Gabriola Island DIY Health Centre

Gabriola Island (pop. 4,000) is a remote community just off of Nanaimo, British Columbia. After years of patch-work health care, community members determined the need for reliable medical care that wouldn’t require helicopters or ferries to transport patients off the island to doctors situated in larger metropolitan centres. They banded together to build a state-of-the-art heath facility literally with their own hands. Community members swung their own hammers, hauled materials, installed piping, electrical, and more. Thanks to their vision and powerful fibre optics, Gabriola Island Medical Clinic is one of the most connected clinics in Canada.

For more on rural health issues, see our Health page. Or visit the Rural Coordination Centre of BC.