
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Environmental assessment and the planning of remediation work is underway at the site of the Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home replacement project in Cranbrook.Through the initial planning process for the Dr. F.W. Green (FWG) Memorial Home replacement project, it was discovered that both an industrial building and electrical substation were in operation on the site between 1953 and 1970. The historic industrial activities are related to welding and electrical distribution, both of which are considered Schedule 2 activities under the BC Contaminated Site Regulation, so it was deemed necessary to conduct extensive groundwater and soil testing to determine the environmental impacts on the site.Through the testing, chloride ions and chromium were found to exceed the B.C. standards for soil. This will be remediated through proper disposal of soil. Groundwater monitoring of uranium levels will also be required through this process. Uranium is also found naturally, and levels vary greatly based on geological formations throughout B.C.The contaminants are located on the current green space and parking area of the FWG site and are not a concern to the current facilities or its residents. Environmental analysis of these areas has been ongoing since spring 2024. McElhanney environmental services has been supporting the FWG project by overseeing the analysis and the remediation plan. Soil remediation will be one of the first steps in the construction process, which is planned to start in summer 2025.“The remediation process will require special soil disposal to Regional District of East Kootenay's Central Subregion Landfill and groundwater monitoring,” said Catherine Trudeau, Project Manager, Capital Planning and Projects. “This will benefit the site by ensuring our new facility meets the requirements of the BC Environmental Management Act and that we are supporting the environmental well-being of our site.”The environmental site assessment is in accordance with the requirements of the BC Environmental Management Act (EMA) and its supporting regulations, the B.C. Contaminated Sites Regulation, and the Hazardous Waste Regulation. It is necessary for the process of environmental due diligence prior to any major construction project.The Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home is a long-term care home in Cranbrook that currently has 60 publicly funded beds. A new five-storey building is planned to be built at the same site at 1700 4 St. South. The planned expansion will add 87 new long-term care beds and three hospice beds for a total of 150 beds. Construction is expected to start in summer 2025.Photo caption: A borehole is dug by the McElhanney team to collect soil samples for lab analysis. -
First look at renderings for the new Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home
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Last spring, Interior Health selected Zeidler Architecture for architectural and engineering services required the Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home replacement project.
Zeidler Architecture has recently provided Interior Health with a series of exterior and renderings for the new building. Images include ariel views, building entrances, lobby, recreational and sacred spaces.
Shawn Jacklin, manager of clinical operations at Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home, expressed excitement about the project's progress.
“This is a pivotal moment as we get our first glimpse of the vision for our new site. The renderings highlight the modern architecture, abundant natural lighting, and open spaces—creating a welcoming, home-like atmosphere for future residents.”
The Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home is being replaced with a new five-storey building. The planned expansion will add 87 new long-term care beds and three hospice beds for a new total of 150 beds. Construction is expected to start in late summer 2025.
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Partner feedback informs design plans for Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home
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User group meetings for the design development phase of the Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home Replacement project in Cranbrook are now complete.
Along with Ktunaxa Nation representatives, Interior Health team members from various departments were involved in the meetings to provide feedback about next stages in design, directly shaping the final outcome of the project. The design goal is to create a comfortable, home-like environment for the people who will be living in the space.
“Meetings with the user groups allow Interior Health to dive into deeper details at each stage of planning and make sure we don’t miss any key aspects of design along the way,” explains Catherine Trudeau, project manager for the F.W. Green replacement project. “These meetings allow for all involved teams to have a voice in how the building will look, feel, and operate.”
Participants included representatives from: clinical operations, environmental services, capital project subject matter experts, allied health, logistics, facility and maintenance operations, infection control and prevention specialists, food services, architectural, landscape, and engineering consultants. These key partners inform the design development phase of the project to ensure all operational aspects of the design are met.
“It is critical to receive and consider input from staff during design meetings to ensure we are building a facility that will support a provision of person-centered care, safe and efficient workflows, as well as best practices,” said Walter Felitsyn, director, clinical Operations, East Kootenay Long Term Care. “These meetings provide an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration across technical teams, front line staff, IH leadership, consultants, and with our construction manager.”
A final design development report incorporating IH’s feedback was submitted at the end of January 2025. This will be followed by the Construction Documentation design phase.
Future user group meetings for the Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home Replacement Project are planned for Spring 2025. This will include 3D virtual tours, so the user groups can better imagine themselves in the pace.
The Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home is a long-term care home in Cranbrook that currently has 60 publicly funded beds. A new five-storey building is planned to be built at the same site at 1700 4 St. South. The planned expansion will add 90 new long-term care beds and three hospice beds for a total of 150 beds. Construction is expected to start in Summer 2025.
