FERGUS – Locum doctors will move from their temporary accommodations at Gartshore House to temporary accommodations at Craighead Cottage when renovation of that heritage home is complete.
Council approved the proposal at its April 14 meeting.
The township is currently allowing locum doctors to stay at an old farmhouse on Gartshore Street in Fergus, but they’ll have to move out when construction of the new township operations centre gets underway.
Craighead Cottage, at 495 Union S. W., is a designated heritage property owned by the township that CAO Dan Wilson told council would be ideal to house doctors as it is vacant and is in a residential neighbourhood.
But it needs work.
Wilson suggested that work could be completed over the summer and the house ready for occupants this fall.
That should coordinate with construction of the operations centre that’s expected to break ground in 2026.
Last year $350,000 was allocated for restoration of the cottage and $450,000 is allocated this year. So there should be enough to cover the costs, Wilson said.
The Gartshore farmhouse has been well utilized since it became a doctors’ dwelling in 2023, he noted, and the township is committed to working with the hospital on recruitment and retention of health care professionals.
“The demand for nurses, primary care, emergency department physicians, hospitalists, and general surgeons is extremely high at GMCH (Groves Memorial Community Hospital),” Wilson stated in his report.
“By providing a location for health care professionals’ accommodation, GMCH can remain competitive with what other communities offer potential recruits and provide the best experience possible when working in our township.”
The Gartshore Street farmhouse is expected to be incorporated into the operations centre property in some way in the future.
Wilson said there is no current long-term plan for Craighead Cottage.
