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The treatment beds intended for the proposed mental health and addiction treatment centre on Lakeshore Drive have opened elsewhere.
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Canadian Mental Health Association North Bay and District confirmed to The Nugget on Monday that the beds allocated through the Expression of Interest were fully operational by early spring 2025.
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The original allocation was for 10 residential treatment and 20 supportive treatment beds; however, the Canadian Mental Health Association said they were able to secure an additional five residential treatment beds.
“We are proud to have delivered these expanded services within a matter of months, using our existing facilities and housing. This achievement represents a significant step forward in addressing the urgent needs of individuals in our district,” said Mary Davis, Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Mental Health Association, North Bay and District.
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“Our Residential Treatment Program provides a highly structured, 90-day live-in program that combines individual and group counselling, substance use education, and life skills development. Residents receive care in a trauma-informed and culturally safe environment and are supported by a multidisciplinary team,” she said.
“For individuals requiring less intensive care, our residential supportive treatment program offers a community-based, substance-free living environment with stays of up to two years. This program provides ongoing structure and recovery supports to help residents stabilize, build skills, and prepare for independent living.”
North Bay Regional Health Centre confirmed they did receive a portion of the 53 beds.
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“Between March and June of this year we received funding for, and operationalized, nine new Withdrawal Management Services beds. Over 160 individuals have accessed service through these beds since opening,” according to an email response to The Nugget from the health centre.
“We are grateful for CMHA’s strong leadership in mobilizing 35 new residential addiction and supportive treatment beds, greatly improving access to recovery services in our community. We continue to work closely with CMHA on our clinical pathways to support individuals in their transition from withdrawal management to treatment services.”
Almost a year ago, the Ministry of Health announced that the addiction treatment beds that were slated to go into the former North Bay Chrysler building on Lakeshore Drive will be located within the existing space between the North Bay Regional Health Centre and Canadian Mental Health Association — North Bay and District.
Ontario Health announced last fall it had “lost confidence” in Canadore College and took the project away from them. In November 2024, Ontario Health launched a targeted Expression of Interest to secure new providers for the 53 addiction treatment and recovery beds initially allocated to the Canadore College project.
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