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s - - - - - e *e~ e -. - *. S. Congratulations Whitby Mental CHealth Centre from the management & staffat WHlIrTBY Whiby TonSue Congratulation s on the opening of the new Whitby Mental Health Centre BRIAN BARTON BUILDING CORP L DESIGN-BUILD/PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL BUTLER PRE-ENGINEEREID METAL BUILDINGS CON VENTIONAL/TILT-UP CONCRF2TE P.O. Box 246, 206 Gilbert Street West, Whitby, Ontario LIN 5S1 (905) 668-4212 Whitby 686-4212 Toronto/Ajax Fax (905) 668-6441, Centre open b public Septu 1 5 The new Whitby Mental Health Centre throws open its doors to the public next Sunday. An open house will be helfrr 1 to 8p.m. to mark the opornn of the $9O-million state- of-the-art facili tat replaces tihe cottages that made up the former Whitby Psychiatrie Hospi- tai. Officiai ceremonies wHI take place at 2 p.m. and a number of provincial and local govern- ment representatives are expected to attend. "Along with the new building, the. main, focus Of thé open house is the educational component,» says co-ordinator Tom Lawrence. new psychiatric facility bujjt in North America in 25 years. "W. want people te seS what's being done in mental health treatment today.» There will b. guided tours and staff from ail programn areas wiIl be available te answer questionsy Lawrence says. Construction of the 325-bed centre began in 1993. Desiged by the joint venture architecture firm rag and Boaike/CannonjMoffat'Kinosh- itathe centre was built by contractorEllii-Don. -The Whitby Mental Health Centre js the firat OpeingOf newmental health,.centre -hailed By Mike Kowraiskj Next- week's opi of the Whitby Mental Heêalth Centre. has drawn kudos from provincial and local politicians alike. «We're pleased te ses the rede- velopment of the Whitby Mental Health Centre,» says. Jessica Hill, assistant "deputy minister for mental heaith1 prograins and services in the Ontario Ministry of Health. "W. ses this as an important stop'in improving services for people with mental illneas,» says "The new facility can offer better and more effectve -service and is an important»part of the ministry's plan to invest. in ser- vices that work for people and build on community support.» While agreeing with centr e OQOSER VICE INC. Congratulations and flest Wishes Whitby Mental, HealIth Cnre hans evolved, from that o f the primary treatment provider te one of supporting mental health agencies and general hospitals in the community, Hill- said care muet be taken te ensure that aIl players know their parts., "I think that is consistent with our thinking,» she says. <«But te be effective, each part of the system has te play its role in such a way that people don't fall through the cracks." ThIe f1it new psychiatric insti- tution built in North America in 25 yrears, Hill wouid notspecu- late on ,how long it may b. before the -Ontario government will be in a position te build a similar facility. "Primarily, we want to inÏveat in services m the community, but bec-ause Whitby is in such a large better,» she says. «But with restrictions on the health cars budget we have te be careful where we spend money.» Regional councilior- and Whitby deputy-mayor Gerry Emm touted t he centre as a "mnodel te, be shown around the worid. "When y ou compare it with what was built in 1915, there is no comparison,»says EMM of the origia hospitai that servdas a centre for shel-shocked soldiers coming home from the first world war. T1m deiighted the facility was built in Whitby and Will serve the commumity well inte the next oentury,»he says. N W Fer, mil, 1 1