About a dozen members of the Skeena Seniors Society gathered on the sidewalk in front of the new Mills Memorial Hospital construction site this morning as a piece of heavy machinery continued to demolish the old Seven Sisters mental health facility.
It was a last act on the part of the society’s members who argued last year that the building should be saved and converted into either seniors housing or into a daycare center for health care employees.
But provincial officials right up to Premier David Eby rebuffed the ideas, saying the building was not suited for a renovation and needed to come down.
The society had gathered more than 2,000 signatures over the course of its campaign and staged several protests.
Society members had indicated they were ready to chain themselves to the doors to prevent the building from being demolished. Security had been tightened and video cameras placed leading up to the demolition.
Built in 2004, the original Seven Sisters building was also found to be in the way of the new Mills building now nearing the final stages of construction.
Those at the protest carried signs questioning the demolition, wondering if it was a proper use of government money.
The new Seven Sisters, located on the same property, is larger at 25 beds compared to the 20 in the old Seven Sisters building.
It also has more amenities, including five apartment-style living quarters to help people adjust to independent living once they leave the facility.
Residents and staff moved to the new building Feb. 6.
