Ontario Breaks Ground on $18.6M Emergency Department Expansion in Renfrew County
Barry’s Bay, ON — The Ontario government has officially broken ground on a major expansion of St. Francis Memorial Hospital’s emergency department — a transformative $18.6 million investment aimed at modernizing health care access in Renfrew County and surrounding areas.
Announced by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, the project marks the largest redevelopment in the hospital’s history and includes the addition of approximately 6,000 square feet to the existing facility. The hospital’s ambulatory care clinic will also be renovated as part of the plan.
“Our government is protecting Ontario’s health care system and ensuring that more people in Renfrew County can connect to convenient emergency care, where and when they need it most,” said Minister Jones. “We are making it faster and easier for more people and their families to access high-quality emergency and ambulatory care in their community, for years to come.”
The new emergency department will include upgraded trauma response areas, improved infection prevention systems, a quiet room for mental health patients and families, and a dedicated isolation room designed to prevent the spread of airborne diseases. A redesigned ambulance entrance and a separate emergency waiting room are also part of the plans to improve patient flow and privacy.
MPP Billy Denault (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke) welcomed the development, calling it “another example of our government’s commitment to protecting Ontario’s health care and connecting people where it matters most.”
Construction is expected to be completed by March 2027. The hospital will maintain 24/7 access to emergency services during the build.
“The SFMH ED redevelopment project will ensure that high quality, emergency services are provided for decades to come,” said Suzanne Madore, President and CEO of St. Francis Memorial Hospital. “This project supports the hospital vision to be a leader in health services that are patient centred, integrated and responsive to rural community health needs.”
Located in Barry’s Bay, St. Francis Memorial Hospital is a 20-bed facility that serves over 10,000 residents across Renfrew County, South Algonquin Township, and Algonquin Park. It is the only emergency department between Pembroke and Huntsville, handling over 11,000 emergency visits and more than 6,000 ambulatory visits each year.
The expansion is part of Ontario’s broader “Your Health” plan, which includes over 50 hospital infrastructure projects and nearly $50 billion in health care capital investments over the next decade.
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