By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – The long-awaited consolidation of the Hotel Dieu Hospital and Cornwall General Hospital sites into a state-of-the-art facility was celebrated at a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday.
A long list of politicians who have been involved with the $120-million three-phase renovation of the Cornwall Community Hospital spoke to a large crowd in the building’s main entrance.
Cornwall Hospital Board chair Michael Turcotte introduced all 10 of the speakers.
“Much like we watched the new addition take shape brick by brick, it was all your involvement that formed the structure of what is now a state-of-the-art facility in Cornwall,” said Turcotte.
Ottawa South MPP John Fraser, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, congratulated staff, volunteers, the Cornwall Hospital Foundation Board, and officials from Cornwall, the United Counties of SDG, and Akwesasne for working cohesively together in securing $12-million.
“What this project did was bring people together,” said Fraser.
He noted that the building boasts six new operating rooms, brighter and more spacious rooms, a high-tech diagnostic centre of excellence, and tall windows to literally brighten up a patient’s stay.
Like many others, Fraser pointed out the impact of then-SDSG MPP Jim in the introductory phases of the initiative.
In 2009, the major construction project began to transform the McConnell Avenue site. Four years later, the CCH opened the West Wing of the new hospital.
“Here in Ontario our hospitals are the best, not just in Canada but in the world – and I think the Cornwall hospital is one of them,” said Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario’s francophone affairs minister.
Other speakers included Cornwall Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy, Champlain LHIN CEO Chantale LeClerc, United Counties Warden and North Dundas Mayor Eric Duncan, SDSG MPP Jim McDonell, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) Executive Director Sheree Bonaparte,, SDSG MPP Guy Lauzon, Cornwall Hospital Foundation board Allan Wilson, and Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH) CEO Jeanette Despatie.
