A contract has been awarded for a major redevelopment project at CEE Hospital in Petrolia.
Bluewater Health has awarded a $14 million construction contract to K&L Construction Ltd. for the redevelopment of the Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging areas at Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital.
Construction is set to begin this fall following a groundbreaking in October or early November, and is expected to take 36 to 42 months to complete.
The work will be done in six multi-faceted phases to ensure the hospital and Emergency Department remain fully open and operational throughout the project.
“Awarding the construction contract is an incredibly exciting milestone for CEEH of Bluewater Health and the Petrolia and Central Lambton community,” said President and CEO of Bluewater Health Paula Reaume-Zimmer in a news release. “Selecting our construction partner brings us closer than ever to seeing years of planning, advocacy and community support take shape. This investment further solidifies our commitment to rural
health for decades to come. We are grateful to the Ministry of Health, local elected officials, Bluewater Health Foundation and its donors, staff and physicians, and the entire community for their continued commitment to the future of rural healthcare in Petrolia.”
Mayor Brad Loosley noted the hospital is much more than just a building to local residents.
"It is an important part of our community and our history,” said Loosley. “Our community has advocated for and supported CEEH for generations, and seeing a construction partner selected is an exciting sign of the progress being made. We look forward to celebrating the groundbreaking this fall and watching this important investment in the future of healthcare in Petrolia come to life.”
To fund the overall redevelopment, the Bluewater Health Foundation is raising a $5 million local contribution for equipment and project needs, with approximately $2 million already secured.
Community members interested in supporting the project can donate directly through the Bluewater Health Foundation website by selecting the "CEEH Emergency Redevelopment" fund.
