News Release – May 2nd, 2025
St. Francis Memorial Hospital Emergency Redevelopment project underway
The redevelopment project for the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and Ambulatory Care has begun.
“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 Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in a new and expanded St. Francis Memorial Hospital emergency department, 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.”
“We are extremely pleased with the progress to date,” said Suzanne Madore, President and CEO of SFMH. “This project promises to uphold the future of excellent health care in our community for decades to come.”
The project, awarded to M. Sullivan & Son Limited Construction will result in a new state of the art Emergency Department and redevelop existing hospital space for Ambulatory Care. M. Sullivan and Son Ltd. is an experienced builder with extensive related experience based out of Arnprior.
The project includes a 6,000 square foot addition (new emergency department) as well as 6,600 square feet of renovations to the first floor of the hospital. The plans for this project have been developed over many years, with the assistance of N45 Architecture, physicians, hospital staff and the Patient and Family Advisory Committee.
Once opened, the new state-of-the-art emergency department will include:
Kevin Quade, Chair of the SFMH Board of Directors expressed, “On behalf of our Board of Directors, I would like to thank: the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation, our generous donors, volunteers, patient and family advisors, hospital staff, physicians, and all those who have worked diligently for this day to come. 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.”
SFMH will continue to offer normal services throughout the duration of the project which is expected to take two years to complete. While SFMH will do it’s best to minimize interruptions, COO Greg McLeod notes there will be some minor modifications to the site at various stages of the project. “We will ensure new, bright signage is in place to assist with these changes”, says McLeod. SFMH is grateful for the support and understanding of the community as we work to complete this important project.
Redevelopment
Welcome To The New Emergency Department
The new St. Francis Memorial Hospital Emergency Department will be attached and connected to the existing hospital building, and will offer a dedicated, convenient entrance, with a separate waiting room. It is designed to improve each patient’s experience with more treatment rooms, barrier-free, walk-in entrances and enhanced infection control standards.
We will be continually updating this page with new information, photos, and details as planning continues and construction gets underway.
Background Information
The Process
The process of planning and construction will take several years, and we will keep you informed every step of the way.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has a five-stage planning process:
Outlines the functions, operations, staffing, major equipment, funding and space requirements for the new space.
Pre-construction phase where detailed drawings and contract documents for tender are drafted and approved
Approval to award tender and begin construction.
