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Fort Providence health centre breaks ground $11-million facility expected to be completed by 2015
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, August 8, 2013
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A community celebration was held in Fort Providence on Aug. 6 to mark the beginning of construction of a new health centre.
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli, left, and Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge open the groundbreaking ceremony for the new health centre in Fort Providence with a prayer song. - photo courtesy of MLA Michael Nadli
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The centre, which will cost slightly more than $11 million, is expected to be completed in early 2015. The building is being constructed near the existing health centre in the hamlet, said Perry Heath, the director of infrastructure and planning with the Department of Health and Social Services.
The 43-year-old building needed to be replaced, he said. The department has also changed the way it delivers programs in the past four decades.
As part of the department's integrated service delivery model, the new health centre will hold both health and social services staff. At approximately 6,800 square metres, the building will be about one-third larger than the old centre.
All of the health services offered at the centre will be the same as before, although some examination rooms will be larger, said Heath.
While the groundbreaking ceremony was on Aug. 6, actual construction on the building is set to begin around Aug. 10. The department has been working toward this project for almost five years, he said.
The community celebration on Aug. 6 included a barbecue, remarks by community leaders and a ceremonial sod turning at the site of the new centre.
Speaking on Aug. 2, Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli said he expected to be at the ceremony.
"Of course I'm excited," he said.
"It's something the community has anticipated for some time."
Fort Providence has an aging population with increasing numbers of seniors and with the Deh Cho Bridge now being open, the community is also open to continuous traffic, said Nadli, adding that the community needs "a health centre that's responsive to the needs of the community and the population at large."
In addition to better service delivery, Nadli said he also expects the construction project to provide jobs and training opportunities for residents in areas including carpentry, heating, plumbing and electrical. Nadli said he will be monitoring the project to ensure residents are hired and expects other local leaders to be doing the same.
He said leaders will also likely watch the construction timeline closely to make sure it is followed and that things run smoothly.
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