September 8, 2008

Healthcare Infrastructure

Funding finally in place to finish top floor of Calgary health centre

Richard Gilbert

staff writer

A health centre in the heart of Calgary is receiving a fresh capital injection from the provincial government to complete construction and boost accessibility to family doctors.

The Alberta government announced that it is investing $5.1 million to complete the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary.

The centre opened earlier this year in response to the growing healthcare needs of the downtown population.

It was reported that the Calgary Health Region ran short of cash because of construction cost escalation and the eighth floor wasn’t finished.

However, the health authority refutes this claim.

“We originally had funds for eight floors,” said Erin Marteniuk, spokesperson for the Calgary Health Region.

“The eighth floor was never (fully) funded in the first place. They have a structure, but are ready for further development. So, it’s just a shell.”

The original capital funding from Alberta Health for the project was $90 million, which was provided to the Calgary Health Region in the 2008-09 Health and Wellness budget.

The province is providing the additional money, so the eighth floor of the centre can be finished.

According to Marteniuk, the health authority is still reviewing different proposals from design companies and have not yet awarded a contract.

The 300,000 square foot centre includes a 438-stall underground parkade and is located on the site of the old Colonel Belcher Hospital.

Construction is expected to be completed in the summer of 2009.

When completed, the eighth floor will be a health clinic where people living in downtown Calgary will be able to see 18 to 20 family doctors.

The authority expects about 65,000 patients – 178 per day – will be seen during the first year of operation.

The centre was named after the late Sheldon M. Chumir, a tax lawyer, philanthropist and Liberal MLA for Calgary Buffalo.

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