New hospital to be located on land owned by University of Waterloo | CBC News (2024)

Kate Bueckert · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 22, 2024 11:52 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 22

The site of the new hospital for the region will be in the north end of Waterloo on land currently owned by the University of Waterloo.

The lands are north of Columbia Street, south of Bearinger Road and east of Westmount Road. It will be located near the David Johnston Research and Technology Park.

The announcement was made Monday by local officials andPremier Doug Ford.

Officials said the site for the new hospital was identified as the preferred location following a 10-month property review process.

"We are thrilled that the University of Waterloo will be the future home to Waterloo region's new hospital," Mark Fam, president of St. Mary's General Hospital, said in a media release.

"Not only does the location make great sense in terms of patient accessibility, it also allows our organizations to deepen our relationship even further for the benefit of the communities we serve."

Ron Gagnon, president and CEO of Grand RiverHospital, said in the release that naming a site is "a major milestone" for the project.

"Together with the province, the hospitals and the University of Waterloo have the opportunity to truly create a better health system for the region and become an innovation campus of care," Gagnon said.

UW to work closely with new hospital

Students at the University of Waterloo will get a chance to use the hospital as a teaching tool and research hub, said president Vivek Goel.

For example, students from the architecture and engineering programs could be involved in theplanning of the building, Goel explained. And it will be a chance to grow the pharmacy and optometry programs as well as the rehab science program, he said.

"We don'thave a medical school but what we're looking at having is an innovation institute that works closely with the hospitals in taking new technologies and new ideas that come out of the university and applying them in the healthcare system," Goel said.

Region 'growing at a rapid pace': Premier

While speaking during a skilled trades funding announcement in Kitchener Monday morning, Ford said his government is investing in new hospital projects.

"Including, and this is one of the best, including for our new Waterloo region hospital and in fact, later today, I'm joining local officials to announce the new site of that hospital," Ford said.

Ford said Waterloo region is "growing at a rapid pace."

"From Woolwich to Cambridge, from Wellesley to North Dumfries, we're seeing more and more families establishing roots, local companies expanding and new businesses setting up shop," Ford said.

In a statement, Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redmancongratulated the hospitals for finding the location.

"Increasing access to healthcare is critical as Waterloo region grows to one million people in the coming years," Redman said.

"The Region of Waterloo looks forward to continued collaboration with hospital partners as the site is developed, including strong connections with our paramedic and transit services."

Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife also issued a statement, saying Waterloo is the "perfect choice" for a new hospital.

"This new, state-of-the-art facility will serve our growing population, and it will also act as a beacon to attract more healthcare professionals to our community, including physicians, nurses, and family doctors. It's an exciting day for the region," Fife said.

Expected to open in2034

In April 2022, the Ontario government announced it had approved a $5-million grant to build the new hospital.

Five possible sites were submitted to the site selection panel in November and three locations were then short-listed.

The new hospital is a joint venture between Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital. The project includes the construction of a new hospital, as well as the modernization of existing hospitals in the region.

Once the new hospital is built, initial plans are to repurpose Grand River's midtown Kitchener-Waterloo campus into an ambulatory and urgent care centre. Plans are also in place to expand the Freeport campus for more rehabilitation services.

The new hospital is still years away, though, and officials say it's not expected to become operational until 2034.

Officials said Monday the next steps are to work with the university to determine how the land will be developed.

The planning process for the new hospital is expected to take approximately five years, followed by five years of construction.

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