Hospital Auxiliaries Vital Partners in Health Care Funding in B.C.

Health-care spending in British Columbia is approaching $40 billion per year, by far the largest expense item in the provincial budget. In fact, the health budget accounts for almost 40 per cent of the cost of keeping the lights on in this beautiful province. By comparison, education spending is about 18 per cent of the budget and social services and housing snatches another 15 per cent.

Most of the dollars invested in health care, about 43 per cent, go toward hospital and acute care, such as emergency rooms, surgical facilities and equipment. Family doctors, specialists and laboratory testing funding eats up another 19 per cent.

British Columbia ranks near the top when it comes to health care spending in Canada as a percentage of overall budget. On a per capita basis, BC spends about $9,600 per person, slightly below the national average. (The national average is skewed somewhat by higher numbers recorded in smaller provinces and territories with small populations in large, remote regions)

All of this to acknowledge that health care is a massive enterprise in British Columbia and as the population grows and ages, the numbers will certainly become more daunting.

What do Hospital Auxiliaries Do?

British Columbians, particularly in smaller communities, can thank a corps of dedicated volunteers for contributing significant funding to the health care effort and providing specific investment that ensures their citizens are looked after.

There are 62 Hospital Auxiliaries operating in BC, with 5,425 volunteers raising almost $9 million annually. The volunteers donate more than 1.1 million hours every year.

The numbers are impressive, but it’s the pinpoint accuracy of investments that is the true measure of the Hospital Auxiliaries’ success. Local auxiliaries focus their efforts on raising funds for their community’s greatest needs.

Last year, the Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary donated a record $1 million to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to support patient care and critical equipment. The milestone donation came as the organization celebrated its 125th anniversary. The Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary raises money through efforts by its 250 volunteers, two retail shops, 50/50 draws and other initiatives.

The Campbell River Hospital now has a new mammography machine thanks to the Campbell River Hospital Auxiliary. The machine cost $398,000.

“All the money we raised is from proceeds made in the hospital thrift shop and the hospital gift shop, as well as donations.” said Sharilyn Irving, president of the Auxiliary that was formed in 1956.

“The hospital auxiliary is 100 per cent volunteer-run, so all the proceeds go to purchase equipment and pay for training for the hospital.”

Down the Trans-Canada Highway, the Ladysmith Hospital Auxiliary has been funding health care for decades.

“Our mandate is to fund health and wellness related equipment, programs, services and health wellness education, and initiatives in and around the community of Ladysmith,” explains President Laureen Styles.

Since Ladysmith and area residents make use of hospital services in places like Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo and Vancouver, the Auxiliary often donates to these facilities.

“Since 2022 we have averaged approximately $300,000 in funding per year,” says Styles.“We own and operate the Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary Thrift Store whose operations are run by our executive director and three staff members in close concert with our Executive Board and the dedication of our wonderful volunteers.”

In February 2026, they delivered a $59,615 grant to the Ladysmith Community Health Centre specifically to upgrade localized clinical medical equipment.

The Auxiliary to Cowichan District Hospital has dedicated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the hospital, including $91,000 for new electrocardiogram (ECG) carts and medication distribution carts, as well as funding automated dispensing cabinets for local wards.

Even tiny Tahsis in a remote region of the Island west of Gold River, population 393, has an active hospital auxiliary. The Tahsis Hospital Auxiliary was founded in 1972 when the original hospital was built and the Tahsis Hospital Auxiliary has continued its non-profit work of fund-raising to buy equipment and patient comfort items for the new Tahsis Health Centre, first opened in 1998.

“You can see the Auxiliary members in the community volunteering for the Great Walk, putting on a bake sale table at the Christmas Bazaar, and sponsoring the Tahsis Days Duck Race,” says President Debbie Van Schema. “Recently, they raised money and purchased a new defibrillator for the community.”

Resources for Modern Equipment

Every one of the more than 60 hospital auxiliaries operating in British Columbia has a positive story to tell. Without them, many smaller health-care facilities would have fewer resources for modern equipment, patient comfort and locally identified health-care needs. Patients in these communities would be forced to travel to other, larger, places to receive the treatment they require. Rural residents would have to drive hours to urban health centres for routine tests, minor surgeries, or specialized care. Inevitably, this would place a strain on these already overloaded facilities.

In some cases, older, less reliable equipment would be used well beyond its reasonable replacement time.

Access to modern diagnostic and treatment equipment can also help smaller communities provide better care locally and support efforts to attract and retain health-care professionals.

Hospital Auxiliaries often fund the purchase of comfort care equipment such as specialized stretcher chairs, pediatric crash carts and wheelchairs. In many cases, these items would simply not be available if not for the local Hospital Auxiliary.