Site Selection Process for a Proposed New Joint Hospital

A new acute care hospital is a key part of our proposal to build the future of care for Waterloo Region and beyond.

We’ve begun the process to identify a preferred site in Kitchener-Waterloo to accommodate a new hospital that will continue meeting the health care needs of our community for decades to come.

Where We Are Now

Draft Site Selection Criteria

The Site Selection Panel has developed a draft set of criteria to be used to assess potential sites. There are some key factors we know must be looked at in selecting a site, such as the size of the property, proximity to industrial uses that might disrupt a hospital or distance to major roadways.

The site selection criteria must include the perspectives of the people who live in Waterloo Region. The purpose of the engagement process is to get the community’s feedback on what is important when considering a site for a new hospital.

Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital are committed to Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation, recognition of their history on the lands within Waterloo Region. For that reason, in addition to broad-reaching community consultation, our engagement on these criteria has a special focus on speaking with Indigenous communities to understand the criteria important to them for locating the proposed new hospital.

Mandatory Criteria

Mandatory criteria are features that all potential sites must have in order to move forward in the process.

  • Contain a minimum of 50 acres of contiguous land and be comprised of lands that have sufficient frontage and depth that are suitable for the development of a hospital.
  • Must align with the service delivery model the hospitals have put forward to the Ministry of Health.
  • Proponent must be a person or entity with the ability to execute a transaction to convey the proposed land.
  • Be free of natural topographic and soil conditions, including, water features, flood plains, landforms, or conservation designations that would limit the suitability of land for a hospital.
  • Be serviced, or serviceable in a suitable term, by natural gas, electricity, Regional water, Regional wastewater, and communications infrastructure. If not currently serviced, a clear timeline for servicing must be presented.
  • Have attributes that allow for the creation of a heliport that meets the requirements of Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) 2019 1, Standard 325.
  • Contain no known heritage or archaeological features that would pose impediments to development.
  • Not adjacent to incompatible industrial uses or railway corridors.

Evaluated Criteria

Informed by the feedback from hospital teams, municipalities, subject matter experts, and the community, evaluated criteria are additional features that will be considered and weighted in the evaluation of sites.

  • Proximity to other health care services.
  • Presence of environmental contaminants, and specifically any that would require remediation.
  • Total cost(s) (e.g. land acquisition cost, costs for any environmental mitigation, site servicing, etc.)
  • Proximity to major roadways and highways.
  • Service/ease of access via public transit.
  • Official Plan/Zoning to permit public use, such as a hospital, or ease of rezoning within an acceptable timeline.
  • Convenience for current and anticipated patient, family, learners, innovation partners, and staff travel/access.
  • Positive site features that enhance patient and staff experience of the health care facility and contribute to the hospitals’ goal of building a stronger and healthier community, such as access to nature, views, natural light, and prevailing winds.
  • Existing use of the site and environmental impact as a Greenfield (no pre-existing building or site services) or as a Brownfield (existing building or site services).
  • How the site contributes to the proposed hospital connecting with the Kitchener/Waterloo technology community and enabling the hospital to act as a catalyst for innovation.
  • Value-added components (land size, transaction complexity, partnerships, etc.).

The Role of the Site Selection Panel

A project steering committee of the hospitals’ boards – The Building the Future of Care Together (BFCT) Committee – is responsible for overseeing the site selection project and the panel. Both the BFCT Committee and the Site Selection Panel include residents of the Kitchener-Waterloo community. This steering committee reports into the boards of both hospitals and St. Joseph’s Health System.

The panel is made up of skilled professionals who will be leading the efforts to identify a preferred site for the proposed new joint hospital. The panel will be leading an arms-length, independent, and well-communicated process, and bring expertise in a variety of areas instrumental in evaluating land to determine a preferred site.

The Panel is expected to recommend a preferred site by 2024.

Learn more about the Site Selection Panel here.

The Role of the Site Selection Panel

  • A project steering committee of the hospitals’ boards – The Building the Future of Care Together (BFCT) Committee – is responsible for overseeing the site selection project and the panel. Both the BFCT Committee and the Site Selection Panel include residents of the Kitchener-Waterloo community. This steering committee reports into the boards of both hospitals and St. Joseph’s Health System.

  • The panel is made up of skilled professionals who will be leading the efforts to identify a preferred site for the proposed new joint hospital. The panel will be leading an arms-length, independent, and well-communicated process, and bring expertise in a variety of areas instrumental in evaluating land to determine a preferred site.

  • The Panel is expected to recommend a preferred site by 2024.

  • Learn more about the Site Selection Panel here.

What Happens Next?

  • The panel is gathering feedback from experts and the community on draft criteria for evaluating potential sites for a new hospital.
  • The BFCT Committee and the Boards of each hospital will, later this summer, review and approve the final criteria to be used to evaluate potential sites.
  • Hospital teams, partners, municipalities, subject matter experts and the broader community are encouraged to provide input as part of the site selection process. More information is available here.

Our Commitment to Transparency

The Site Selection Panel will follow a clear, transparent, and well-communicated process for evaluating all potential sites. To help meet this goal, the process is being supported by an independent Fairness Advisor.

In part, the Fairness Advisor will:
  • Support the process by assuring it is fair, open, transparent, and consistent, and will work to identify any potential risks to the integrity of the process.
  • Provide advice to the Site Selection Panel, Project Team, BFCT Committee, and Hospital Boards, as required throughout the process.
Questions about the site selection process?

Visit our FAQ page or email info@futureofcaretogether.ca.