Year-end data from Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon highlights the significant number of Northern BC families who rely on the organization while their children receive specialized medical care in Vancouver.
In 2025, a total of 167 families from Northern BC stayed at Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon while their children underwent treatment for a critical or life-threatening illness. Over the course of the year, Northern BC families represented 26 per cent of all families supported by the House – underscoring how Ronald McDonald House has become an essential part of the pediatric health care system across BC and Yukon.
“For many Northern BC families, when a child becomes seriously ill, it means leaving home and spending extended periods in Vancouver while their child receives treatment,” said Richard Pass, CEO of Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon. “During that time, our goal is simple but vital – to ensure families can stay close to their child and do not have to face that experience alone.”
The data also shows the length of time some families require support. In 2025, one Northern BC family stayed at Ronald McDonald House for 244 nights while their child received care.
Across the province, families staying at Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon remain an average of 23 nights, reflecting the extended nature of many pediatric treatments. The organization also provides practical support throughout those stays, including meals and family programming designed to help families navigate the emotional and financial strain that often accompanies a child’s illness.
In 2025, Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon supported 1,716 unique families, including 1,026 siblings who stayed alongside their hospitalized brother or sister. More than 76,000 meals were provided to families over the course of the year.
Founded in 1983 as a small 13-bedroom home, Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon has expanded into a 73-bedroom facility in Vancouver, now supporting nearly 2,000 families each year who must travel for pediatric care. Over the past four decades, the organization has supported more than 25,000 medical journeys for families across British Columbia.
“For more than four decades, we have supported families from every corner of the province, including many from Northern BC,” Pass said. “What we see every day is that when families can stay close, children receive the support they need to heal.”
