Future of Stanton building undecided
GNWT has list of acceptable potential uses for current hospital
James Goldie
Northern News Services
Friday, November 13, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Now that the major renovation of Stanton Territorial Hospital has morphed into a plan to build an entirely new hospital, the question of what to do with the current building remains. Although there is no plan yet in place, the GNWT has identified a number of constraints it will have to work within.
As part of the proposal by Boreal Health Partnership (BHP), which is responsible for developing, constructing and operating the new hospital, the existing building will be redeveloped by a private sector company. That company has yet to be chosen by the GNWT.
"No formal decisions have been made at this point … with respect to any potential redevelopment options," Shaun Dean, director of cabinet communications for the GNWT, told Yellowknifer in an e-mail.
Dean said a condition for future redevelopment of the space is that all uses be "consistent with the adjacent Stanton hospital health-care campus activities or such other uses as may be approved in writing by the GNWT."
The GNWT's list of consistent uses for the old building includes medical and dental offices, pharmacies, medical device sales, long-term care and assisted living, and/or accommodations for visiting doctors and hospital staff. However, not all potential uses on the government's list are specific to health care. The hospital could also one day be used for restaurants (including those serving alcohol), hair salons, gyms, art galleries, child care centres or education facilities.
Inconsistent use of the old hospital would be a casino or "gambling activities," tobacco sales, firearms/weapons sales, liquor stores or "adult entertainment establishments."
Wellness centre still possible
Although the GNWT is currently in the early consultation and planning stages for the future creation of an aboriginal wellness centre on or near the Stanton campus, it is not clear if the current hospital would be an adequate space for the facility which must accommodate traditional activities and serve as a gathering place for patients and their families.
"Some aspects of aboriginal wellness cannot be accommodated within the walls of an acute hospital due to building code and safety requirements," said Dean.
Multiple requests for more information on this proposed aboriginal wellness centre were directed to the Department of Health and Social Services but not returned by press time.
As Yellowknifer reported last week, at the Dene Nahjo forum for candidates in the upcoming territorial election, Kam Lake incumbent Dave Ramsay said that hospital space could be used in the future as a treatment centre for people struggling with mental health and addictions issues.
"Going back to 2003 when I first got elected, I've always felt the North could use a mental health and addictions facility," Ramsay said in an interview the day after the forum.
However, Kieron Testart, the only other candidate running in Kam Lake, disagreed with his competitor's suggestion.
"We need action right away," he said. "We can't be waiting years for the building to be available. We need something on the ground providing treatment options, to get (people) sober, to get them into residential programs that support their needs and support their rehabilitation so they can become functioning members of society."
The new Stanton Territorial Hospital is expected to be complete by late 2018.
– with files from Evan Kiyoshi French
