In the heart of Simcoe County, a revolutionary healthcare model is celebrating a milestone that represents far more than just the passage of time. This week, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and the Chigamik Community Health Centre marked five years of successful collaboration at the Midland Health Hub—a partnership that has fundamentally transformed how integrated healthcare is delivered to thousands of residents in the region.
“What began as an ambitious vision has evolved into a cornerstone of community wellness,” said Carol Lambie, President and CEO of Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. “By bringing mental health services and primary care under one roof, we’ve created something that truly puts patients first in a way that wasn’t possible before.”
The 65,000-square-foot facility on Bayshore Drive has become much more than a building. It represents a philosophical shift in healthcare delivery that addresses the often fragmented nature of medical services. Since opening its doors in 2020, the Hub has served over 40,000 unique patients, many of whom previously struggled to navigate between separate physical and mental health services.
Dr. Rayanne Rogers, clinical director at Chigamik, points to tangible improvements in patient outcomes. “We’re seeing patients who previously fell through the cracks now receiving comprehensive care. The numbers tell a compelling story—emergency department visits for mental health crises have decreased by 18% among our regular patients, and satisfaction ratings consistently hover above 92%.”
What makes the Midland Health Hub particularly noteworthy is its culturally responsive approach. Chigamik, which means “sweatlodge” in Ojibway, offers Indigenous healing services alongside French-language programs, creating an environment where care extends beyond medical treatment to embrace cultural identity and community belonging.
The facility houses primary care clinics, mental health services, traditional healing practices, community meeting spaces, and a café that doubles as a skills training venue for those recovering from mental illness. This integration removes barriers that once separated different aspects of healthcare, allowing for more holistic treatment approaches.
“We’ve learned valuable lessons about collaboration over these five years,” noted David Jeffery, Executive Director of Chigamik Community Health Centre. “True integration isn’t just about sharing a building—it’s about creating systems where information flows seamlessly, where professionals from different disciplines speak the same language, and where patients feel their entire wellbeing is being addressed.”
The Hub’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. Healthcare administrators from across Canada have visited the facility to learn from this model, with several similar projects now underway in other provinces. The collaborative approach has attracted nearly $4.2 million in additional funding for specialized programs targeting youth mental health, senior care, and addiction services.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Hub announced expanded hours for walk-in mental health services and the launch of a new mobile outreach program designed to reach rural residents who struggle with transportation barriers.
Local patient Elaine Markham, who has received care at the Hub since its opening, perhaps best captures the facility’s impact: “Before, I was seeing three different doctors in three different buildings for related issues. Now, my care team communicates with each other. They know me as a whole person, not just as separate symptoms.”
As healthcare systems across North America grapple with increasing demands and limited resources, the Midland Health Hub stands as evidence that innovative partnerships can yield both efficiency and improved care. The question now facing healthcare leaders elsewhere is not whether such integration works, but rather how quickly they can implement similar models in their own communities.
