Collingwood is getting a new hospital thanks to Ontario’s $95.5 million investment

COLLINGWOOD, ON. December 12, 2024 — Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced today that the Ontario government is investing up to $95.5 million to build a new Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, connecting more people and families in Collingwood and South Georgian Bay communities to more convenient, high-quality care, close to home.

The new hospital, planned for Poplar Sideroad, will have increased capacity with 132 fully private inpatient beds and expanded access to key services, including intensive care, emergency, diagnostic imaging, and operating suites.

“Our government is making historic investments in Ontario’s hospitals to ensure people of all ages can access the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to help build a new and improved Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will allow people and families in Collingwood and across South Georgian Bay to have better access to high-quality care in the community, for generations to come.”

“This is a monumental day in Collingwood’s history. The new hospital will transform patient care and ensure our residents can receive high-quality care close to home”, said Mayor Hamlin. “We have been working tirelessly to secure this new hospital and I am thrilled to say we did it,” said Mayor Hamlin. “I am grateful to Premier Ford and Deputy Premier Jones for this essential investment in our region’s future.”

Province has already invested $15.5 million

This new funding is in addition to the over $15.5 million investment previously provided by the Ontario government to support the early planning for the redevelopment of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital. Detailed planning for a brand-new replacement hospital on a new site will create a larger, state-of-the-art space to expand services and ensure the hospital can continue to meet the needs of the rapidly growing community into the future.

Making a “much needed state-of-the-art hospital a reality” – Simcoe—Grey MPP Brian Saunderson

“Delivering world-class health care to all Ontarians across our great Province is a top priority for our government,” said Simcoe—Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. “This historic investment in the community of Collingwood and South Georgian Bay will make a much-needed state-of-the-art hospital a reality that will transform health care for generations of families from the birth of a child to palliative care and everything in between.”

Once opened, this new Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will include:

• Increased capacity, including up to 132 new beds with 98 total inpatient beds and an additional 34 beds to meet the community’s future needs
• Enhanced infection prevention and control measures to ensure the health and safety of all patients
• Expanded access to key services, including intensive care, emergency, diagnostic imaging and operating suites

The ministry will work with Collingwood General and Marine Hospital to complete detailed planning and design for this project. A construction schedule will be confirmed once future planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded.

Town of Collingwood shows its commitment to the project

The Town of Collingwood has shown its commitment to the hospital redevelopment by allocating $3.9M from the proceeds of the Hydro utility sale and transferring reserve funds. In addition, the Town secured the lands on Poplar Sideroad for the hospital as part of the community benefits obtained from a developer through the Ministerial Zoning Order.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is expanding and modernizing Ontario’s hospitals, making it easier and faster for people of all ages to connect to the care they need, closer to home.

Town of Collingwood extends its gratitude

The Town of Collingwood extends its gratitude to the community leaders and stakeholders who have been instrumental in championing, fundraising, and advocating for the hospital redevelopment. The CGMH Board of Directors, CGMH Foundation, MPP Brian Saunderson’s office, current and past Collingwood Council, and municipalities in the South Georgian Bay Region have all worked relentlessly to raise funds and elevate the profile of this imperative project.

“Thank you to all of those who made this happen. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with CGMH and the South Georgian Bay Regional Mayors and Councils on the next steps for this project,” said Mayor Hamlin.

When will the new Collingwood General and Marine hospital open?

Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2028 and the new hospital is set to open as early as 2033.

In terms of what will happen to the existing hospital on Hume Street, the Town of Collingwood says “there are numerous possibilities for the Hume Street site. Planning for the site’s future use will involve thoughtful collaboration with community stakeholders, including the Town of Collingwood.”

Please visit the Project Timelines section of the website for more information.

For up-to-date information on the hospital redevelopment, visit yourfuturehospital.com.

Quick Facts from the province

• The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is an 84-bed facility serving more than 74,000 residents and 3.5 million annual visitors to the communities of Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Clearview and the Blue Mountains.
• Over the next 10 years, Ontario’s investments will lead to nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure across the province, building 3,000 new beds in addition to over 3,500 critical care, acute and post-acute beds our government has added since 2020.
• The Ontario government is investing more than $228 million this year to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 129 hospitals and 58 community health care facilities across the province, a 10 per cent increase from last year. This includes over $827,000 to Collingwood General and Marine Hospital this year.

Pictured L-R: Barry Goodwin, Board Chair of CGMH; Yvonne Hamlin, Mayor of Collingwood; Michael Lacroix, President and CEO of CGMH; Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health; Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey

SOURCES Town of Collingwood and Government of Ontario

Other articles from totimes.ca – mtltimes.ca – otttimes.ca