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A land transfer agreement has been finalized this week to support the growth underway at the Deep River and District Hospital (DRDH) health campus. Three parcels of land have been exchanged in a partnership between the Town of Deep River, the Four Seasons Conservancy, and DRDH to support development as well as conservation in our community. The land exchange will support continuity of services during construction for both the new 96-bed Long-Term Care Home as well as the new Family Health Team building, which are both planned to kick-off later this year. As a result of the transfer, adjustments have been made to site planning that will improve flow for future patients, residents, and staff at the health campus as it grows over the coming years.
DRDH Board Chair David Cox expressed his thanks to the Town of Deep River and the Four Seasons Conservancy for supporting DRDH through this land exchange partnership. “Having this land exchange completed is a very important milestone for the project. We are grateful to the Town and Conservancy for their willingness to move forward with the exchange to help ensure DRDH can continue to provide quality care and services as we expand our facilities, services, and team to build a healthier community.”
“I am very pleased that the Town of Deep River has been able to help facilitate improvements and flexibility for the site layout and landscape design of the new Four Seasons Lodge and North Renfrew Family Health Team facility,” said Sue D’Eon, Mayor, Town of Deep River. “This land exchange will benefit our community through the contribution of some municipal land and by helping to facilitate a land exchange with the Four Seasons Conservancy. The east-end lands are an important part of our community, and much of it was acquired through community donations. The Four Seasons Conservancy has managed these lands, and helped to preserve our natural heritage. I would like to thank them for further supporting our community by agreeing to this exchange.”
The new Four Seasons Lodge Long-Term Care Home, estimated to open as early as 2025, will greatly contribute to the economic prosperity of our area by providing 200 new jobs and an increase of $5M in direct wages annually. With the new home, the long waitlist our community has for long-term care will be greatly eased, allowing those who need long-term care to access it closer to home.
As part of the expanding campus of care, the new Family Health Team building will improve patient experience and ensure the Family Health Team and its service providers can continue to deliver important medical services in a modern and accessible space that will meet evolving community needs into the future.
“Construction of a new 96-bed long-term care facility and a new family health team building at the DRDH campus represent significant investments which will be of immense benefit to all our residents and which will also significantly increase employment opportunities in Deep River and the surrounding area. I wish to express my thanks to the DRDH staff and Board of Directors for their dedicated efforts to advocate for these important projects,” expressed Sue D’Eon, Mayor, Town of Deep River.
Ray Metcalfe, Chair of the Conservancy, added that, “our Board and members are pleased to support health in the community in this way. Nearby trails through the Four Seasons Forest Sanctuary will be ‘improved’ and made accessible to visitors and residents of the Lodge. We expect they will still see the occasional wolves and deer, and hear the beautiful spring birdsong in these cherished woodlands.”
Site preparations at the health campus for the Long-Term Care and Family Health Team development projects will continue over the summer months, with official ground breaking events for both projects to take place this fall.  Pictured here onsite at DRDH to celebrate the land transfer agreement is Sean Patterson – Town of Deep River CAO, Janna Hotson – DRDH President and CEO, David Cox – DRDH Board Chair, Mayor Sue D’Eon – Town of Deep River, John McKay – Four Seasons Conservancy and Christian Kaiser – Town of Deep River Asset and Administrative Project Manager.
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