Emotions ran as high as sod was turned to start construction of Prince George's cancer lodge.
There were tears and lumps in throats as more than 100 dignitaries, guests and well-wishers gathered at the site where Kordyban Lodge is now underway. It was announced at the Friday afternoon event that Prince George company Wayne Watson Construction was the contractor who would build the $10 million facility.
Canadian Cancer Society CEO Barbara Kaminsky had another key announcement. "Not only did we meet our fundraising campaign goals, we will exceed them," she said. "Here is a little secret: of the four [cancer lodges] in B.C., this one here will be the nicest. But you have waited the longest so you deserve the best we can possibly do."
The fundraising team led by Mary Kordyban who committed the first $2 million secretly to initiate the project, Henry Novak, and Les Waldie did their jobs with care and class, said MLA Shirley Bond. Their generosity of money, time and commitment rallied the community. Major contributions by West Fraser Timber, Canfor Corporation and many others quickly filled the basic needs and then some.
"Each of these milestones [the northern cancer strategy projects] is another piece in the puzzle for those families who hear that word 'cancer,'" Bond said. "For far too long they have had to go too far away."
MLA John Rustad also spoke at the event, from a sadly personal point of view. His wife Kim is a cancer survivor, and a good friend is in Prince George Hospice House in the final stages of cancer's effects. He knows what cancer-appropriate facilities mean to patients and their loved ones.
"It hits you in the heart, it hits you in the mind, and you kind of go a little fuzzy," he said. "I know what a difference [Kordyban Lodge] really will make."
Elaine Comish has also heard the word 'cancer' in her life, and travelled to Vancouver for almost half a year of surgery, radiation and other treatments for cancer. She stayed in the lodge there. She is cancer-free today and told those gathered that, "each of us in the lodge had our own thing going on" and yet the facility and its staff met all their needs, including ample doses of empathy. She was excited to think of how advanced the Prince George version stood to be.
The lodge will be used most by people from outside of Prince George who have to travel here for their treatment. MLA Pat Bell said the Kordyban name on the door was fitting.
"What [Mary's late husband] Bill Kordyban did was build the North. He cared about all of the North," Bell said. "That's what is really symbolic about this."
"Knowing that cancer patients from the North will have a home away from home, so close to the treatment centre [only metres away] is so meaningful," Kordyban said in closing. "The importance of having loved ones close in stressful times enhances the healing process and quality of life. A sincere thank-you, everyone."
The lodge will be under heavy construction starting next week, and is slated to be finished in November, 2012.
