July 14, 2025

HEALTH HUB MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO HELP SOLVE PRIMARY CARE CRISIS IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — If you’re without a doctor or primary care — or know someone who is — you should attend a public meeting Wednesday 6-8 p.m. at the Opera House auditorium to learn more about plans for a Health Hub next to the town hall.

The two-hour presentation — with a Q&A between each of six health care speakers — will provide more important information on significant progress to date on the ongoing emergency crisis facing the Town of Gravenhurst.

Along with follow-up access in the Trillium court following to those involved including doctors and other health care providers expected to join the growing the Cottage Family Health Team (CFHT) behind the project.

**A new Health Hub for Gravenhurst is being planned for Pineridge Gate at the south end of Bethune Drive next to the town hall. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont**

The meeting is being hosted by the Rotary Club, which is assisting in the promotion and building of the Health Hub on Pineridge Gate at the south end of Bethune Drive at the entrance to Gravenhurst.

Fundraising initiatives by the club have already netted vital funds for stage 1 of the project slated for this fall

With CFHT doctors already committing $100,000 and Rotary $50,000, Town of Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz is expected to announce its contribution of $200,000.

Organizers of the Hub are also seeking $200,000 each from the District of Muskoka and the Ministry of Health.

Initial plans are to renovate the ground floor and open new empty space on the second of the existing building to welcome new affiliated services.

It’s a three-phase plan.

The $750,000 Phase 1 would finish off space that was never completed upstairs after construction 15 years ago.

According to the Health Hub building website already more than $80,000 in donations toward Phase 2 have also been raised for the project, which focuses on leasehold improvements for new clinicians, programs and services.

They say they are now at 18 per cent of their second goal of $450,000 after just three months of soliciting funds.

**Fundraising efforts are already underway, with more than $400,000 committed for the first two stages starting this fall. GRAPHIC Health Hub website this week**

Phase 1: 2025

The first stage will completion of basic infrastructure (washrooms, floors, walls, etc) with confirmed support of $350,000 from partners: the Town of Gravenhurst, Cottage Country Family Health Team and the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst. They are waiting to hear back from the District of Muskoka and the Province on the requested $200,000 contribution from each of them.

It includes

Eestablishing strong community and government partnerships;
Finalizing the design;
Securing conditional lease agreements with various health and social service tenants.
Launch fundraising events;
Develop comprehensive marketing strategies and community engagement plans to effectively reach and involve local residents;
Completing basic infrastructure renovations and create space for new primary care providers;
Recruiting new primary care providers;
Exploring opportunities to create a primary care teaching clinic in partnership with the Northern Ontario Medical School.

Phase 2: 2026

Continue fundraising;
Undertake leasehold improvements for new programs and services;
Occupancy by new tenants and programs;
Complete first floor renovations;
Negotiation and secure diagnostic imaging (xray and ultasound partner);
Renovations and clinic setup to accommodate new primary care services.
In addition, they are planning if provincial support is confirmed to launch an expanded after-hours care clinic, along with a dedicated women’s health clinic, geriatric assessment, expanded laboratory services and pilot an innovative visiting specialist program.

Phase 3: 2027

Continue fundraising;
Complete the diagnostic suite to enable onsite diagnostic imaging services by increasing capacity and enhancing the variety of imaging options available, while also securing strategic partnerships with reputable diagnostic providers;
Actively recruit additional healthcare professionals to strengthen the team and improve patient care;
Continuously evaluate the hub’s impact on the community and explore further growth opportunities to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our patients.