submitted article--Northern Health announced today that the contract for the temporary clinic renovations as part of the Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii Hospital Replacement project has been awarded to Vector Projects Group of Kelowna.Vector Projects Group will begin the renovations on April 1 and finish in summer. The temporary clinic will be accommodated in leased space at the'City Centre building.When tenant improvements at the City Centre building are complete, the clinic will be relocated to the new site until the new hospital is complete and ready for use in 2015."Continuity of health care services for patients and their families is important for any construction project," said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "An operational, temporary clinic will allow health care professionals to continue delivering high quality services during construction of the new Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii Hospital."Renovations to the space include hazardous material remediation, demolition of some interior walls and installation of new partitions. Once the new hospital is complete, these services will be housed in the new facility. The site preparation work ran as a separate contract tender."Starting the temporary health clinic renovations signifies that the project is progressing," said Carol Kulesha, QC mayor and NW Regional Hospital District vice-chair. "The temporary clinic will be a great benefit for the community until the new hospital is completed in 2015.""The temporary clinic will ensure continued access to services during construction of the new hospital, including the physician medical clinic, public health services, infant development services, diabetes outreach, speech and language services, dietician, visiting specialists clinic, and physiotherapy services," said Kerry Laidlaw, hospital site administrator.Vector Projects Group is a medium-sized general contracting firm with considerable experience building in Northern and rural locations.As site preparation is in progress, the competitive selection process to select the successful design-build team for the hospital project continues. The request for proposals were issued to the three shortlisted teams in December and the selection of a preferred proponent and contract award is anticipated soon. Construction will begin this summer and be completed fall 2015.Hospital Replacement project was announced in April last year. The total capital cost of the project is estimated at $50 million.More information on the project is available on northernhealth.ca