A proposed medical centre in East Ferris will have space to lease and the municipality is actively looking for complementary businesses interested in the opportunity.
“The goal is to gauge the demand for leasing space to determine the feasibility of proceeding with the development of a medical centre facility,” states a nine-page document seeking ‘Expressions of Interest’ before 1 p.m. February 26. “The Municipality of East Ferris is seeking medical professionals, corporations, and/or business owners who provide complementary services including pharmacy services.”
Published Friday, background information about the municipality and the need for more medical services for a population approaching 5,000 residents is shared.
The location being investigated is 649 Astorville Road, near the intersection of Big Moose Road and Corbeil-Astorville Road, but the development may end up at a different location.
“Increasingly, East Ferris residents have been calling for more health services closer to home,” the document states. A 2015 survey that flowed from a community town hall forum led by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit identified the need. The topic surfaced again during the 2018 municipal election.
A Strategic Plan was developed in 2019 which included direction to explore how the need for more medical services could be addressed.
According to Census Canada, in 2011, 38 per cent of East Ferris’ population was aged 50+ and by 2016, it had increased to 47 per cent. Most seniors in East Ferris reside in single-family homes.
Community seniors housing organizations are also adding to the call for more locally available health services. Senior Villa of East Ferris provides lodging to approximately 50 seniors within 28 units, and Nipissing Manor has 120 long-term care beds and 20 retirement units.
East Ferris is also attracting young families resulting in a growing number of residents under the age of 14, the documents state.
Dave Dale is a Local Journalism Reporter with BayToday.ca. LJI is funded by the Government of Canada.
