Named in recognition of philanthropist Lily Lee, Lily’s Community Health Centre is supported by generous donations to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.
Better care is coming to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is opening Lily’s Community Health Centre – the largest Community Health Centre in Vancouver. Located at 38 W. Hastings Street, the new 50,000 square foot health-care space will support community members in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and surrounding neighbourhoods. Lily’s Community Health Centre will begin welcoming clients throughout March.
“It’s clear that so much thought and care went into the design of Lily’s Community Health Centre,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This beautiful new space brings essential health-care services together under one roof, making it easier for people to receive connected, team-based care for a wide range of needs. We’re deeply grateful to the partners who worked so hard to make this centre a reality, and to ensure that people in the Downtown Eastside can access the care they deserve, no matter how complex their needs may be.”
This new Community Health Centre, that is funded and operated by VCH, will consolidate programs and services from the Pender and Heatley Community Health Centres, along with some services from the Robert and Lily Lee Family Community Health Centre, including primary care, Intensive Case Management, home health and home support, adult mental health and substance use care as well as an eye clinic. Co-locating these services promotes interconnected team-based care at one site, resulting in enhanced coordination and convenience for clients.
“Lily’s Community Health Centre brings together programs and services that will improve the health-care experience for clients living in the Downtown Eastside,” said Vivian Eliopoulos, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health. “We are grateful for the support of many key partners – including Host Nations, staff and medical staff, clients, community organizations, as well as generous donors – for helping us support healing and well-being within the communities we serve.”
Client-centred, culturally safe care
Supporting existing programs and services, the new space is accessible, has an expanded ambulatory care area, and has rooms for health education programming. Standardized layouts allow for future flexibility in care delivery, while spacious rooms, wide hallways and large windows provide abundant natural light as well as workflow efficiencies for staff and medical staff.
“We’re excited to welcome clients from Pender and Heatley to Lily’s Community Health Centre,” said David Cawley, Mental Health Nurse at Lily’s Community Health Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health. “This new space is more centrally located, larger, brighter and more modern. By bringing complementary services together in one place, it allows our team to collaborate more closely and provide more cohesive and convenient person-centred care.”
To support the delivery of culturally safe care, VCH collaborated with the Host Nations – xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) – to create a calming, healing environment in the new space. The site features colourful mural installations by Squamish Nation artist Sinàmkin – Jody Broomfield as well as dedicated respite and smudging rooms. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation also collaborated with Chinese Canadian artist Donna Seto, whose vibrant wall mural in the centre’s main entrance celebrates the neighbourhood’s rich heritage, resilience and community life.
Programs and services at this location will operate under the name Groundspring, which refers to the groundwater and springs that made up the False Creek mudflats in the area.
Powered by philanthropy, built for community
Lily’s Community Health Centre is supported by generous donations to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. VCH and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation extend its sincere gratitude to The 625 Powell Street Foundation, Peterson and the Lee Family for their generous philanthropic support.
The site is named in recognition of philanthropist Lily Lee, a nursing graduate of VGH and UBC and former public health nurse in the Downtown Eastside who is dedicated to building stronger, more resilient communities through increased access to care.
“Lily’s Community Health Centre is a powerful example of how philanthropy supports care beyond hospital walls,” said Angela Chapman, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are taking another step towards that goal — helping bring high-quality care to our community members where and when they need it most.”
Lily’s Community Health Centre occupies the first two floors of the building. The housing portion, Bob & Michael’s Place, located at 32 W. Hastings Street, opened in June 2024 and provides 231 below market homes.
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation partners with donors to fuel groundbreaking research, world-class health care teams, and life-saving treatments benefitting everyone in BC. To donate, visit vghfoundation.ca/ways-to-give.
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