Isabel Mosseler
Tribune
It was four years in the making and finally, on April 9, the West Nipissing Community Health Centre proudly welcomed guests, community partners and clients to their newly renovated and expanded space at the Michaud Street location. The new space includes a professional kitchen and several new multi-purpose rooms that will help the health centre expand their services, including the very popular Oasis program geared towards local seniors. One of the main partners in this development is the Alzheimer Society for Sudbury, Manitoulin and North Bay, who will now have dedicated programming space for their clients at the site.
Renée Vaillancourt, Director of the Community Health Program, MC’d the event to show off the new space. “Today is a great day as we celebrate this exciting milestone,” she beamed, standing in for Director Guy Robichaud, who had a family emergency and could not attend. Vaillancourt noted the leadership role Robichaud played in accomplishing the expansion and read from a prepared statement: “Today we’re finally unveiling our new space. I say finally because we started working on this project about four years ago and then COVID got in the way, a little bit. The number of programs and participation in our programs have been growing steadily since the health centre opened its doors. That’s good, but it came with challenges such as increased demand for the limited space. That resulted in wait lists for some of our programs, a lack of space for additional activities, and our inability to offer more time to existing groups and activities.”
The expansion will allow not only for new activities but will open up more spots for existing programs. Vaillancourt noted that the new rooms are large, allowing for considerably larger events and programs. “Our aim is to serve as many people as we can.” She made special mention of the municipal involvement by key personnel, CAO Jay Barbeau, Stephan Poulin and Johnny Bélanger, as well as present and past town councils. The building, formerly Frank Casey Public School, is owned by the municipality and leased to the health centre, so all building improvements had to go through the town.
Dan Roveda, CHC Board chair, made note of all the volunteers, including board members, who contributed. “You know, they’re volunteers, they don’t get paid (…). They do it from the bottom of their heart.” He asked all those board members present to stand up so they could be acknowledged. “It’s been a long haul (…) We’ve made it.” He added that the partnership with the Alzheimers Society will be of great service to the community. “I think that our community is at a stage where we do need that. There is no real [dementia] program, 24/7, in the community that provides respite for people in that situation.”
West Nipissing Mayor Kathleen Thorne Rochon also highlighted the community partnerships that made the expansion possible. She noted that she herself was an early client of the facility. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be a client here at the health centre since its inception and it’s been so inspirational to watch the transformation from medical clinic to true community wellness and health that has happened over the past 14 years. The space you see here represents a $1.5 million investment directly into the well-being of our residents. Many may not realize this, but the building we are standing in is actually a municipally-owned asset, and the cooperation between the municipality and Centre de santé is a great example of people and organizations working collaboratively to make big differences in the community, such a great impact on so many people,” she lauded.
Nipissing First Nation (NFN) Chief Scott McLeod Shabogesic addressed the 120-140 attendees by introducing himself in Anishinabemowin, “I always feel it very important for me to speak my language, my first language, when I come anywhere, because in our culture that’s how we wake up our ancestors and have them listen to what we have to say.” He noted his school years in the former Frank Casey Public School, “It brings back memories. Forty-six years ago, I graduated in this room (auditorium).” He also pointed to the stage, remarking when he was in the Christmas play, and mentioned his father also attended the old school. “There’s a lot of history here.”