Strengthening Healthcare on Salt Spring: Salt Spring Island Foundation Partnership Advances Heartwood House Affordable Housing Project
Salt Spring Island, BC — The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation (LMHF) is proud to announce the official opening of its newly-named healthcare staff housing project, Heartwood House. Developed to address one of the island’s most pressing barriers to healthcare recruitment and retention, the high cost of housing, Heartwood House will provide affordable rental homes for medical staff working at Lady Minto Hospital and other publicly funded health care organizations.
In an effort to support local affordable housing solutions, the Salt Spring Island Foundation (SSIF) is moving forward with an innovative granting partnership to help advance Heartwood House.
SSIF will provide a multi-year grant in the amount of $300,000, as $60,000 per year for five years, beginning in 2026. This grant will provide crucial support to facilitate the LMHF Heartwood House Project’s capacity to service interest on the mortgage while keeping rents in line with the provincial definition of affordable.
The Salt Spring Island Foundation Board recognizes an immediate community need for support around affordable housing, as reflected in the 2022 Vital Signs report. This opportunity will have a tangible impact on improving local housing availability, medical staff resources, as well as income support for workforce housing and we’re grateful to the Foundation’s generous donors to be able to act on it.
Lady Minto Hospital Foundation’s goal is to support the hospital and healthcare outcomes on Salt Spring Island. Our largest barrier to recruiting healthcare staff is the cost of housing. Heartwood House will provide much-needed affordable housing and support the recruitment and retention of the healthcare staff who take care of us all. Thank you to the Salt Spring Island Foundation and everyone who has supported this monumental effort.
Launch Event
The official launch of Heartwood House will be marked with an event on Monday, October 20, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 101 Bittancourt Road. The public is welcome but note that parking will be limited. Guests will enjoy light refreshments, speakers and guided tours of the new housing facility. Please contact contact@ladymintofoundation.com to RSVP!
About Heartwood House
Located at 101 Bittancourt Road, Heartwood House is dedicated to supporting healthcare outcomes by ensuring medical professionals have access to affordable housing. The name Heartwood reflects the strong, supportive core at the center of a tree, symbolizing the strength, stability, and care that this project will provide for the community.
About the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation
The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation is dedicated to supporting the health of the Salt Spring Island community by funding vital equipment, facilities, and initiatives that strengthen local healthcare. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation invests in projects that improve patient care, enhance hospital services, and ensure that healthcare staff have the resources they need to provide excellent care close to home.
About the Salt Spring Island Foundation
The Salt Spring Island Foundation has been at the heart of community philanthropy on Salt Spring Island since 1984. As a “charity for charities,” the Foundation channels the generosity of local residents into lasting impact, managing over 125 funds that support a wide range of initiatives, from health and wellness to youth programs, environmental conservation, and the arts.
Media Contacts
Rebecca Smyth
Admin and Communications Coordinator
Lady Minto Hospital Foundation
250-931-1888
contact@ladymintofoundation.com
Mary Kastle
Communications & Marketing Manager
Salt Spring Island Foundation
250-537-8305
mary@ssifoundation.ca