Mississauga, Canada’s sixth-largest city with a population of more than 600,000, is finally getting its first residential hospice palliative-care centre.

Trillium Health Partners and Heart House Hospice announced Tuesday that a new health centre will be built in Mississauga with 220 long-term care beds, and a hospice centre that includes 10 residential beds and space for community-based hospice programs.

It’s hard to believe that a city as big as Mississauga doesn’t have its own hospice centre, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said during an announcement on the future home of the facility, in the Sheridan Park Corporate Centre.

“This announcement changes all that,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s minister of long-term care, said the new health centre and hospice are part of the province’s commitment to end hallway medicine and create 15,000 new long-term care beds in Ontario over five years.

“There is a very clear need,” said Michelle DiEmanuele, THP president and CEO. “I am exceptionally excited today.”

DiEmanuele said Mississauga has 20 per cent fewer long-term care beds per capita than the provincial average. And as of August, more than 4,560 people were waiting for a bed in a long-term care home in the city.

“This has been years in the making,” said Mississauga Ward 2 Coun. Karen Ras, who was involved in bringing the centre to the area.

“It’s something that is so needed in the community.”

Ras said THP looked at a number of properties in Mississauga that fell through, until finding a location at 2210 Speakman Dr. Mississauga is a city that’s built out, and there weren’t many places big enough to build the health centre, Ras said.

DiEmanuele said the final drawings for the health centre have not been approved and the final cost of the facility has yet to be determined.

Before construction can begin, DiEmanuele said, the area will have to be rezoned, which should take seven months to a year to complete. Initial construction will begin with the hospice. Future development will be phased in to deliver services, including seniors’ day programs, family and specialist physician offices, and independent living supports.

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Based in Mississauga, Heart House Hospice has been providing support, counselling and advocacy programs for nearly 35 years. The volunteer-based organization supports more than 1,200 people living with a life-limiting illness each year.

“This is a great Christmas present,” said its board chair, Karen Priest.

Marta Marychuk is a reporter with the Brampton Guardian. Reach her via email: mmarychuk@metroland.com

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