West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. announced the commitment of a $1million contribution to the Canadian Cancer Society’s “The Northern Lodge – A Home Away From Home” campaign.
The campaign will result in the construction of a $10 million, 36 bed lodge that will serve cancer patients from central and northern B.C. receiving treatment at the B.C. Cancer Agency’s new cancer treatment centre in Prince George.
“Our company roots and largest concentration of employees are in central and northern British Columbia,” company chairman, president and CEO, Hank Ketcham said.
“And we take great pride in making this contribution to a facility with the sole purpose of making life just a bit easier for those among us stricken by cancer and their loved ones.”
The B.C. Cancer Agency predicts that as the population ages and grows in the region over the next 10 years that cancer diagnoses will increase by approximately 29 per cent.
That factor alone justifies not only the development of the Cancer Agency’s new treatment facility to serve the region but the development of the Northern Lodge to help those traveling to Prince George for treatment.
“West Fraser makes this contribution on behalf of all our employees and in doing so we also wish to thank the B.C. Cancer Agency and provincial government for establishing the B.C. Cancer Agency’s Centre for the North,” Ketcham said.