Biggar Celebrates Health Centre Grand Opening

Released on October 30, 2015

Health care workers, patients, families and residents gathered today in Biggar to celebrate the grand opening of the Biggar and District Health Centre which includes a 54 bed long-term care addition.  Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit and Biggar MLA Randy Weekes joined in the celebration.

“The Biggar and District Health Centre is an example of our government’s efforts to improve health infrastructure in our province,” Ottenbreit said.  “We are thrilled to officially unveil this state-of-the-art facility that will provide the people of their communities with better care for years to come.”

The facility, formerly known as the Biggar Hospital, was renamed the Biggar and District Health Centre after building an addition to accommodate 54 long-term care beds.  The long-term care addition replaced the Biggar Diamond Lodge Nursing Home.

“I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Biggar and District Health Services Foundation, the Town of Biggar and area municipalities who helped make this project become a reality,” Weekes said.  “Their individual and collective efforts have resulted in a completed project of which we are all very proud.”

"The advisory committee, fundraisers, volunteers and health care workers from Biggar and the surrounding RMs really stepped up and came together with health care decision-makers and workers to design, build and staff this this amazing facility and I really admire their collaboration,” Heartland Health Region Board Chair Richard Anderson said.

The provincial government contributed $18.3 million toward the project, which represents 80 per cent of total project costs.  Local funding covered the remaining 20 per cent.

“A big thank you goes to the citizens of the Town of Biggar, RM of Biggar, RM of Grandview, RM of Rosemount and the Village of Landis for their significant financial contribution in building this new long-term care facility,” Biggar Mayor Ray Sadler said.  “I appreciate the current government’s recognition of the need for improved services for residents requiring long-term care and making it a reality today.”

“I commend the foresight of the provincial government and our urban and rural municipalities for providing funding to build this great new long-term care facility,” Biggar and District Health Services Foundation Chair Gene Motruk said.  “Thank you to our urban and rural citizens, businesses and corporations for their generous contributions that made this project a success.  And, finally, I wish to thank all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to raise funds for new furnishing and equipment.”

In February 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan announced the replacement of 13 long-term care facilities in the province.  The Biggar and District Health Centre is one of eleven projects completed, with one in the construction phase in Kelvington and one in the planning phase in Meadow Lake.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca

LeAnne Paproski
Heartland Health Region
Rosetown
Phone: 306-831-6212