$1.1 million kick starts Minnedosa medical clinic campaign
- Details
- Published on Thursday, June 2, 2016
By Vern May
Economic Development Officer, Minnedosa
The conversation began as an inquiry about what Minnedosa can do to attract and retain doctors in order to meet the needs of the growing population in our region. What has resulted is the launch of a progressive capital project to upgrade and expand our local clinic with an eye on more aggressive recruitment in the coming years.
The committee steering the effort, under chairperson Wayne Currah, has already done a great deal of work to procure the land directly west of the Minnedosa hospital and secure some early funding through both municipal partnerships as well as local service clubs and some early private donations. Municipally, the Town of Minnedosa, R.M. of Minto-Odanah, R.M. of Oakview and the R.M. of Harrison-Park have stepped to the plate to collectively commit close to $1 million to the project.
Additional support, amounting to $275,000, has already been confirmed through local service clubs and agencies. This includes the Minnedosa Legion, the Minnedosa & District Health Foundation, the Minnedosa Rotary Club and the Minnedosa & District Foundation.
The public is welcomed to take their first look at the design of the building on June 15 at 7:00 pm at the Minnedosa Community Conference Centre when the plans will be shared at an open community information evening. It is hoped that the builders will be given the green light on the project by November and that shovels will be in the ground to commence construction by April 2017. However, the firm timeline will be determined once the public fundraising component has been completed. Once construction begins, the campaign for doctor recruitment will begin to play a more active role in the project.
The building will be a community-owned non-profit facility similar to what has been established in Neepawa. Active fundraising for the $720,000 remaining to move the project forward is currently in progress. Watch for an official website to be created in the coming weeks for updates and information on the project and committee’s efforts. In the meantime, those wishing to make a donation can reach the committee by mail at: Minnedosa Primary Care Centre, P.O. Box 985, Minnedosa, MB, R0J 1E0. Alternatively, personal and business donations can be dropped off at the Minnedosa Credit Union, the Minnedosa MNP, or the Minnedosa Town Office.
