Teck Resources Limited and the Ktunaxa Regional Health Centre today announced a partnership to install antimicrobial copper on high-touch, high-traffic surfaces in the new facility. These surfaces can effectively eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria within two hours of contact, and help protect the health of patients, health workers, and visitors.
As part of Teck’s $100,000 contribution to the health centre through its Copper & Health program, antimicrobial copper surfaces will be installed on door handles, plumbing fixtures, grab bars, cabinet pulls and countertops. Copper is proven to continuously kill bacteria that cause infection, is safe for people and the environment, and is the only solid-metal touch surface registered as a public health product by Health Canada.
“Teck is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where we operate through initiatives such as this one with the new Ktunaxa Regional Health Centre,” said Robin Sheremeta, Senior Vice President, Coal, Teck. “This investment will help keep patients, healthcare workers and the entire community safer through copper’s natural ability to reduce the spread of infection.”
“The Centre’s focus is to provide effective and culturally appropriate health services,” said Debbie Whitehead, Director of Ktunaxa Nation Council’s Social Investment Sector. “It will serve primarily Ktunaxa, Indigenous and Aboriginal clients and families, and will replace our current clinic once it’s ready. We’re thankful to Teck for working with us to make this new, larger home for healthcare safer and better. We can’t wait to move in.”
The centre will open in the fall of 2023 in downtown Cranbrook, B.C.
Building on the Provincial “Primary Care Network” model, the Ktunaxa Regional Health Centre will connect patients with nurse practitioners and other health professionals. It will be a hub for clients to access numerous other services, including communicable disease control, immunizations, disease screening, sexual health, prenatal services and health education.
About Ktunaxa Regional Health Centre
Ktunaxa Regional Health Centre will open in Cranbrook in the fall of 2023. It will replace the current Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) Health Clinic (which is in the KNC Government Building on Cranbrook Street) and provide more space for health-care service delivery.
Ktunaxa Nation Council and partners (First Nations Health Authority, Interior Health) will work together to provide a “circle of care” model to clients, delivered in a culturally-appropriate and accessible manner.
About Teck’s Copper & Health Program
Through its Copper & Health program, Teck has funded numerous initiatives across a range of industries and public facilities to help improve health and safety in high-traffic, high-touch areas through the installation of antimicrobial copper. Teck’s Copper & Health program has installed copper surfaces in a number of healthcare facilities, including Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital, on public transit in partnership with TransLink and Toronto Transit Commission, throughout the terminal at Vancouver International Airport, in major attractions including Royal Ontario Museum and Science World, and in schools through partnerships with BCIT, SFU and UBC. Teck is a proud member of CHAIR Canada, the Coalition for Community and Healthcare Acquired Infection Reduction (chaircanada.org).
