CEHHA CEO Peter MacKinnon casts the first ballot in the Colchester Regional Hospital.

Following an open invitation that generated more than 50 name ideas for the Regional Hospital Replacement facility, Colchester East Hants Health Authority has narrowed the list to four choices and is asking community members to vote for their favorite.
“This project is one of those rare opportunities to contribute to our future and history in the making,” says Peter MacKinnon, CEO of the Colchester East Hants Health Authority. “We’re naming more than a building. This will be a beacon for health and hope and we are thrilled to unveil the shortlist and let our communities’ votes decide.”
The short-list resulting from the consultative, community-driven naming process includes (in alphabetical order):

• Basinview Health Centre
• Central Nova Health Centre
• Colchester East Hants Health Centre
• Fundyview Health Centre

Individuals will have until July 14 to cast their vote in one of three ways:

Call 1-877-553-VOTE (8683)

Click Click on our website voting tool at www.cehha.nshealth.ca
(note: only one vote per URL address (computer).

Visit Complete a ballot at one of our Voting Stations
Ballot boxes will be hosted at Colchester Regional Hospital, Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital, CEHHA’s East Hants Resource Centre offices and other community venues.

The health authority is seeking a minimum of 1000 votes but is hoping to receive a much greater response.
The naming process was launched in March by a Community Advisory Committee established to foster input and dialogue on a variety of issues relating to the Colchester Regional Hospital Replacement Project. The Committee was seeking a name that:
• reflects the role of new facility;
• is not exclusive of any communities served;
• creates and maintains a sense of pride and recognition;
• is not offensive to various religious beliefs, cultures or ethnic groups;
• is easy to read, pronounce and print;
• sounds credible; and
• results in acceptable acronym

Their public call for name ideas resulted in more than 50 names submissions, reflecting things such as geography; historical figures/events; cultural themes and emotions. The overall committee reviewed the names in early May and a sub-group of the Community Advisory Committee met in mid-May to score names using set criteria and come up with a shortlist for Board review and approval.
The identity of submitters was anonymous to committee members involved with the review and scoring. Three of the four names resulted from names submitted by members of CEHHA’s health care team, with the fourth name coming from a community member.
One of the shortlisted names resulted from combining a couple of names submitted by one staff member. In reviewing the full list of names that came forward, the Committee noted the recurrence of “health centre” and “Central Nova” in many of the submissions and approached this individual about combining two of his names ideas to make Central Nova Health Centre. The background behind the names submitted follows in the backgrounder below.
“The positive response to our call for submissions reflects the excitement and enthusiasm behind this vital project,” says Krista Wood, Chair of the Community Advisory Committee. “Our team definitely had their work cut out for them, but are pleased to have had a number of names rise to the top.”
The name chosen by community members will be announced in late July.
For more information on the project including qnas, project updates and photos visit: www.cehha.nshealth.ca