Residents on Kamloops’ North Shore now have improved access to primary health care with the opening of the new STEPS North Shore Community Health Centre, which officially began seeing patients in mid-May.
Located at 202B–780 Windsor Avenue, the centre is operated by the Supporting Team Excellence with Patients Society, a non-profit organization providing team-based health care in the Thompson Region since 2017.
Health Minister Josie Osborne said the facility marks a significant step toward ensuring people receive timely, appropriate care. “The STEPS North Shore Community Health Centre brings us closer to our goal of providing everyone in B.C. the high-quality health care they need, when and where they need it,” said Osborne. “This centre is expected to facilitate more than 30,000 patient visits each year in a culturally safe, trauma-informed environment.”
Once fully operational, the health centre aims to connect approximately 4,300 people—who currently lack a family doctor or nurse practitioner—to consistent primary care. The facility will provide a wide range of services, including mental health support, chronic disease management, and physiotherapy.
Colin O’Leary, president of STEPS, said the goal is to build long-term patient-provider relationships that lead to better health outcomes and lower system-wide costs. “These relationships help avoid preventable illness and reduce the cost of health care,” said O’Leary. “This new centre will expand on the network of care we’ve built in the Thompson Region and help reach underserved populations in our community.”
Since opening on May 15, STEPS has already hired a family physician, a registered nurse, a mental-health therapist, a community health worker, and an executive director. Additional clinical staff are currently being recruited. At full capacity, the centre will employ more than 13 full-time equivalent (FTE) health-care professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, and support staff.
The facility plans to operate six days a week, with flexible hours to improve accessibility.
Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown emphasized the importance of partnerships in expanding access to care. “By working closely with community partners, we’re improving access to care that includes prevention, early intervention, and personalized wellness planning.”
The Province is contributing more than $2.6 million annually to operate the centre, with an additional $2 million in start-up funding—of which $1.3 million was allocated for renovations.
Dr. Meghan Macdonald, president of the Thompson Region Division of Family Practice, said the new CHC is a key part of building a region-wide primary care network. “This is a major step in aligning services with our shared vision of integrated, team-based care.”
The STEPS North Shore CHC is now one of 13 publicly funded community health centres operating in B.C., and it is fully integrated into the Thompson Region Primary Care Network. These networks aim to provide coordinated, locally tailored health care with a focus on equity, access, and collaboration.
