On Nov. 5, 1938, the British Columbia Cancer Institute, BC Cancer’s first cancer treatment centre officially opened in Vancouver. With an anonymous gift of $50,000 to the British Columbia Cancer Foundation, the first cancer treatment centre was created.

BC Cancer’s mandate covers the full spectrum of cancer care from prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, to research and education, to supportive and palliative care.

The Institute (now known as BC Cancer) was located in a renovated house at 11th & Heather, on part of the land where the current Vancouver Centre operates today. 

British Columbia Cancer Institute started with a staff of three full-time and two part-time employees – today BC Cancer employs more than 3,000 staff across the province!