Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Announces Commencement of Construction of New Health Centre

SIOUX LOOKOUT, ON, June 18 – The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Center Board of Directors are pleased to announce that construction contracts to build the new health care facility have been successfully tendered, and that the actual building construction is now underway.Frank Beardy, Co-Chair of the Board said, “The dream of having a new hospital in Sioux Lookout, a dream we’ve all worked on together for the last 20 years and more is today being realized. We’ve stayed committed to the dream, and we’ve worked together through many issues and no matter how tough the journey got, we stayed together and on track. Today is a day of celebration, and we will celebrate even more when building is done and we move into our new facility in 2010.”

“Earlier this spring, the Ontario Minister of Health gave his approval underlining the shared recognition of the unique needs and issues to northern community and First Nations health and health care. This new hospital will help us succeed in addressing key health issues and further improve health services,” said Kai Koivukoski, Co-Chair of the Board.

Terry Jewell, Chairman of the Facilities Committee, SLMHC, said, “This is the day we’ve all waited for and worked so diligently toward, and now it’s finally here! Today is a major milestone as we start building the new health facility!”

“Construction is now underway. The contractors have been onsite and working at the site during the second week of June,” said Mr. Roger Walker, CEO of SLMHC. He added, “Eighty percent of contracts have been awarded to Northwestern Ontario firms. This is all very exciting news, and this definitely will help our economy in the years to come. The project will bring in over well over 200 construction jobs.”

“We are absolutely grateful and amazed that so many people in our community believed and worked so hard to raise funds for the new hospital. We are hoping to meet all of our fund-raising targets for the new building soon. To everyone who financially contributed and those who will contribute, a very sincere thank you!” said Marguerite Hoey, SLMHC Foundation Chair.

Ennis Fiddler, former Chairman of the Board, from his home in Sandy Lake First Nation added, “With the approval to proceed to build the new hospital marks the final step to realizing our dream of a quality hospital.”

“When I think of all the years of working together, I remember the remarkable cooperation of people from different places, First Nations, Town of Sioux Lookout, the Federal and Provincial Governments – everyone was so devoted to this dream of a new hospital for all,” said Peggy Sanders, former board member on SLMHC Board and the Foundation Board.

The new hospital will be about 140,000 square feet, approximately 1 1/2 time the size of the combined 8 existing sites.

Construction costs on the project are guaranteed to not exceed $106.8 million under terms of the construction contracts,” said Dave Beazley, Project Manager. He further added, “All key sub-contracts will be finalized over the next few days based on tenders submitted to Ellis Don Construction as part of an open bid approach.”

The new building will support 60 in-patient beds. The two existing hospitals provide 41 beds.

New services will include a large ambulatory care treatment and diagnostic area including a visiting specialist clinic area, screening and diagnostic mammography services, a palliative care area, additional complex continuing care beds, withdrawal management services, and gathering, waiting and ceremonial spaces. A CT scanning proposal is awaiting approval.

The new hospital and health centre will unite all key services on a single site with a single point of entry.

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre provides hospital and other services to about 30,000 people living in 28 First Nation and 4 other communities including Sioux Lookout.

To view the Media Kit, please select the following link:
http://files.newswire.ca/731/SLMHC.doc

For further information: Doug Moynihan, VP of Corporate Services, Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, Sioux Lookout, ON, P8T 1B4, Telephone (807) 737-3030 ext 3231, e-mail: dmoynihan@slmhc.on.ca