Celebrating substantial completion of the new Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care

PENETANGUISHENE, ON, Dec. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Integrated Team Solutions, government officials, staff and volunteers joined together today to celebrate the substantial completion of the new hospital with a symbolic key exchange.

The major portion of construction is now complete in accordance with the project agreement and the facility is ready to turn over to the hospital.

Built on Waypoint's existing site, the new forensic mental health building replaces the 160-bed Oak Ridge Facility and the 20-bed Brebeuf Facility, offering a larger, more modern and consolidated space for treatment and care of people with mental illness who have come into contact with the law.

The construction project began in February 2011 and has created hundreds of jobs through the employment of local trades and construction related suppliers. At the height of construction, as many as 300 workers were on site daily. Labour and materials for the project were largely drawn from the Midland, Barrie and Simcoe County areas.

The new building will be open for patient care on March 3, 2014. Hospital-led transition and move planning, which has been underway since last year, will continue within the new building, and includes:

• training and orientation
• patient readiness
• new partnership processes including Honeywell's role as the maintenance provider
  
  

This project was delivered on time and on budget using the province's Alternative Financing and Procurement model.

The facility was designed and constructed to adhere to the guidelines and sustainability principles of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification. 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 worked with Waypoint to develop the new forensic hospital and campus addition, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.

Infrastructure Ontario is a crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario's alternative financing and procurement model to 83 major projects valued at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.

Located in Penetanguishene, Waypoint has a 100 year history of offering healing and inspiring hope through innovative treatment, compassionate care and an emphasis on quality of daily life.  An extensive range of regional speciality mental health inpatient and outpatient services are part of the fully accredited hospital. Waypoint is home to the province's only 160-bed maximum secure forensic mental health hospital. It is recognized for its research and academic partnerships, including its affiliation with the University of Toronto

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or http://www.waypointcentre.ca for more information.

Quotes:

Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"Our government was very proud to construct the new Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. The opening of this new forensic mental health building offers the patients requiring these specialized services an improved quality of life. On behalf of our government, congratulations to Waypoint, Integrated Team Solutions and everyone involved in this major milestone."

Carol Lambie, President and CEO, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
"The Atrium Building is a significant improvement to the existing Oak Ridge Building. Our health care team has been providing the best quality of care to patients in an antiquated, dated infrastructure not designed for health care. Today's celebration of substantial completion means that very soon our patients will be able to recover and be cared for in a more therapeutic environment, with hospital rooms and areas embracing natural light and views of the Bay."

Betty Valentine, Chair, Board of Directors, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
"The Atrium Building has been a good news story not only for our patients, but for our community, as 300 construction jobs were created through this project. The Redevelopment shows our commitment to treating the Province's Forensic patients, and helping them on their path to recovery in a truly idyllic setting on Georgian Bay."

Disponible en français

SOURCE: Infrastructure Ontario

Mandy Downes 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-327-5246 

Apryl Munro
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
[phone] ext. 2865