Vancouver Coastal Health celebrates 75th anniversary of G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

Since opening in 1949, G.F. Strong has helped thousands of people from across British Columbia and Canada live their fullest lives. Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, VCH and G.F. Strong are proud to support the continued advancement of medical science and patient-centered care for people with Acquired Brain Injury, Neuromusculoskeletal and Spinal Cord Injury.

“During the past 75 years, the impact of health care workers at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre has been nothing short of phenomenal. I would like to thank all the staff and medical staff, past and present, who have worked to make G.F. Strong what it is today,” says Health Minister Josie Osborne. “As British Columbia's largest rehabilitation centre, the work being done to advance health care for those who have faced injuries and illnesses is so important for the strength, independence and holistic well-being of people in their care.”

G.F. Strong provides inpatient, outpatient, outreach and clinical support services to clients throughout British Columbia in three unique programs: Acquired Brain Injury, Neuromusculoskeletal and Spinal Cord Injury. The interdisciplinary team combines the expertise of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, dieticians, respiratory therapists, recreation therapists, music therapists, psychologists, vocational rehab therapists, medical staff as well as other disciplines to offer 23 rehabilitation services.  In recent years, G.F. Strong supports more than 400 inpatients and 21,000 clinical visits annually.  

“Our 75-year journey is a testament to the resilience and determination of our staff and medical staff, clients and partners,” said Michelle de Moor, Vice-President – Vancouver Acute Community of Care at Vancouver Coastal Health. “Clients and their care providers are the inspiration behind every new innovation or program development at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. As we move forward, our teams remain dedicated to transforming lives and creating a brighter future for everyone we serve.”

G.F. Strong is at the forefront of rehabilitation innovation, utilizing the latest technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance recovery and improve quality of life. Notable programs and services include: 

• Adapted gaming: In 2023, G.F. Strong’s Assistive Technology team launched an Adapted Gaming program for clients to explore gaming and participate in an activity that enriches their lives. Gaming helps foster social connections and independence as well as rehabilitation, benefiting motor control, attention, pain management, and more. The program has connected more than 70 clients with various strategies, setups and adapted equipment options to empower play. Each 3D equipment model designed at G.F. Strong is open source and available to games and rehabilitation sites around the world for 3D printing. To date, there have been 87 design engagements. 
• Lung transplant rehabilitation: Seven years ago, G.F. Strong took a novel approach and started providing pre-rehabilitation to patients awaiting a lung transplant, increasing physical preparedness for prospective transplant recipients and reducing recovery time post-transplant. In the past five years, 51 patients have received pre-rehabilitation care and 131 lung transplant recipients have received post-transplant rehabilitation.
• Sexual health rehabilitation: The Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service at G.F. Strong has been helping clients and their partners meet their sexual health goals for almost 50 years. In the past 18 years, they have provided care for 6,519 clients and, alongside the Vancouver Sperm Retrieval Clinic, helped more than 125 babies come into the world. This team takes an intersectional approach that is confidential, respectful, trauma-informed and culturally safe to providing education and support around sexuality-related topics, such as confidence, self-image/ self-esteem, sexual function, relationships, fertility, sexual aids and communication.

The programs and services at G.F. Strong are underpinned by research and collaboration with research partners, which ensures the team is providing leading-edge care, addressing current needs as well as anticipating future challenges and technologies to make rehabilitation more accessible, effective and client-centred for years to come. Key research initiatives include: 

• Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) researchers worked with G.F. Strong clinicians to create the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) for stroke patients. This program extended in-hospital rehabilitation to home and community settings, overcoming several barriers to recovery that patients and the health-care system previously faced. GRASP is implemented at hundreds of sites in Canada and at more than 5,000 sites internationally. 
• Research Lab faculties have partnered with Spinal Cord Institute (SCI) clinicians to create the Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence (SCIRE) website, which provides clinicians with the most current evidence on treatments and outcome measures. SCIRE now has more than 250,000 users per year. 

“Today’s celebration of the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre’s 75th anniversary marks a major milestone, not just for this innovative centre and staff, but for all clients from across British Columbia whose lives have been changed for the better,” said Christine Boyle, MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain. We look forward to continue championing the Centre and its innovations, research and leading-edge programs that will continue to touch the lives of so many across the province.”

The programs at G.F. Strong are delivered in close collaboration with a network of community health care providers and supporters, including BC Rehab Foundation, BC Transplant, BC Wheelchair Sport Association, Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults, Disability Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Neil Squire Society, Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Rick Hansen Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC), Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence (SCIRE), Stroke Recovery Association of BC, Technology for Living, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.25 million people, including the First Nations, Métis and Inuit, within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai’xais, Lil’wat, Musqueam, N’Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla’amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa’xtsa. vch.ca