PENETANGUISHENE, ON - Area dignitaries joined board members, staff, volunteers, patients, community members and partners today  to celebrate Mental Health Week by holding an official groundbreaking for the new state-of-the-art forensic mental health hospital. Today's celebration included the unveiling of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene's new name Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care with which this project will now be identified.

The new forensic hospital and building addition will replace and consolidate the existing 160-bed Oak Ridge facility and the 20-bed Brebeuf building, offering a larger, more modern space for treatment and care of people with mental health disorders who have had involvement with the criminal justice system.

While under construction this project will provide a boost to the regional economy by creating hundreds of construction jobs through the employment of local trades and construction-related suppliers. At the height of construction, as many as 300 workers are expected to be on site daily. Labour and materials for the project will be drawn largely from the Penetanguishene-Midland-Barrie-Simcoe areas and the surrounding communities. 

Substantial completion of the new building is expected to be achieved in late fall 2013 with move in expected in 2014.

Integrated Team Solutions (ITS), the consortium selected to design, build, finance and maintain the new forensic mental health facility, represents a joint venture between EllisDon Corporation and Fengate Capital Management Ltd., with EllisDon also providing construction services. The facility was designed by Cannon Design and Honeywell Limited will provide facilities management. National Bank Financial Inc. acted as the financial advisor to ITS.

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification for the design and construction of the new facility. LEED® standards focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care to develop the new hospital, which will remain publicly owned and publicly controlled.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget; as well, it is dedicated to providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew their infrastructure. 

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care provides an extensive range of both acute and longer-term psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services to all of Simcoe County, part of Dufferin County and the southern portion of Muskoka/Parry Sound. In addition, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care provides the province's only maximum secure forensic hospital for clients served by both the mental health and justice systems.   

Quotes: 

Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure 
“Congratulations to this mental health care organization on the major milestone met today. This new forensic hospital is part of the largest reinvestment in health care facilities in Ontario in more than a generation. By investing in our health care infrastructure, we are stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building stronger and healthier communities.”  

Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care 
“I'm proud of my government's commitment to supporting those living with mental health illness and addiction issues. This new building will provide the care that people need in an environment that will contribute to their wellness.”  

John McCullough, Board Chair of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene 
“This is a momentous occasion for healthcare in our community and our province. These new milestones support our efforts to enhance our role as a leader in providing compassionate care and innovative treatment to people with mental illness in our region and the province. We will continue to enhance our role as the leader in serving part of the region's and province's most vulnerable population with these new milestones.”

Carol Lambie, President and CEO of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene 
“This is a significant step in meeting the needs of patients in the province and region. The start of construction of our new forensic hospital brings us closer toward our goal to be a state-of-the-art facility that reflects and supports the exemplary care our team delivers to patients and the community.”  

Contacts: 

Laurene Hilderley-Sibley
Waypoint Centre for Mental Care 
705-549-3181 ext 2214

Lyndsie York 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-326-9368 

Disponible en français