Mike Hoefer, regional director of capital planning  and support services for Northern Health, said, "The nurse's residence that has been moved to its new location will be operational, we are hoping by Nov. 1."

He went on to say, "Where the building is located at the moment is the final location of where it will be when the new hospital is built."

The old spot is the area the new hospital will be built. The old hospital will stay in place until the new hospital is up and running and at that point it will be torn down and that area will become parking, landscaping and access to the new hospital. The ambulance station will stay exactly where it is located now and the hospital will be built around it.

Hoefer  added, "At the moment there are no local people employed in the site prep."

The site preparation work for the Lakes District Hospital and health centre replacement project was awarded to Yellowridge Construction Ltd. from Port Moody, B.C.

Yellowridge Construction began work on Aug. 7 and  will finish this fall.

A request for proposal is out and has been short listed.

Hoefer suggested that all local journeymen and tradespeople should find out who the bid was awarded to  because chances are they will be  hiring local subcontractors for lots of the work that needs to be done.

Figures indicate that there will be approximately 200 construction jobs over a two-year span starting in the spring of 2013.