A coalition of public and indigenous health services is buying the Ramada Inn in Timmins and converting it into what it calls a “Wellness Centre of Excellence.”
It will have 100 spaces for anyone from across the Cochrane District needing treatment for mental health and drug abuse issues.
Jean Carriere, the health director for the Cochrane District Services Board has been seconded to oversee the transition.
“Over the past eight months,” he told a news conference, “our lead organizations have been working diligently on this transformative project, which is designated to provide comprehensive mental health and addiction services within a supportive housing setting.”
“The facility itself has an excellent design,” he continues, “to enhance the wellbeing and recovery of our loved ones. It features a private courtyard, kitchen, dining facilities, meeting and training rooms and even the potential for further development within the ballroom and surrounding land.”
CDSB executive director Brian Marks makes it clear that the Living Space emergency shelter for homeless will not close; neither will the new facility provide supervised drug use, or supply harm reduction supplies.
Target date to open the new centre is early next year.
