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Government of Ontario Announces Investment in PTSI Centre of Excellence

March 24, 2023

We are thrilled to announce Runnymede Health Centre is receiving a significant investment of $9.6 million from the Ford Government through the 2023 Budget. This commitment will enable us to forge ahead with the development of Canada's first fully dedicated Centre of Excellence, providing First Responders and frontline health workers with the mental health and wellness solutions they need.

Ontario’s First Responders are our everyday heroes. This includes Police Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics, Nurses, Physicians, Personal Support Workers, and Correctional Officers.

Thanks to the leadership of Premier Ford, and his government, this Centre is fast becoming a reality. It will comprise of two new state-of-the-art facilities, Station 3434 in Toronto and the Caledon Wellness Centre, situated on a beautiful 26-acre forested site in the Region of Peel. Recognizing the need for this one-of-a-kind facility, the Region of Peel allocated this expansive site as the future home of the Caledon Wellness Centre. These facilities will provide First Responders with access to a full spectrum of care designed just for them, from assessment and diagnosis to prevention, treatment, post-treatment, and return-to-work services.

As part of the PTSI Centre of Excellence, Runnymede Healthcare Centre will launch a digital platform that ensures virtual services are accessible for every First Responder across Ontario.

Led by our President and CEO, Connie Dejak, we are proud to be breaking barriers and forging new paths for PTSI rehabilitative care that will not only support First Responders who sacrifice so much for the benefit of our communities, but also their families. And we have done so in partnerships with First Responder Commands and Associations and health stakeholders across Ontario to ensure we are developing a comprehensive, evidenced-based PTSI program.

From day one, the Ford government has stood behind our commitment to build an environment where Ontario's First Responders and their families are given the support they need to heal and thrive.

We will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health to further refine our programs and services and ensure that they remain accessible for all those who need them.

As Runnymede Healthcare Centre moves toward construction, our next steps will be to complete necessary engineering and environmental studies, preparing design development, and acquiring municipal approvals.

We are on track to get shovels in the ground in 2024.

Now is the time to invest in the health of our communities – and there couldn’t be a greater opportunity to do that than through supporting the very people who keep our communities safe. In the near future, Runnymede Healthcare Centre will be launching a fundraising campaign to ensure we keep up the great momentum. To learn more about how you can support, please get in touch with us at media.relations@runnymedehc.ca

On behalf of everyone at Runnymede Healthcare Centre, as well as the thousands of dedicated First Responders across the province and their families, we extend our deepest gratitude to Premier Ford, and his entire government for their unwavering support and tireless advocacy. Together, we are making a difference and helping First Responders get back to work and back to life. Serving those who have proudly served us.