NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Fraser Health has taken a major step forward in surgical innovation with the arrival of the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system at Royal Columbian Hospital, marking a significant milestone in the region’s expanding robotic surgery program. The advanced system, funded by the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, positions the hospital at the forefront of next-generation medical technology.
Surrey Memorial Hospital is also slated to receive its own da Vinci Xi unit in the coming months, supported by the Surrey Hospitals Foundation. The two hospitals will serve as the cornerstones of a regional program designed to enhance surgical precision, improve patient outcomes, and streamline recovery times across Fraser Health facilities.
The da Vinci Xi—produced by U.S.-based Intuitive Surgical—represents one of the most sophisticated robotic-assisted surgical platforms in modern medicine. Drawing on the imagination of its namesake, Leonardo da Vinci, whose 15th-century sketches hinted at mechanical forms mimicking human movement, the system translates that centuries-old vision into reality. Using a console and robotic arms, surgeons can perform minimally invasive procedures with unprecedented control, flexibility, and accuracy.
As part of the rollout, the first da Vinci Xi system arrived at Royal Columbian Hospital on September 29, 2025. Once uncrated and calibrated, it was escorted to Operating Room 11 inside the newly built Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower. The system’s go-live is scheduled for early 2026, timed to coincide with the official opening of the new facility and to allow medical teams ample time for training and simulation.
“I’m so excited for the doctors, clinical teams and patients of Fraser Health,” says Dr. Brian Yang, Urologist and Local Department Head of Surgery at Royal Columbian Hospital. “This marks a quantum leap forward into the next generation of care for our patients in Fraser Health.”
The technology will initially be deployed by the hospital’s Urology Department, with surgeons like Dr. Yang using it to perform intricate laparoscopic operations. The system’s enhanced range of motion and magnified 3D imaging allow for delicate manoeuvres within the body that would be difficult or impossible using traditional methods.
“With the aid of da Vinci, Dr. Yang and other surgeons will be able to perform intricate manoeuvres within the body with extreme precision, working from a surgeon console within the operating room. Patients may experience quicker recovery times and shorter hospital stays,” the release notes.
Following its debut in urology, the robotic system is expected to support additional surgical specialties across the region. Ear, nose and throat (ENT) procedures and thoracic surgeries at Surrey Memorial Hospital are among the next areas slated to benefit from robotic-assisted techniques once the second system becomes operational.
Beyond its clinical advantages, the initiative highlights the growing role of philanthropy in advancing medical technology within Canada’s health-care system. Fraser Health officials credit charitable foundations and community donors for helping bring the multimillion-dollar systems to local hospitals.
“This advancement in surgical care in Fraser Health is possible thanks to generous gifts to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation and Surrey Hospitals Foundation—which is also funding a da Vinci robotic system for Surrey Memorial Hospital.,” says Cindy Laukkanen, Executive Director, Surgery and Anaesthesia Networks, Fraser Health. “We are incredibly excited to see our vision of a regional robotic surgery program become reality, supporting surgeons and patients for years to come.”
The new system’s introduction underscores a broader shift within Canadian hospitals toward adopting robotic technologies to improve surgical precision, efficiency, and patient recovery. Across North America, such systems are increasingly being used in urology, gynecology, cardiothoracic, and general surgery, with early studies indicating shorter hospital stays and fewer complications compared to traditional procedures.
For Fraser Health, the initiative marks a culmination of years of planning and collaboration between hospital leadership, surgical teams, and community foundations. Officials say the integration of robotics into operating rooms across the region will help attract and retain top surgical talent while improving the standard of care for patients in British Columbia’s growing Fraser region.
Photos and video of the new da Vinci Xi system at Royal Columbian Hospital are available through Fraser Health at:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/etz66x4no0ml55s6okfyd/AC1kyyOJkBnJjNWoIzAsP1A?rlkey=l0wa749dw9vp9cv3lumzlqmp4&st=qifr99bl&dl=0
Vendor: Intuitive Surgical Press Resources
Contact:
Carrie Stefanson
Senior Public Affairs Consultant, Fraser Health
