Letter to the Community – New Hospital Lakehead Site

On behalf of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), we want to sincerely thank the residents, families, businesses, community leaders, and municipal partners who have demonstrated unwavering support for the future of healthcare in our region and for the vision of a new hospital at the Lakehead University site.

The level of community engagement and advocacy we have witnessed has been remarkable. It reflects a shared understanding that our growing region requires a modern hospital capable of meeting the healthcare needs of future generations. Your commitment and passion for this project have been instrumental in advancing the conversation and reinforcing the importance of timely action.

As a public institution, OSMH is committed to open, transparent, and respectful dialogue regarding the new hospital. Community input matters, and we welcome thoughtful discussion about the opportunities and challenges associated with a project of this scale. However, productive dialogue must be grounded in accurate information, and unfortunately, much of what has been shared by others about the hospital project is inaccurate or misleading.

In the council presentation of report CAO-26-05, the decision map erroneously suggests that council may choose to keep the hospital central.   Let us be clear, the City of Orillia does not get to decide the location of the hospital, OSMH does.   The Lakehead University location was determined through a comprehensive site selection process that included representatives from the following stakeholder groups: Patient and Family Advisory Council, Indigenous Health Circle, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Community Engagement Committee, a hospital volunteer and an individual selected by the City of Orillia with experience in planning.  This work was also supported by external architects and engineers with comprehensive experience in hospital redevelopment and site evaluation.  The criteria utilized to assess site feasibility was based on industry best practice and priorities identified by the broader community through community engagement surveys.

It is also important for the public to understand that critical planning activities that should already be underway are currently unable to proceed because the 25 acres of land required for the new hospital at the Lakehead University site have not yet been released from the City of Orillia covenant affecting the property. Until this matter is resolved, the hospital project is delayed. We acknowledge that locally, some individuals are indicating that delaying a decision by council does not delay the new hospital.  This is false.

Every delay in advancing this work has consequences. Delays impact planning timelines, project momentum, and ultimately the ability to deliver the modern healthcare infrastructure our patients, team members and the communities we serve, need and deserve. Simply put, no one should accept unnecessary delays to the development of the new hospital.

OSMH certainly will not.

This is why we are calling on Orillia City Council, to release 25 acres of land from the covenant by the City of Orillia, at the upcoming August council meeting.  We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the successful delivery of a new hospital.  Our responsibility is to advocate for a path forward that protects the long-term interests of patients, healthcare providers, and the communities we serve, now and for future generations.

While we continue to believe that the Lakehead University site—and the unique partnership opportunities it creates between our organizations—represents the strongest opportunity to advance this project and support the future growth of our community, we must also be realistic about our obligations. If Orillia City Council does not consent to the transfer of 25 acres of land from Lakehead to OSMH, the hospital will have little choice but to relaunch its site selection process.

Given that a comprehensive review of potential sites within the City of Orillia has already been completed, any future process would likely require expanding the geographic search criteria beyond the city to include lands throughout our broader catchment area. This is not the outcome we are seeking, nor is it our preferred direction. However, our responsibility remains unchanged: to ensure the successful delivery of a new hospital for the communities we serve.

Our focus today remains on achieving a timely resolution that allows the Lakehead University site to move forward. Our patients, team members and local residents deserve a new hospital. They deserve progress. And they deserve certainty that the organizations entrusted with this responsibility will continue to advocate for timely action.

Thank you for your continued support, your engagement, and your commitment to the future of healthcare in our region.

Terri McKinnon, Chair of the Board
Ryan Spurgeon, Vice Chair of the Board
Tom Roberts, Interim President and CEO
Dr. Kim McIntosh, Chief of Staff