March 20, 2009/- Plans for a new Providence Care hospital are moving forward, thanks to an agreement between Providence Care and the Ontario Realty Corporation. 

The ORC has agreed to set aside 25 acres of land for Providence Care at King Street West and Portsmouth Avenue for the construction of a new hospital. 

The agreement could lead to Providence Care and the ORC signing a long-term lease on the property, contingent upon approval of our capital plan by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. 

“This is a significant milestone for Providence Care,” said Dale Kenney, President & CEO of Providence Care.  “In 2005 we received a $16.5 million planning grant from the provincial government, supporting our redevelopment project. Today, we can move forward with our planning for a facility at King Street West because the ORC has agreed to enter into a long-term lease with Providence Care when our redevelopment project is approved.  Our necessary planning and design work on the new hospital can now become more focused on this site.”

The new building will bring together our mental health, complex continuing care, palliative care, specialized geriatric medicine, and rehabilitation programs, and replace the aging St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Mental Health Services facilities.

“Today’s announcement is great news for Providence Care and our health care community in Kingston. Our government realizes that safe and well maintained hospitals are an important part of quality health care, not only for the patients but for health care professionals,” said John Gerretsen, MPP for Kingston and The Islands and Minister of The Environment.

In keeping with Providence Care’s strategic direction to enhance the quality of life for patients, residents and clients, our new hospital will provide greatly needed treatment, living, teaching, research and community space. 

The new building will offer space for our patients and clients that are clinically sound and designed with dignity and privacy in mind.  The new hospital will provide bright living space and will be wheelchair accessible throughout.

Providence Care’s redevelopment project is supported by the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation’s Together We Can campaign.