The grass roots community collaboration between the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst and the local Family Health Team has met their first milestone. The Board of both the Rotary Club and Cottage Country Family Health Team have approved moving to tender for the first Phase of renovations to the vacant top floor at 5 Pineridge Gate.
“Our community is facing a primary health care crisis and doing nothing is not an option,” said Bruce Hemphill, Chair of The Gravenhurst Health Hub Steering Committee. “We’re coming together – with care providers, our community and government – to bring to life an innovative yet practical solution for all of Muskoka.”
Tom Long, President of the Rotary Club said “I am immensely proud of what our Club and generous community donors have been able to achieve by working together. In combination with the Town and District funding, we have now surpassed $950,000 in funds raised and are thrilled to be able to proceed with the first phase of the project.”
The Town of Gravenhurst and the District of Muskoka are behind the project and provided $200,000 in funding each. Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz said, “It was a unanimous decision of our Town Council to put our support behind this project to complete space that has been vacant for over 15 years. On behalf of council and staff, I want to congratulate the Rotary Club, the Family Health Team, and the community on reaching this important next milestone. It is heartwarming to see so many people supporting the health hub project. We look forward to seeing the renovation work begin.”
“We could not have done this without the leadership from the Rotary Club. This is a huge step forward to providing space for new providers and new programs and services to make primary care available to all of residents in Gravenhurst and South Muskoka” said Dr. Tina Kappos, Chair of the Cottage Country Family Health Team Board.
The Steering Committee is aiming to begin construction in January following a competitive tender process. The construction is being supported by generous in-kind donations from Chamberlain Timbermart through assistance with building materials. Doug Chamberlain, said “Our family business has been a part of this community for 74 years and we are happy to be supporting this amazing project.”
