Conceptual plans to be shown

The finished conceptual plans for Yorkton and Canora's proposed new health facilities will be unveiled to the public next week.

Cannon Design, the design firm contracted by the Sunrise Health Region for the conceptual planning phase on the two projects, will present a summarized version of the plans it developed through consultation with staff and clients this winter at two meetings later this month: in Yorkton on January 25 and in Canora on January 26.

The Yorkton meeting will be held in the Gallagher Centre's Wellington West Room while the Canora meeting is at Canora Rainbow Hall. Both meetings are scheduled for 7 pm.

Information provided at the sessions will include regional population and service forecasts up to 2021, space needs based on those forecasts, assessments of the current state of the buildings, discussion of the feasibility of renovating the current structures versus building from scratch, and the possibility of reusing the existing sites versus relocating.

"Although these are concepts, there is a great deal of information to learn about what's happening and what can be projected to happen in our region up to 2021," says Sharon Tropin, Sunrise Health Region's director of communications.

Information on how the staff and public feedback gained through this winter's consultation process was put to use will also be presented. Although the conceptual planning phase has officially concluded, the planning website remains open and feedback received will still be considered, says Tropin. Formal consultation procedures will also be a part of future stages of the projects.

"The conceptual plans are done, but we're not done planning."

Some preliminary design drawings outlining the potential size and layout of the proposed facilities will be included in the presentations. Detailed architectural drawings, however, will have to wait until the design and development phase-the next step, if the Ministry of Health should approve the submitted plans.