Another step has been taken for the future of the Chatham-Kent Hospice.
Council rubber stamped the site plan approval at their combined regular and planning meeting on Monday night at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
This approval sets up the next step in the process of issuing the request for proposal.
Officials say this should take place in mid-January, a contractor will be hired and shovels should be getting into the ground in March.
North Kent Coun. Joe Faas told the Sydenham Current he feels the Hospice will be positive for all of Chatham-Kent.
“It is something that is needed,” Faas said. “The nearest Hospice that we have is Sarnia. There are a lot of people that have used that in the past… now they won’t have to leave Chatham-Kent, they can go to the one in Chatham.”
Faas said the facility has been something C-K has been missing.
“Most municipalities have a similar setup, so I think it is nothing but positive,” he said. “It has to be located somewhere, we can’t have one in each community. Chatham seems to be the hub for all of Chatham-Kent.”
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley said it will be utilized by all of C-K.
It’s a “needed service for those going through end of life illnesses… open to all C-K residents,” he said.
If the spring construction goes as planned, the facility will open by the end of 2015.
