Prince George, B.C. – Kordyban Lodge, the home away from home for those who will come to Prince George for cancer treatment has been officially opened.

“I want to welcome you to the house that love, and northern generosity built” said Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, recognizing all who contributed to the construction fundraising campaign, through donations or efforts to raise funds, to those who designed, built and decorated the 25 thousand square foot facility.

Bathed in light from floor to ceiling windows near the main entrance, the Lodge   features the warmth of wood throughout it’s interior .

The Lodge  has 18 rooms for overnight guests, each bears the name of the donor who supplied the  funds to help make the  Lodge  a reality. Among them, the Northern Hardware-Moffat Family room which has a special poignancy this week with the passing of Ted Moffat.   Most of the rooms feature twin beds to allow for a patient and a care giver, but two of the rooms feature a queen sized bed.

For Elaine Comish, the Lodge is very special. She had to travel back and forth to Vancouver when she was undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer, “In 2010 I stayed at the Jean C Barber Lodge in Vancouver while being treated for lympho-epithelial cancer. It’s incredibly difficult to travel for cancer treatment and to be away from the supports and comforts of home…This new lodge will mean so much to so many people.” She will be volunteering at the Lodge, helping with administrative duties.

Premier Christy Clark was on hand for the grand opening, retelling the story of how when her own mother was battling brain cancer, she was lucky enough to be able to visit her mother on a daily basis and help take care of her. The Premier said she viewed the opportunity to help her mother as a gift, that allowed her to give back. “This Lodge will allow so many others the opportunity to share such a gift.”

The Lodge was built at a cost of $10 million dollars, funds that were raised   through generous donations by the Mary Kordyban Foundation, ( $2 million ), the Novak Family ($1 million), the West Fraser Group ($1 million) and $2 million from the Provincial government. Mary Kordyban addressed the gathering thanking everyone  for their efforts “Job well done!” she emphasised. 

The Lodge will start receiving guests on Monday.   The cost for a cancer patient to stay is $44 a day, and that includes all meals, snacks, accommodation, driver service to the neighbouring cancer clinic, and full use of all facilities offered by the Lodge. Those facilities include a wig and prosthetics room, library, spiritual/meditation room, “quiet room”, exercise area, lounge, massage therapy and cancer support programs.