The Smithers branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, which formerly occupied office space on Fourth Avenue, has moved in with Northern Health at the Healthy Living Centre at the south end of Main Street.
The move is the result of talks between the Society and Northern Health since last year’s Relay for Life event.
“We felt the Healthy Living Centre would be a really good opportunity,” said Cormac Hikisch, Health Services Administrator for the Bulkley Valley, about why the Society is moving in to their Healthy Living Centre.
He said it’s a good fit with the other programs offered through the building, some of which overlap in some ways with cancer treatment.
The Society is on a year-to-year lease but Hikisch said they are thinking long term for how long they will be there.
The chairperson for the Smithers branch of the Cancer Society, Debbie Courtliff, said there is a great benefit to the community in this new arrangement.
“The benefits for the community I think is it allows us to have an office space that has more volunteers involved because we are connected with the healthy living HUB,” she said.
In addition, it reduces the overhead costs for the society, as far as office space rental and utility bills go.
Also on hand for the opening was Nancy Shelford, the volunteer engagement coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society, based in Prince George.
She said that this arrangement with Northern Health is unique among other communities in the north.