FERGUS – Officials with Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) and Centre Wellington Township have taken the next step to formalize the division of the former hospital lands in Fergus.
“Formalizing the legal title to the land will help both (parties) decide on future use,” stated Gilles Madore, GMCH board chair, in a Dec. 6 press release.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), first announced in late June, GMHC will retain ownership of the old Groves land fronting on Union Street East, including parking lots, while the township will assume ownership of the old Queen Street Medical building and current Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service building on Queen Street East.
“Centre Wellington is pleased to have signed a MOU with Groves Memorial Community Hospital to formalize the legal land titles,” stated Mayor Kelly Linton.
“While respecting Dr. Groves contributions to the community, the time is right for us to pursue the potential future community benefits of these lands.”
Officials note that sometime in 2022, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece will present the GMCH/Centre Wellington application to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for a Private Members’ Bill to amend the Groves Act to formalize the land ownership transfer. (Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott is not permitted to present the application in his current role as Speaker of the House.)
Previously GMCH officials stated the new Groves hospital will be the primary home for acute services, while the old Groves will be used for non-acute services, which may include opportunities to partner with other agencies to deliver a continuum of services.
The old Groves hospital site will remain with the Groves hospital corporation while Centre Wellington Township will take over the medical office (above) and ambulance centre (below) across the road on Queen Street East. The hospital and township signed a memorandum of agreement to transfer ownership of the lands. Advertiser file photos
