from left, Kevin Huestis, chair, hospital board of directors, with John Russell, Executive Director CMH Foundation.
Local Landowner Donates 48 Acres
Planned Campus of Care includes OMNI Health as a Partner
Article & Images by Sue Dickens
Sign heralds the site of the new hospital’s campus of care on County Rd. 30, west of Campbellford..
Campbellford - Mon., Oct. 17, 2022 - The miserable rainy weather did not deter the unveiling of the site of the new CMH Campus of Care today and it is all thanks to a donation by local landowner Jim Curle. He is a dairy farmer, whose family has been here for generations, who has stepped up to help the new Campbellford Memorial Hospital become a reality.
The announcement was made across from the future site located on County Rd 30, between Tanner Industrial Park and the west edge of Campbellford. The 48-acre property will provide the space needed for the Campus of Care and for any expansion or addition of other facilities as needed in the future.
John Russell, Executive Director of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation started the event off welcoming dignitaries and provincial and municipal politicians including MPP David Piccini.
As well OMNI Health CEO Raheem Hirji was there and he spoke about how Burnbrae Nursing Home will be included in the move to the new Campus of Care.
Many other key stakeholders attended including mayors and MPPs and more. The hospital serves four counties so the support for this project is needed from all four.
The new site will bring together a new CMH, a long-term care home, community mental health programs and other community healthcare services.
The CMH Board of Directors in consultation with OMNI Health Care, led a review process with prospective landowners, municipal and county partners and members of the public. The process was guided by a set criteria including that the land be donated, total more than 40 acres and provide ease of access. This let to the formal agreement with local landowner Jim Curle to donate 48 acres.
“Jim Curle’s transformative donation marks the Foundation’s most significant gift to date,” said Martha Hunt, board chair., CMH Foundation. Our Board extends our gratitude for this magnanimous gift that will be integral in building exceptional health care in our community.”
Getting the site shovel ready is the next part of the process while the hospital waits to hear from from provincial government about its application for a capital planning grant, which is necessary before anything else can happen.
This site selection announcement was a move by CMH to demonstrate to the government that is has a well thought out plan for the construction of a new hospital. As well OMNI Health is on board and prepared to be the long-term care partner.
The capital planning process is expected to take three years. Construction is expected to take an addition four years.
The Trent Hills Now team was on site for the announcement and the full details of what happened will be available in a more complete article or two in our publication tomorrow.
