Kordyban Lodge will open its doors to its first guests on Monday, giving out-of-town patients a place to stay right next to the B.C. Cancer Agency Centre for the North.
"It's the culmination of a lot of hard work from so many different people that it is a special day for all of us from across the north," Canadian Cancer Society regional director Margaret Jones-Bricker said.
Although only a few guests are booked for opening day, Jones-Bricker said more can be added as the big day approaches.
A grand opening event is planned for Friday afternoon to coincide with Premier Christy Clark's visit to Prince George. Clark has already announced her participation in a Chamber of Commerce luncheon and is expected to confirm Wednesday that she will also take part in the opening festivities for the cancer lodge.
The 25,000 square foot facility has 36 beds where patients can stay in a relaxed environment while receiving their treatment. It also includes a lounge, mediation room, library, wig and prosthetics facility and an exercise area.
The lodge got its name after a large donation by the Mary Kordyban Foundation helped get the project off the ground.
The cancer society moved its offices into the lodge earlier this month and the staff hired to run the facility are all in place. A number of volunteers have also signed up to allow the facility to run smoothly, but Jones-Bricker said there are still positions available.
"We can always use volunteers," she said. "We have a lot of volunteers but there's always different places for people to help."
