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Community Information
The scenic community of Gold River is located on north central Vancouver Island with the silhouette of Mount Elkhorn in the distance and a multitude of rivers and lakes nearby. Gold River is 85 kilometers west of Campbell River and was built as a planned community in the later 1960s and early ’70s. The mill that employed the main work force closed in the late 1990s. While forestry plays a prominent role in the economy, today the town is in the process of building a new, more diversified industrial tax base. For the outdoor enthusiast, the Gold River area boasts some of the best salmon and halibut fishing in the world, as well as opportunities for caving, mountain climbing, camping and hiking.Nearby there is the Tsxana reserve which is home to 230 members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations, and 65 kilometers away is the small community of Tahsis.
INDUSTRY:
Forestry, sport fishing, tourism and fish farming Population
Town Population: 1,267 (BC Stats, 2011 Census)
Ages of Population:
0-17: 19.2%
18-2: 9.5%
25-64: 56%
65+: 15.3% (BC Stats, 2010 Figures)
Health Administrative Information
Health Authority: Island Health
Health Service Delivery Area: North Vancouver Island
Regional District: Vancouver Island
Rural Designation: RSA community
RRP Designation: A
RRP Points: 23.55
Practitioners
General Practitioners: 2 (www.cpsbc.ca)
Gold River Health Centre is a community health centre serving the town of Gold River and the surrounding areas. The Centre has two MDs, two nurses on weekdays, and a nurse and MD coverage on weekends and nights.
Health Centre Info
Gold River Health Centre
Box 400, 601 Trumpeter Drive
Gold River, BC, V0P 1G0
P: 250 283-2626 | F: 250 286-6679
Hrs: Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Emergency Room
There is a limited service Emergency Room that provides emergent care for patients who have acute, life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses. It is open from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm; practitioners are available on-call after hours via pagers, there is presently no cellphone coverage.
Urgent labs are done through iStat and similar machines at any time by nurses, and blood is drawn to be sent out 8:30am – 11:30 am, Monday – Friday.
Number of Visits per Year: 3,375 (2009/2010 Statistics: VIHA)
Travel Distance to Nearest Hospital: 241 km to Nanaimo
Health Centre CAEP and CTAS
CTAS Level
CTAS Level V (Non Urgent)
Maternity
Midwives from Campbell River service this area.
Ocean Grove Midwifery
142 Thulin Street
Campbell River, BC, V9W 2K5
P: 250 287-8343 | F: 250 287-8334
Lab services
Gold River Health Centre Lab
Box 400, 601 Trumpeter Drive
Gold River, BC, V0P 1G0
P: 250 283-2626 | F: 250 286-6679
Hrs: Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Services: Blood collection and testing, hematology, chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis and stool analysis.
Imaging services
X-Ray
Gold River Health Centre Imaging
Box 400, 601 Trumpeter Drive
Gold River, BC, V0P 1G0
P: 250 283-2626 | F: 250 286-7561
Hrs: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Thursday & Friday
Mammography
Mammography services provided by BC Cancer Agency twice a year. See www.bccancer.bc.ca for details.
BC Ambulance
BC Ambulance Service provides coverage to this community.
Pharmacy
People’s Pharmacy #239
Box 730, 375 Nimpkish Drive
Village Square Shopping Centre
Gold River, BC, V0P 1G0
P: 250 283-9042 | F: 250 283-9043
Physiotherapy
Back Active Physiotherapy
Box 1174, 601 Trumpeter Drive
Gold River, BC, V0P 1G0
P: 250 283-2541
Mental Health and Addictions
Gold River Health Centre
Box 400, 601 Trumpeter Drive
Gold River, BC, V0P 1G0
P: 250 283-2626 | F: 250 286-6679
Hrs: Twice monthly, alternating Wed, 10 am – 3 pm
