Friday - Jan 23 - Robotic surgery comes to Surrey

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Surrey Memorial Hospital just got a robotic surgery system that lets surgeons perform complex cancer procedures with way more precision and smaller incisions than traditional surgery. The da Vinci Xi will handle hard-to-reach throat and lung cancers, keeping patients in Fraser Health instead of sending them elsewhere for specialized care.

Also today: Abbotsford sexual abuse survivor Nicolle Lauder lifted the court publication ban on her name so she can openly support other victims, and Chilliwack's firefighters are gearing up to face off against local police in March for a charity hockey game that raised nearly $7,000 last year.

– Emily

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News & Features

Surrey Memorial adds robotic surgery system for minimally invasive cancer treatment

Surrey Memorial Hospital received a robotic surgery system on January 6 that allows surgeons to perform complex cancer procedures with greater precision and smaller incisions than traditional surgery.

The da Vinci Xi system, which was unpacked and calibrated earlier this month, will remain in a temporary location while renovations are completed on its permanent operating room. It's the second such system in Fraser Health, following one installed at Royal Columbian Hospital last fall.

The technology allows surgeons seated at a console to control robotic arms that perform laparoscopic surgery with enhanced precision. A 3D high-definition vision system provides ultra-clear views of patient anatomy during procedures.

"With the aid of the da Vinci Xi system we can expand minimally invasive thoracic and foregut surgery, and we can do operations with greater precision and accuracy," said Dr. Ahmad Ashrafi, regional division head and chief of thoracic surgery for Fraser Health. "Patients may experience quicker recovery times and we can carry out more complex procedures right here in Surrey, using minimally invasive techniques."

Patients requiring ENT and thoracic surgeries—including procedures on the lungs, chest, esophagus, and stomach—will be the first to benefit. Those previously referred outside Fraser Health for specialized care will now be able to receive treatment at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

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Need to Know

❤️‍🩹 Abbotsford sexual abuse survivor Nicolle Lauder, 27, had the court publication ban lifted on her name so she could publicly support other victims, telling her abuser in court that she forgives him as he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. [Abbotsford News]

🧁 Dr. Charles Best Secondary students in Coquitlam have been baking muffins, collecting winter coats, and gathering vegetables for people using a temporary homeless shelter near Riverview grounds for the past year. [BCIT News]

🏒 Chilliwack firefighters will take on local police in the 2nd annual Guns vs. Hoses charity hockey game on Saturday, March 28 at Chilliwack Coliseum after last year's event raised nearly $7,000 with over 600 attendees. [Fraser Valley Today]

📚 Fraser-Cascade School District's 2025-2026 budget increased to $40 million due to higher-than-projected enrolment, with 1,825 students enrolled this year—a 52-student increase from last year. [Hope Standard]

🏆 Fraser River Lodge in Agassiz received nominations for multiple Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards including Indigenous business of the year, with the ceremony set for January 31. [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

🏛️ Mission Museum was nominated for a 2026 BC Heritage Award in the "Conservation: Small but Mighty" category for restoration work completed in mid-2025 on the historic 1907 building. [Mission Record]

📹 A Chilliwack high school teacher was suspended for two days without pay in June 2024 after showing a 52-second graphic video of an industrial lathe accident to a metalwork class. [Chilliwack Progress]

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🗓 Things to do

Fraser Valley Thrift Market: Hunt for vintage and collectible treasures on Saturday, January 24 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Chilliwack Heritage Park with $2 admission.

Montreal Style Bagels with Rise Baking Lab: Learn to make authentic Montreal-style bagels in a three-hour class on Monday, January 26 at 6:00 PM for $131.25, exploring traditional baking techniques and taking home freshly baked bagels.

A Crone's Guide to the Wetlands: Join retired forester Debora Soutar for monthly hour-long guided walks at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve on the last Tuesday of each month at 2:00 PM, starting January 27 with a focus on plant and animal reproduction, with registration limited to 20 people per walk.

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