Massive Brampton Civic Hospital officially opened
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

The grand opening of the new Brampton Civic Hospital was held Friday afternoon at Bramalea Road and Bovaird Drive. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Duncan Glaholt, chair of the board of directors of William Osler Health Centre, and George Smitherman, Ontario's minister of health and long-term care.

The largest hospital project to be completed in Ontario's history was celebrated Friday afternoon with the grand opening of the new Brampton Civic Hospital.

Part of the William Osler Health Centre, the 1.3 million square-foot Brampton Civic Hospital is located at the corner of Bovaird Drive and Bramalea Road. The massive facility opens with 479 beds, 12 operating rooms, 2,750 staff, 425 physicians and 550 volunteers. It will grow to 608 beds by 2011-12 and 18 operating rooms within three years. It also has 2,570 parking spaces.

Many dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the opening including Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell, Canada Health Minister Tony Clement, Ontario Health and Long-term Care Minister George Smitherman and Peel regional chair Emil Kolb.

Clement said many former chief executive officers of William Osler and Peel Memorial Hospital played key roles in this development. He also praised Fennell.

"She showed some pretty impressive civic leadership," he said.

He also had kind words for Smitherman for continuing with the plan.

"George Smitherman and I embraced one another," Clement said. "We did see eye to eye on the importance of this hospital being built."

He added Brampton Civic Hospital becomes a centre of innovation, electronic health records, technology and state-of-the-art equipment. He called it a remarkable partnership between the public and private sector.

Smitherman said this was a fantastic and much-needed facility, and everyone should be proud of this new public hospital. He called it the biggest hospital project in the history of Ontario.

"We seek to deliver better service to the people of this community," he said.

He extended thanks to the Chinguacousy Health Services Board, the William Osler Health centre board of directors, the Local Health Integration Network, the workers who built the hospital and the people of Brampton.

"Let this project stand as reason to bring more health care workers here," he said.

He believes the best days for health services in Brampton lay ahead.

"I share your passion, I share your enthusiasm," followed Duncan Glaholt, chair of the William Osler Health Centre board of directors. "This is a community achievement."

He called this one of the finest hospitals in the nation, adding it was built on budget and on time.

"Queen's Park has left a lasting legacy here in Brampton," he said.

He also acknowledged Peel regional council, which contributed $40 million to the hospital, and the Chinguacousy Health Services Board, which held the land for decades.

"Building a hospital is a mammoth task," Glaholt said. "This has been a tremendous exercise in teamwork. Let's not forget the workers."

He explained more than 3,000 men and women spent 6.6 million hours building the hospital.

The new facility will provide health services to more than one million people in Brampton, Caledon and the surrounding area, Glaholt said.