FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A new, more accessible downtown primary care clinic will form the foundation of a new four-storey building that is the key to the Winnipeg Health Region’s plan to relocate some programs and services to the corner of Main Street and Logan Avenue.

“This is good news for some of our community staff who are currently working in inadequate spaces,” Dr. Brian Postl, President and CEO of the WRHA, said. “It’s also good news for area residents who will have increased accessibility to the services that will be offered there and it’s good news for the area itself which needs a project like this to kick start its revitalization.”

“A very important part of a healthy lifestyle is having healthy communities. We think this project will very much contribute to the health of the area residents and to the vitality of the entire community. It’s a very exciting project and we were very pleased to partner with CentureVenture on it.”

The decision to move forward with the plan is the successful conclusion to months of collaboration with CentreVenture Development Corporation who assembled the land on Main Street and facilitated the selection process for the chosen landlord/developer, The Resolve Group, together with the WRHA.

“This project with the WRHA is the most significant development to take place on Main Street in the last fifty years,” Ross McGowan, President and CEO of CentreVenture said. “This is just the first phase in CentreVenture’s redevelopment strategy for the North Main area and we congratulate the WRHA for this bold initiative.”

“The WRHA will be a tremendous asset to our downtown and is another vital piece in the revitalization of the heart of our city,” said Mayor Katz. “I applaud CentreVenture for making this possible and building on our momentum. I look forward to more exciting projects in the future.”

The first two floors of the new building will house a clinic and will consolidate many services currently offered in the Downtown East Community Area, including Family Services and Housing and Homecare.

“The vision is to have an integrated Community Area Office that meets the needs of both the staff and the community,” Gerry Schmidt spokesperson for Family Services and Housing, said.

The remaining two floors will house the WRHA head office staff Dr. Postl said, adding he expects some staff to start moving in by the summer of 2009.