Facility to deliver more effective family centred care

TORONTO - Aecon Buildings, the project team selected to build and finance the Rouge Valley Health System's Ajax and Pickering Hospital redevelopment project, has begun construction at the community hospital. 

Over the next several months, Aecon Buildings will focus on constructing a new south parking lot and interior renovations. 

“This is an exciting time for our hospital, with the construction team onsite and having equipment arriving daily. We can already see the changes beginning to take place,” said Rik Ganderton, President and CEO, Rouge Valley Health System. “I would like to thank our hospital physicians, staff, volunteers, fundraisers, donors and the community for their support. This major redevelopment will allow us to provide greater access to health care for our growing communities in west Durham.” 

The Phase One redevelopment of the Ajax and Pickering Hospital includes a combination of 140,000 square feet of new construction and renovations. Project highlights include: 

  • An expanded, new emergency department; 
  • An expanded adult inpatient mental health unit; 
  • A new ambulatory care unit for outpatient clinic visits, a fracture clinic, outpatient procedures, medical day care and pre-admit visits; 
  • A new laboratory; 
  • A larger complex continuing care unit with capacity for 30 beds; and
  • Redesigned space for the diagnostic imaging and cardiac diagnostic areas.

Aecon Buildings will be paid $63,941,270 million to redevelop the Ajax and Pickering Hospital when substantial performance (when the facility is ready for occupancy) is achieved. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2010. Throughout construction, an average of 75 workers will be on site daily and there will be economic spin-offs to the community in the form of material purchases from local businesses.

An official groundbreaking ceremony will be announced shortly. 

Infrastructure Ontario is working with the Rouge Valley Health System to redevelop the Ajax and Pickering Hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

This project is guided by principles outlined in the province's Building a Better Tomorrow framework, which ensures public ownership of core assets such as hospitals, schools, and water and wastewater facilities.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contacts: 

Terence Foran  
Infrastructure Ontario  
416 325-2939  

David Brazeau 
Rouge Valley Health System 
416 284-8131, Ext. 4010