Image: Baker Newby / Chilliwack Hospital Foundation board member Leanna Kemp (l to r), Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation executive director Liz Harris, Chilliwack Hospital Foundation board member and local attorney Cristen Gleeson, and CHF board member Harry Geddes are pictured.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Community fundraising campaign

Hospital foundations launch campaign to support new maternity clinic at Chilliwack Hospital

Dec 10, 2025 | 7:28 AM

CHILLIWACK — Two area hospital foundations say that as Chilliwack’s steady population growth continues to place demands upon local family physicians, access to critical maternity care has reached a critical point.

To address Chilliwack’s urgent need for maternity care, the Chilliwack Hospital Foundation and the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation are partnering on a community-driven fundraising campaign to support the development of a dedicated Maternity Clinic, slated to open in February 2026.

Across the province, the foundation say family doctors are increasingly difficult to come by amid retirements, population growth, and challenges in recruiting physicians. In Chilliwack, this shortage has placed a significant strain on maternity services.

Historically, family doctors would often provide maternity care while also managing their full patient panels, yet growing demand and limited clinic infrastructure have made it increasingly challenging to offer the level of access our community needs.

The new dedicated maternity clinic will be a collaborative space where family doctors, midwives, and other allied health professionals work together under one roof to meet the needs of our growing community and provide seamless, continuous care for expectant families.

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“Our maternity providers have a clear and innovative solution,” said Leanna Kemp, chair of the Chilliwack Hospital Foundation Board. “A dedicated Maternity Clinic will allow physicians to deliver high-quality, continuous care, serve unattached patients, and quite literally be in two places at once through better staffing, facilities, and support. Most importantly, it will keep women in our community-receiving the care they need, when they need it.”

The new clinic is intended to improve access, reduce pressure on family doctors, and create a sustainable model for maternity care in Chilliwack. But to make it a reality, community support is essential

During the month of December, local McDonald’s restaurants will donate $0.10 from every Big Mac orEgg McMuffin® sold to the maternity clinic initiative. A simple meal can help make a big difference. It’s just one way to help raise funds for the critically essential maternity clinic.

“This clinic is not just about infrastructure-it’s about ensuring that every woman and family in Chilliwack has reliable, compassionate, local maternity care,” said Cristen Gleeson, Chair of the Fraser Valley Healthcare Foundation. “We invite the community to rally with us to make this long-awaited clinic a reality.”

The Chilliwack Hospital Foundation is a community-based, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to advancing exceptional health care for the people of Chilliwack and the eastern Fraser Valley. Through local fundraising efforts, donor partnerships, and community engagement, the foundation supports critical equipment, facility improvements, and innovative initiatives at Chilliwack General Hospital.

Similarly, the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation supports health care across the eastern Fraser Valley by funding vital equipment, programs, and services for our regional hospitals and community health facilities. Serving Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, and Hope, the foundation partners with donors, businesses, and community groups to enhance patient care and strengthen local health services.