The Rotary Club of Gravenhurst hosted a Town Hall meeting on July 16 at the Opera House to discuss the current healthcare situation and the future Health Hub in South Muskoka.

Bruce Hemphill, Rotarian and Fundraising Liaison Director, said Gravenhurst is at a “tipping point” regarding primary care access.

He said that over 6,000 residents – nearly half of the town’s 2021 population of 13,157 – lack a local primary care provider.

What do you want your primary experience to be like in South Muskoka?

For me, expand Dynacare services at their clinic in Gravenhurst to serve those of us who have CCFHT care providers in Bracebridge so we can get our lab work done here instead of driving to Bracebridge. For instance, the Gravenhurst clinic should provide service of accepting patient documents for Bracebridge.

With CFHT doctors already committing $100,000 and Rotary $50,000, Town of Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz is expected to announce its contribution of $200,000.

Organizers of the Hub are also seeking $200,000 each from the District of Muskoka and the Ministry of Health.

Initial plans are to renovate the ground floor and open new empty space on the second of the existing building to welcome new affiliated services.

Bruce Hemphill, a man known for his considerable community involvement, is the Town of Gravenhurst’s Senior of the Year.

Mayor Heidi Lorenz made the announcement at the Gravenhurst Opera House earlier today during the 41st annual Mayor’s Tea.

“On behalf of council, town staff, and everyone in Gravenhurst, I want to thank Bruce for his many contributions to our community,” Lorenz said in a town release this afternoon. “Bruce is a true gentleman who has worked so hard to make our town a better place for everyone.”

The chair of a project hoping to expand health-care services to south Muskoka is applauding a significant financial contribution by the Town of Gravenhurst.

“We were very excited about the support that Gravenhurst council gave the Gravenhurst Health Hub … they voted unanimously to pledge their $200,000 support for our project and further indicated that they were excited to see this project’s Phase 1 completed by the end of the year,” said Gravenhurst Health Hub chair Bruce Hemphill.

The Rotary Club of Gravenhurst and the Cottage Country Family Health team made a presentation to council, asking the town to partner with them to develop what they are calling the Gravenhurst Health Hub.

The hub would involve the development of the vacant second floor of the medical centre next door to the Gravenhurst municipal office.

The space would offer a variety of medical services.

Currently, the health team occupies the first floor of the medical centre.

A plan to open a new “Health Hub” here in a year looks well on its way.

The proposal would finally see the second floor of the Cottage Country Family Health Team’s clinic next to the town hall finished off by January 2026.

With a new doctor due there in June, the vision was well-received by the mayor and council this afternoon.