ALLISTON, Ont. — Stevenson Memorial Hospital in this town about 80 kilometres north of Toronto received $174 million in funding from the province for major renovations geared at meeting the needs of the town's growing population.
The renovation is part of the provincial government's plan to provide about $60 billion to more than 50 hospitals across the province over the next decade.
The hospital at 200 Fletcher Cres. was built in 1928, and the last major renovation was in 1964. The goal for the hospital's renovation is to connect more families in the surrounding communities to higher-quality health care.
Alliston Mayor Richard Norcross said the hospital was designed for 6,500 people, and “we're sitting at a population of 45,000.
“We've been designated a growth zone by the province,” he said. "We have aging infrastructure that's not designed to handle the growth we're receiving, so it’s definitely time.”
According to the hospital's website, the renovation is expected to double the size of the hospital, with the emergency department planned to triple in size. Gardens, green spaces, and expanded parking are also included in the project.
The hospital's website states that critical areas set for expansion include a surgical suite, laboratories, inpatient units, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, and medical device reprocessing.
The project will also add a new floor exclusively for birthing units that will make it easier for expecting mothers like Alliston resident Sheila Marino.
Marino, who had a high-risk pregnancy, said she wanted to give birth to her twins closer to home.
"Stevenson is a Level 1 hospital, they weren't prepared for my situation," she said. "They didn't even have a pediatrician for me."
Level 1 hospitals are not equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies. High-risk pregnancies are transferred to Level 3 regional centres.
Marino gave birth to twin boys at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont., a Level 3 regional healthcare centre, about 50 kilometres from Alliston.
"I would have been glad to give birth near home,” she said. “It would have saved a lot of stress."
Alliston residents who travel outside of town regularly with family members for healthcare say the renovation will make it easier to access healthcare locally.
John Shoy, who frequently accompanies his wife to appointments, said the renovations could save them travelling to another facility about two hours away.
“My wife had a heart attack last May, so if she can get the same care at our local hospital, I’d rather have these services closer to home,” he said.
Construction is expected to start in early 2026 and be done by late 2028. Canadian construction company Pomerleau Inc. has been awarded the construction contract for phase one of the project.
