Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover announced today that the new East Prince Health facility will be built on a property northeast of the intersection of Granville Street and Walker Avenue near the Sears store in Summerside.
"Of the twenty-three proposals received, this location was chosen because it best met our criteria relating to location, physical characteristics, and availability of services," said Minister Dover, "It will provide good access for Greater Summerside and rural clients from the Western Road. It is close to the Summerside population centre and seniors' housing. Located adjacent to the Rotary Friendship Park, it also has potential to be a very aesthetically pleasing site," she said.
Government has an agreement to purchase the 27-acre site, owned by Errol and Woody Pauptit, and an option to purchase an additional 13 acres adjacent to it.
Summerside MLA Greg Deighan advised that the site is ideal to develop the new facility. "Twenty-three proposals were offered for consideration, evaluated and short-listed by the Selection Committee," he said, "This site was the overall choice because it also met criteria suggested by the community during the Role Study consultation, such as ample parking with drop-off zones, ample green space, and easy access by Summerside and other residents."
A public call for land proposals was issued in January 1999. Preliminary criteria required proposals to be a minimum of forty acres in size; located within approximately 5 kilometres of the existing Prince County Hospital; serviceable by central water and sewer systems; and accessible from an existing street or highway, or by the construction of a new access in future development. The site selection process was targeted for completion in late spring or early summer.
The site selection committee includes Herman McQuaid, Project Director; Kay Lewis, Dr. Bill Walker, Marsha Pyke, East Prince Health; Foster Millar, Department of Transportation and Public Works; and Ron Maynard, East Prince Health Board.