Work well underway on new healthcare accommodations in 100 Mile House
Published 11:00 am Friday, May 22, 2026
An effort to construct a new multipurpose building with temporary accommodations for healthcare workers is on budget and on schedule in 100 Mile House.
Over the last several weeks, residents of 100 Mile House have watched the bones of a new building rise behind the 100 Mile House Community Hall at the site of the former CKBX station on Third Street. The project has been funded by the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) and is going well, according to its chair, Al Richmond.
“We had two buildings that were empty there (before) and I think it will be a welcome addition to the downtown core of 100 Mile,” Richmond remarked. “Certainly, we’ve had some people who are very pleased we are actually taking this initiative to do it.
“Currently, it’s on time and on budget. The second floor, I understand, they’re putting the steel beams up this week. Then they will be constructing and putting the framing up on the second floor for the apartment area early next week. Hopefully, we’ll get the roof on before the heat of summer and then the finishing can take place.”
Richmond said the project is designed to address two primary issues: a lack of available housing for temporary healthcare workers and inadequate space for the Cariboo Regional District’s 100 Mile House office. That’s why, while the top floor of the two-story structure will be residential, the bottom floor will be used as an office space/board room for the CRD.
This project, which is being undertaken by Interior Elite Contracting, has a budget of $3 million from the CCRHD’s reserves. The plans call for a 2,532.98 square foot main floor and a 2,387.98 square foot upper level.
The impetus behind the project, Richmond said, was to address the need for short-term rentals for healthcare professionals visiting the community or planning to move to the community. In recent years, 100 Mile House has lacked these accommodations and the CCRHD wanted to address this.
“We know there is a shortage of housing, in particular for short-term accommodations,” Richmond noted.
The CCRHD’s plan calls for the creation of three units, two single-bedroom bachelor-style apartments and one three-bedroom unit intended for healthcare workers with families. Richmond said the intent for the single bedrooms is to give visiting locums a place to stay, while the larger unit is intended to give healthcare workers with a family moving to the community a place to stay while they find permanent accommodations. All three units will be fully furnished and are only intended for healthcare professionals.
Richmond said the central location on Third Street is also ideal. It’s located within walking distance of the 100 Mile District General Hospital and several restaurants, which he believes will be a welcome change for healthcare workers. He noted that some accommodations the CCRHD had in the past were located outside of 100 Mile House, which was inconvenient for those without vehicles.
“There is a cost to rent them to the healthcare professionals coming here, but they will be there and ready to go when we have nurses and doctors visit us who require accommodations in the community,” Richmond said. “This has worked successfully in other communities who have done it.”
The second part of the project was to give the CRD an adequate, permanent home in the South Cariboo. Richmond, who is also the CRD’s director for the 108 Mile Ranch, said their past offices have lacked a meeting room for CRD directors and adequate office space for their staff. As a result, the CCRHD will lease the bottom to the CRD.
Richmond said he anticipates the building will be open and ready to use by late 2026 to early 2027, so long as the project remains on time. He noted there may be some delays if building materials become harder to order.
“I’m pleased with the progress on the building. It seems to be coming along and I guess the devil is in the details, but the contractor really is on time and on budget,” Richmond said. “We hope sometime next year it will be open, if not sooner.”