The South Niagara Hospital will replace the Greater Niagara General Hospital (GNGH) which has been caring for patients since 1958. Pictured: A rendering of the design of the South Niagara Hospital’s new lobby. Photo Credit: Niagara Health.
One year ago, local and provincial officials gathered in Niagara Falls to mark the groundbreaking of the innovative South Niagara Hospital. With the first 12 months of construction now in the books, the project is still forecasted to be finished by 2028, allowing it to begin serving residents before the end of the decade.
“We are very proud of our Niagara Health teams and the crews working on this project for reaching this exciting milestone,” said Lynn Guerriero, CEO and President of Niagara Health. “The South Niagara Hospital is truly going to be an exceptional facility for both our patients and our staff, and we are eagerly anticipating the positive changes in healthcare that this new hospital will bring to our region.”
The project is being overseen by EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EDIH), which has hired many of its workers from local subcontractors, a move that has been celebrated for putting money back into local economies. On any given day, it is typical to see more than 200 labourers on-site. That number is expected to rise above 1,000 during the busiest stages of construction.
At this juncture, excavation for the foundation and basement, along with the installation of 1,250 supportive steel piles has been finished. Many site services, including sanitary and stormwater sewers, as well as the waterlines, have also been completed. The electrical work, stairwells and elevator shafts are currently receiving significant attention. This past spring, labourers began ascending to work on the first three floors of what will be the 12-storey superstructure.
“As we hit the one-year milestone of the groundbreaking on the South Niagara Hospital project, it’s thrilling to see the progress the team has made,” shared Andrew Anderson, Senior Vice President and Toronto Area Manager for EllisDon. “Not only does it show everyone’s hard work and drive, it showcases our dedication to teamwork and partnership with Niagara Health and other fellow partners on site.”
In addition to the extensive workforce chipping away at the physical structure, Niagara Health staff have been intricately involved in the planning process. Over the past 18 months, dedicated local health professionals have collaborated with Infrastructure Ontario and EDIH to provide an accumulative 4,500 hours of input into the hospital design. This work is expected to culminate in fall 2024.
“We are incredibly proud of our partners as we mark one year since the start of construction on this state-of-the-art healthcare project,” said Michael Lindsay, President and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario. “The new South Niagara Hospital is an outstanding example of IO’s work to deliver on a new generation of healthcare projects in innovative ways.”
When the 1.3-million-square-foot hospital opens its doors, it will provide a comprehensive host of services. These will range from diagnostics, surgical and therapeutic treatments, critical and emergency care, as well as a tailored medicinal approach for age-specific conditions.
“We’re four years away from opening the doors to patients at this incredible new facility,” said Andrea Scott, President and CEO of the Niagara Health Foundation. “The journey has been inspiring, and we continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and support from our community and donors.”
The success of this past year has also been celebrated by one of the project’s biggest local advocates, Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff.
“One year ago, I joined Premier Ford and Hon. Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new South Niagara Hospital in Niagara Falls,” Oosterhoff shared with The Niagara Independent. “This milestone represents the progress that our government has made in Niagara in connecting families to the care they need, when they need it, close to home. Once completed, this state-of-the-art hospital will have 600 beds and enhance the delivery of critical services across the region.”
“As we reflect on the past year, we celebrate the progress of this critical project that will deliver high-quality care to our community for years to come,” Oosterhoff continued. “I want to recognize the hard work of our local community and the leadership of Niagara Health in helping make this exciting project possible. Together, our government is getting it done for Niagara.”
The South Niagara Hospital will be located at the corner of the Montrose and Biggar roads in Niagara Falls. It will replace the Greater Niagara General Hospital (GNGH) which has been caring for patients since 1958.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
