Kawartha Lakes announces new Paramedic Headquarters and Fleet Centre to support growing community
The new Paramedic Headquarters and Fleet Centre is a critical infrastructure project designed to address the rapidly increasing demand for emergency medical services in the municipality. As our population continues to grow, the facility will ensure timely and efficient paramedic care for our residents.
The municipality recently negotiated a lease agreement with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB). If approved by Council and the Ministry of Education, the new facility will share the same property as the Lindsay Adult and Alternative Education Centre on 230 Angeline Street South. The new headquarters will centralize paramedic services and support future growth while consolidating some of our existing paramedic service locations into one modern, central hub. The facilities being considered for consolidation are:
Response Station – 89 St. David Street, Lindsay
Response Station – 68 McLaughlin Road, Lindsay
Training Facility – 710 Cameron Road, Cameron
Paramedic Headquarters – 4 Victoria Avenue, Lindsay
Community Paramedic Station – 972 Eldon Road, Oakwood
Logistics and Vehicle Storage – 1 Industrial Park Road, Fenelon Falls
Storage Facility – 2255 Elm Tree Road, Cambray
Storage Facility – Quonset Hut 39 West Street South, Fenelon Falls
The consolidation of these facilities will not affect paramedic response times in northern Kawartha Lakes. The response stations in the north will remain operational and will be addressed in the future according to the Paramedic Service Master Plan. Except for the response stations in Lindsay, the locations being considered for consolidation are administrative, training, and fleet/equipment storage facilities.
The overall investment in the new headquarters is estimated to be $50 million with funding coming from the municipality, the province, and development charges. The costs will be spread out with $7 million already committed to the project through the 2024 capital budget, and $21.5 million coming from each of the 2025 and 2026 capital budgets.
We anticipate the construction beginning in spring 2025.
To learn more about the project, read the Paramedic Headquarters and Fleet Centre Update report and check out the preliminary concept designs for the building.
Key Growth and Development Projections:
Lindsay is projected to double its population by 2031, driving the need for enhanced emergency services.
Kawartha Lakes plans to build 6,500 new homes by 2031, further increasing the demand for healthcare and emergency response infrastructure.
Paramedic Service demand in Kawartha Lakes is projected to increase by 48% by 2034.
Key Features of the New Facility:
Enhanced Emergency Response: Strategically located to reduce response times and better serve the growing population, ensuring timely access to critical care.
Centralized Operations: The facility will bring together multiple paramedic service locations in the south, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. No response stations in the north will be closed or consolidated.
Comprehensive Infrastructure: The new headquarters will combine three projects into one. Not only will it house the paramedic service but it will include a new Information Technology (IT) back-up server room, and a backup communication/dispatch call centre for the Kawartha Lakes Police Service.
Sustainable Design: Energy-efficient systems and waste reduction measures will be incorporated to align with the municipality's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Budget and Timeline:
Total Project Cost: $50 million, covering construction, contingencies, and environmentally friendly elements.
$7 million from 2024 capital budget, $21.5 million from 2025 capital budget and $21.5 million from the 2026 capital budget.
Completion Date: The design and lease agreements will be finalized over the next nine months with the goal to start construction on the new facility in the spring of 2025.
Quotes:
"As Lindsay’s population is set to double by 2031 and with thousands of new homes coming to Kawartha Lakes, we are committed to investing in infrastructure that ensures the safety and well-being of all residents," said Mayor Doug Elmslie. "This facility will be key in supporting our paramedic services and keeping our growing community safe."
“Our Paramedic Service has never had a purpose-built facility. For over two decades we’ve been managing in out-dated facilities that are fundamentally unsuitable for emergency services. While we have been making due, that’s come at a cost of efficiency and service delivery. It’s critical that we have the infrastructure and the facilities in place to support not only our current needs, but the future growth of the community and the expected rise in demand for paramedic services,” said Chief Sara Johnston, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service.
