February 29, 2023 (Toronto) – Ontario Premier Doug Ford celebrated breaking ground on two new buildings at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) today, alongside key provincial government officials and other project stakeholders.
Premier Ford was joined by the Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, the Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, and the Hon. Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions at a special ceremony on CAMH’s site at the corner of Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue.
When complete, the new buildings will transform CAMH’s ability to provide care and carry out research. With the Discovery Centre, CAMH will gain a state-of-the-art facility where researchers can make new strides in their understanding of mental illness. The Secure Care and Recovery Building will provide a safe haven where some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients can recover with dignity.
Construction on the buildings is going ahead thanks to generous contributions from CAMH donors through the bold No One Left Behind campaign, alongside support from the Government of Ontario.
“The physical transformation of our Queen Street West site is turning what was once a walled institution into a symbol of hope for the future of mental health care,” said Sarah Downey, CAMH President and CEO. “With the construction of the Secure Care and Recovery Building and Discovery Centre, we will continue to provide the highest quality care to our most complex patients and accelerate research discoveries and developments that will improve the lives of those living with mental illness, because mental health is health.”
This is the fourth phase and final phase in two decades of redevelopment at CAMH. As well as improving care and creating hope, the work is addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness by breaking down the physical barriers that once separated CAMH from the community.
For more information about CAMH’s redevelopment plans, click here.
Quotes
“Today’s ground-breaking represents a significant milestone in our government’s plan to connect more people to high-quality mental health supports that meet their unique needs,” said Premier Doug Ford. “In Toronto and across the province, we're making historic investments to improve access to mental health and addiction services. Because mental health is health.”
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making record investments in hospital infrastructure, expanding hospital capacity across the province with shovels in the ground for over 50 new projects to connect people to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health. “The new and modernized facility at CAMH will continue to support mental health and addictions care for patients across Ontario.”
“Our government is focused on working collaboratively with our partners across the province to build a better Ontario. Through our historic investments and innovative approach to project delivery, we will continue getting shovels in the ground on the critical infrastructure needed for our communities to thrive,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Today’s groundbreaking is an important next step in connecting people struggling with mental health and addiction with the expert care they need to live safe, healthy, and productive lives. I look forward to continuing our work in expanding and improving the quality of services, filling gaps in care and removing barriers to access.”
“Our government understands the importance of investing in key infrastructure to ensure we have a world-class continuum of mental health and addictions care,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, “This redevelopment phase for two of CAMH’s facilities is another example of the unprecedented investments our government continues to make to increase capacity and improve access to critical mental health care for Ontarians.”
“PCL and our design and construction partners are excited to break ground on these two new buildings that will enable CAMH to further their mission of transforming mental health care and research in Canada and beyond,” said Myke Badry, Vice President and District Manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. “Congratulations to everyone involved in passionately championing and delivering CAMH’s vision for the fourth and final phase of this historic redevelopment.”
About the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
CAMH is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research centre in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental illness and addiction. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit camh.ca or follow @CAMHnews on Twitter.
Media Contact:
CAMH Media Relations
media@camh.ca
