The golden shovels are ready and once the snow disappears the Five Hills Health Region and Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health are planning a big celebration in Moose Jaw. The sod turning for the new regional hospital project will be announced any day now and work at the site could begin as early as this week.

Kyle Matthies, FHHR Director of Communications, says the plan is to start construction this spring and have the external shell closed up by November. "The following December the building will be complete and then it'll take us about four to six months to transition into the new hospital."

80% of the $100 million project is funded by the provincial government.  The city picks up 18%, while surrounding rural municipalities picking up the remaining 2% of the tab.