CTV News Reality Check: Why reopening Riverview wouldn’t solve B.C.’s mental health crisis

Every time British Columbians are rattled by an act of random violence like last week’s shocking homicide and maiming in downtown Vancouver, there are calls to reopen the Riverview Psychiatric Hospital, but that’s not the solution some think it is.

Every time British Columbians are rattled by an act of random violence like last week’s shocking homicide and maiming in downtown Vancouver, there are calls to reopen the Riverview Psychiatric Hospital, but that’s not the solution some think it is. 

In fact, there continue to be treatment beds for 289 people in several buildings at the 244-acre site in Coquitlam, amidst dozens of buildings in various stages of collapse. The Red Fish Healing Centre and two lodges operated by Coast Mental Health, plus supportive housing, provide in-patient services and treatment for those with severe mental illness, addiction, or both. 

With public safety and the handling of mentally ill people likely to become key election issues, CTV News is reexamining the factors that make the “reopen Riverview” idea much more complicated than it seems; these issues are explored in-depth in our six-part series that aired last year, Riverview in Focus. 

Former Riverview CEO, Alex Berland, oversaw the site from 1998 to 2000 and is surprised there continues to be discussion about opening and using buildings that have sat empty for decades, some of which are literally collapsing.

“The oldest buildings are 100 years old and if you're going to spend millions of dollars to renovate old buildings, so you'd say ‘why would Riverview be the place to do that?’” he asked.

Last week, B.C. mayors renewed calls to do just that.

Coquitlam Mayor, Richard Stewart, for his part has been doing so constantly since the hospital formally closed in 2012 and has since seen “demolition by neglect,” as he describes it.