Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene Announces New Board Chair
Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene
Le Centre de santé mentale de Penetanguishene
500 Church Street, Penetanguishene ON L9M 1G3
500, rue Church, Penetanguishene (On) L9M 1G3
MEDIA RELEASE
June 30, 2010
New Chair of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene
well versed in region’s Mental Health issues
Penetanguishene ON Recognizing his past leadership experience of the Central East Region Mental Health Implementation Task Force, John McCullough’s nomination for Board Chair of the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene was unanimously approved June 29, 2010.
Mr. McCullough was appointed to the MHCP Board of Directors in 2008 and was subsequently elected as Vice-Chair in June of 2009. He came to the board with vast experience in board governance as the former Chair of the Board of Governors for Georgian College and the founding Chair of the Simcoe County Board of Education. He is currently employed as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Parole Board.
“We have a strong and committed board at MHCP backed by highly dedicated and experienced staff. Joining the board and now assuming the Chair position allows me to put my volunteer efforts into a cause close to my heart,” said Mr. McCullough. “I have been immersed in regional and forensics mental health for the last ten years and know the excellent work MHCP has been doing in leading treatment and patient care. We are moving forward with a progressive strategic plan that’s built on the organization’s solid hundred year history and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Mr. McCullough replaces retiring Chair John Barrett-Hamilton who was recognized for his outstanding contributions to MHCP governance leadership following divestment to a public hospital in December 2008.
“We will miss John’s (Barrett-Hamilton) strategic leadership and outstanding communications efforts in championing the work of the Mental Health Centre and our staff in changing lives. He was able to recruit a well experienced board dedicated to Catholic health care to ensure MHCP was off to a great start as a newly incorporated public hospital following divestment,” noted Carol Lambie, President and CEO. “We are also extremely pleased that John McCullough was willing to take over the Chair position as he brings so many valuable experiences in board leadership, education, health care and mental health to MHCP.”
MHCP also recognized the contributions of retiring board member Betty Coyne-Dubeau and elected Roger Robitaille to the board. Roger is a past board member of the former Huronia District Hospital. He is a Francophone and a long-term senior employee of the Township of Tiny.
-end-
For more information please contact:
Laurene Hilderley-Sibley
Director, Communications and Fund Development
Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene
705 549-3181
Lhilderley-sibley@mhcp.on.ca
Core Value Awards - Call for Nominations
Nominate an individual, project team or care team for a
Core Value Award
Honour and recognize your peers for their
exceptional work, service, achievements
and contributions throughout the year as demonstrated by their behaviours
consistent with MHCP values
Deadline for Nominations:
July 30, 2010
Nomination Package and Guidelines
Team Nomination Form
Hard Copies are available from
Joan Lemieux
Clinical Information Services
705-549-3181, ext. 2260
jlemieux@mhcp.on.ca
Site Preparation Begins for New Forensic Hospital
The start of site preparation work for a major new forensics hospital wing and addition to the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene was celebrated on Canada Health Day, May 12, 2010. The event included the unveiling of a large billboard sign launching the partnership with Infrastructure Ontario. Joining in the festivities were from left: Carol Lambie, President and CEO, Doug Leroux, Deputy Mayor of Penetanguishene, Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop, Penetanguishene Councillor, Anne Murphy, MHCP Board Chair John Barrett-Hamilton, Penetanguishene Councillor Jim Martin, Mayor Anita Dubeau and Dr. Brian Jones, Vice-President of the hospital's Forensics Programs.
Site Preparation Begins for New Forensic Hospital and Major Addition to Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene
Modern medical environment will replace correctional setting
Practicing 21st century medicine in a 1930’s building that feels more like a jail then a hospital will soon be a thing of the past in Penetanguishene.
Canada Health Day, May 12, 2010, marked the official launch of site preparation work for a major addition to the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (MHCP) that includes a new, state-of-the-art forensic mental health hospital to replace the current Oak Ridge facility.
“The board of the directors of the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene are proud to be part of an organization that has brought healing and light to the lives of people with mental illness for 100 years,” said John Barrett-Hamilton, Chair of the Board. “Mental health is a huge concern in our society with one in five or more people affected. The dedicated staff who provide excellence here are now seeing a dream come true for a modern environment to treat and care for people.”
MHCP Oak Ridge facility provides the province’s only maximum security 160-bed hospital treating people with mental disorders who have come into conflict with the justice system.
“Oak Ridge has always been an ugly building,” noted Dr. Russell Fleming, Psychiatrist-in-Chief for the centre who arrived in January 1974. “I suppose in time one may get used to concrete walls, clanging steel doors and long overly narrow corridors. Very early in my tenure here I realized what a challenge it was to do modern clinical work in what felt like a 19th century prison.”
Dr. Fleming was speaking to a group of 150 MHCP staff and volunteers, community partners and government officials at a special sign unveiling event held to officially launch of the early works phase of this major redevelopment plan. The celebration included a blessing for the future services that will be provided to the mental health community in this new environment and a prayer for the safety of the workers involved in the project by Rev. Dr. Glenn Robitaille, Director of Spiritual Services. A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a large billboard sign on the property announcing the partnership for the project with Infrastructure Ontario.
The early works phase includes replacement of the existing transportation and trades buildings with a new Environmental Services building. An addition to one of the housing residences on the property used by medical staff and residents will also be completed. An existing residence and the current transportation garage and trades building will be torn down to prepare the area for the new building. Al Langman Construction (1998) Inc. is the successful contractor and already beginning this work to move the major building project one step closer.
As well as being a modern forensic mental health hospital, the redevelopment will include a new central entrance, gymnasium, pool and conference rooms for patients, staff and community use, as well as space for volunteer services, a new cafeteria, education services and spiritual services departments. It will join the administration building and the Toanche six floor building that serves patients from the region needing a variety of interventions, treatment and recovery programs for mental and addiction concerns.
“We also have some of the province’s and the world’s best and brightest professionals here who will soon have access to the most modern in hospital environments. It will also help us continue to recruit others who have dedicated their careers to supporting a segment of our population’s most vulnerable people,” said Dr. Brian Jones, Vice President of the Forensics Division. “The new hospital will achieve optimal patient care and treatment in an innovative residential, not correctional, design.”
Dr. Jones also shared that the new building will be the size of a small shopping mall and integrates the existing complex. No longer will meals and supplies need to be driven to Oak Ridge or the Regional Forensics program building that is being consolidated in the new building. Everyone, including staff, visitors and the community will be welcomed into a new safe, secure, accessible and healthy environment.
“Today’s event marks another step forward to improving health services for individuals with mental illness in Ontario. This new state-of-the-art hospital will benefit this community for generations to come,” said the Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in a news release.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with MHCP to build the hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects – ensuring they are built on time and on budget.
Carol Lambie, President and CEO closed the Canada Health Day event sharing the hospital's new vision: As an inspired organization we will change lives by leading the advancement and delivery of compassionate care. MHCP is also setting high goals in corporate performance, building strong partnerships and growing its research and academic programs. This new project, she said, embodies MHCP's plan to provide services that foster healing and hope.
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