It was a monumental day in Campbellford as the Trent Hills and hospital community gathered alongside politicians – including Premier Doug Ford – to officially mark the start of a new chapter for Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH.)
As previously reported, the vision to bring to life a new CMH and campus of care has been years in the making, and on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the community heard more details about a provincial planning grant included in the 2025 Ontario budget and how it will help bring this vision closer to reality.
That was Ford, who said this is part of the government’s nearly $60-billion plan to help build and upgrade more than 50 hospitals across the province.
“Today’s announcement is a major step toward delivering a new state-of-the-art Campbellford Memorial Hospital that will be transformational for the people of Trent Hills and across the region,” he said.
The $60-million is supposed to flow over the course of a decade and translate to roughly 3,000 new hospital beds, according to provincial reports.
As previously reported after last week’s budget announcement, the grant will help with early planning for redevelopment of a new hospital, with the ultimate goal being to connect more people and families in the Trent Hills area, as well as others across Northumberland, Peterborough and Hastings counties, with high-quality care close to home.
The proposed new site is in the County Road 30 area, just west of Campbellford, on a 48-acre piece of land donated by local farmer Jim Curle.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini – who campaigned on advancing a new hospital for the community in the 2025 election – gave thanks to many partners Wednesday who’ve stepped up over the years to champion the project to its current stage.
“This is a monumental day for our community as we take an idea we’ve all so passionately supported and turn it into reality,” said Piccini. “This is a promise made, and a promise kept to the people of Trent Hills and the surrounding area.
“This will not just bring a new hospital to our community, but a ‘campus of care’ that will care for our community and the surrounding region for decades to come.”
As advocates gathered out front of CMH Wednesday, attendees heard plans for “a new state-of-the-art facility,” which will help attract and retain quality professionals, address ER wait-times, expand primary care and hospital services, alleviate pressures on nearby hospitals, create jobs – and not just during construction – and ultimately ensure CMH can continue to meet the needs of a growing and aging population.
While it will take years still for the project to fully come to fruition, once opened, the hospital will include a modernized emergency department and new in-patient medical wing, increased capacity, enhanced infection prevention and control measures, as well as the new campus of care, to name a few of the benefits.
In terms of next steps, the Ministry of Health is reportedly working with CMH on the early planning, which includes determining bed numbers and square footage. Currently, CMH is a 38-bed facility with about 40,000 residents across the region accessing its services.
“Today is not just the start of a new chapter – it’s the result of years of steadfast work, persistent advocacy, and staunch belief in a future of excellent and modern healthcare in our region …” echoed Carrie Hayward, CMH board chair, while delivering remarks and thanks to the government and supporters.
Hayward also acknowledged there’s much work still to come.
Meanwhile, CMH President and CEO Jeff Hohenkerk said the approval of this grant represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” and touched on how a modern, rural integrated health-care campus will benefit the region.
Hohenkerk said the vision includes a site that encompasses emergency services, day surgery, primary and long-term care (128 reported LTC beds), affordable housing (possibly 50 units), assisted living, as well as community care, mental health and aging-at-home supports.
“We are immensely grateful to the Ministry of Health, MPP David Piccini and the Curle family for helping make this vision possible,” added Hohenkerk.
CMH was originally built in 1953.
Martha Hunt, CMH Foundation chair, called this redevelopment more than just a project, saying it’s an investment in the health of future generations.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)