Meaford’s new clinic has its official name.
It will be called the “Don Bumstead and Family Medical Centre” — named after the family that donated the land for the project along Highway 26.
The name was unveiled in a ceremony at the site near the Bay View Motel on Tuesday night.
Tom Bumstead — the son of the late Don Bumstead — tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the Meaford Clinic will help attract new physicians and medical staff to the area.
The family has also donated about one million dollars to cover half of the construction costs of the planned facility.
The municipality of Meaford will donate an additional 25-thousand annually for the next ten-years to North East Grey Health Clinics Inc., the group looking to build the new clinic.
The expected cost to build the clinic is 2.1-million dollars and as of May, only 500-thousand dollars was still needed to be raised.
Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the clinic will be important to attracting new residents, as healthcare is vital to newcomers.
Construction of the “Don Bumstead and Family Medical Centre” is planned for April of next year, with the grand-opening scheduled for August 2014.
The Meaford Clinic will be very similar in design and operation to its sister site in Thornbury, which is also owned by North East Grey Health Clinics.
The clinic’s namesake, Don Bumstead, purchased the land next to the Bay View Motel specifically for this project.
Don passed away back in March.