Bradford is hoping Southlake Health prescribes the town as the location for a new hospital.
Councillors unanimously approved a motion to “strongly” support Bradford as the location for Southlake’s future second hospital site, and committed to expedite any necessary approvals during their March 18 council meeting.
“This would be absolutely transformational for Bradford,” Councillor Jonathan Scott said.
He highlighted that in addition to bringing health care closer to home for local residents, the new hospital would likely attract other supporting health services, potentially bringing in well-paid residents and providing additional commercial and institutional tax revenue.
It wouldn’t just benefit Bradford though, as Scott said the future Bradford Bypass would place the town closer to Keswick than ever before, making it central to Southlake’s service area and the “perfect venue” for a hospital, which would also be a “crowning achievement” for recently re-elected York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney.
Tuesday’s motion follows Southlake inviting six proponents with properties in Bradford to proceed to the second round of proposals for the new location. A representative of the hospital did not answer when asked to identify the six local properties, but did explain that after a “thorough review” by technical experts — including locations in Bradford and other towns — they will reveal the preferred option in the spring.
Southlake launched the site selection process on Nov. 4, 2024, and at the time said the number of patients had doubled since 2003, leaving the current Davis Drive site in Newmarket stretched to capacity and only half the size required by current standards.
Among other things, new site selection criteria includes a minimum size of 16.2 hectares, located within 17 kilometres of the Davis Drive location, but outside of the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine, with capacity to be serviced by water, sewers, natural gas, electricity and communications infrastructure within the next five to seven years, plus allowance to include a heliport.
“It is a big, once in a lifetime generational opportunity for us,” Mayor James Leduc said.
He thanked the six local proponents, while also wishing luck to East Gwillimbury on their own proposal.
Even after a site is chosen, Southlake expects it will take eight to 10 years to build the new hospital.