PENETANGUISHENE, ON -Today, officials from the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (MHCP) joined community members for a sign unveiling to officially launch site preparation work for a new, state-of-the-art forensic mental health hospital.  

Officials also announced Al Langman Construction (1998) Inc. as the successful contractor to begin site preparation work which will move the major building project one step closer.

This work will make way for a new large modern hospital which will provide high quality treatment, rehabilitation and compassionate care for offenders with mental health disorders.

The scope of the site preparation work includes replacement of the existing Transportation Garage and Trades building with a new Environmental Services building,  site remediation, and the construction of access roads and parking.

This work will ensure that MHCP's operations and facilities will continue to function smoothly and efficiently during redevelopment. 

Following this site preparation phase, the site will be ready for the team to be awarded the contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new forensic hospital. Construction is expected to begin in early 2011.

When complete, the new hospital will replace the existing 160-bed Oak Ridge Facility and the 20-bed Brebeuf Facility, and will consolidate MHCP into a more efficient and integrated complex.

MHCP aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver 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 MHCP to build the 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.  

The Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene is a 312 bed psychiatric hospital located on Georgian Bay in the Town of Penetanguishene. MHCP provides an extensive range of forensic, acute and longer term psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services to Simcoe and Dufferin Counties and the southern portion of Muskoka/Parry Sound. The hospital is recognized for the provision of exceptional care to those most needing mental health services and for its contributions to the understanding of mental illness.

For more information about the project, visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.mhcp.on.ca.  

Contacts: 

Laurene Hilderley-Sibley
Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene 
705-549-3181 ext 2214 

Jessica Hooker 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-327-5325 

Disponible en français 

Quotes: 

Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure 
“The Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene project is another example of the McGuinty government's commitment to renewing and investing in sustainable and energy-efficient infrastructure that our communities need.”

Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care  
“Today's event marks another step forward to improving health services for individuals with mental illness in Ontario. This new state-of-the-art hospital will benefit this community for generations to come.”

Hon. Aileen Carroll, MPP for Barrie 
“This project is important not only for the forensic mental health care services it will provide, but for the hundreds of local construction jobs it will create.”  

Carol Lambie, President and CEO of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene 
“Our staff and community will now see signs of the progress that Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene is making towards realization of our new state-of-the-art forensic hospital division.”