R+T Park selected as site for new regional hospital

The new development will serve as a hub for health-care innovation, enhancing services through the merger of Grand River and St. Mary’s hospitals

Building disruptive technologies is at the core of what we do, and since our inception, the University of Waterloo has also been disrupting the boundaries of health.

In a landmark development for health-care innovation and regional transformation, the University of Waterloo has been selected as the site of Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital’s new joint hospital, serving Waterloo-Wellington and beyond.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones attended the announcement event on July 22. This new facility is part of the Hospital’s redevelopment and merger project Building the Future of Care, Together, which aims to better serve the region’s health-care needs. The event featured leaders from Grand River Hospital, St. Mary’s General Hospital and the University. Local politicians and community leaders were also in attendance.

“Our government is making record investments in our hospital infrastructure, expanding hospital capacity with shovels in the ground for over 50 new hospital projects across the province,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The new hospital site in Waterloo will support the region’s fast-growing community, ensure people can access world-class, convenient care for years to come.”

“The new site for the Waterloo Region hospital at the University of Waterloo will foster innovation, enhance research and better connect the growing region to convenient care closer to home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Right across the province, our government is investing more than $50 billion to support more than 50 major hospital projects. When it comes to your health, we’re building a healthcare system that people across Ontario can count on.”

“Today’s announcement means more than a new state-of-the-art hospital in our region, it’s a deepening of an already strong collaboration between our University and health institutions across the Region. It’s yet another example of empowering students, faculty, and the community to contribute to a healthier Region through community-focused, cutting-edge research and experiential learning opportunities.”

— Vivek Goel, President of the University of Waterloo

Building the Future of Care, Together launched in 2022 with a $5 million grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health. Recognizing the critical need to enhance health-care services, the selection of the site on University of Waterloo’s north campus is a strategic move. This centrally located site aligns with the region’s forecasted urban and rural growth areas, making it an ideal location for this innovative health-care project.

The new Hospital will occupy approximately 60 acres in the David Johnston Research + Technology Park on the University’s North Campus, fostering a closer relationship between the University and community health-care providers. Waterloo’s researchers already maintain strong relationships with hospitals across Ontario, and this new development will only strengthen these connections.

“Today’s announcement means more than a new state-of-the-art hospital in our region, it’s a deepening of an already strong collaboration between our University and health institutions across the Region,” said Vivek Goel, President of the University of Waterloo. “It’s yet another example of empowering students, faculty, and the community to contribute to a healthier Region through community-focused, cutting-edge research and experiential learning opportunities.”

Read the full story at Waterloo News