A new hub for medical care in St. Clair Township is being welcomed with open arms as the municipality continues to grow.
Mayor Jeff Agar joined doctors and tenants at a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the St. Clair Medical Centre, at the corner of Hill and Murray Streets in Corunna, on Tuesday afternoon.
Agar said the facility turned out even better than he expected.
"It's all central for the whole township, really we're kind of in the middle here, and it's great. It saves [residents from] having to go into Sarnia," Agar said.
He told Sarnia News Today he's already visited the site for personal reasons.
"Oh, I have actually," Agar said. "A month ago or so I had a kidney stone. So, yeah... I use Hogan [Pharmacy]... my doctor's right down the hall, so yeah, it's great."
Mayor Agar said with more new residential developments on the horizon, it's nice to see investments like this being made in the community.
"Saturday, REMAX had their office grand opening, The Eye Opener... they have a new building. We're really coming along, I'm pretty pleased with the way it's going," Agar said.
Dentists Dr. Mike Rondinelli and Dr. Alan Poole partnered with family physicians Dr. Jason Hall and Dr. Matthew Clifford to complete the project.
Dr. Rondinelli said it was six years in the making.
"It's been scary times with COVID and interest rates spiking," said Dr. Rondinelli. "So, it's really been nice to see this come into fruition and be a successful project and this is really how we've always envisioned that healthcare's delivered. It should be one location where the patient is used to going, and having all of their healthcare providers in one area that are able to talk and collaborate and discuss anything that needs to be discussed."
In addition to offering dental services, family doctors and a pharmacy, the site includes a cardiologist, chiropractor, physiotherapist and construction is underway to add an audiologist and blood lab.
"We did have one person back out, so we do have about a 2,500 to 3,000 square foot unit available," he said. "We've had talks with a few people, but we're also trying to find the right fit," Dr. Rondinelli added.
Dr. Hall said acquiring a radiologist would help with the growing demand for diagnostic imaging services.
The former Murray Street School was demolished in 2022 to make way for the project.
Construction started in 2023.
