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On April 30, the County of Renfrew official broke ground on a new Paramedic Base in the Township of Whitewater Region. Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony (from left) were Deputy Chief Mathieu Grenier, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service; Councillor Troy Purcell, City of Pembroke; Deputy Mayor Cathy Regier, Township of Whitewater Region; MPP Billy Denault, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke; Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy; Councillor James Brose, Development and Property Committee Chair; Councillor Michael Donohue, Health Committee Chair; Chief Administrative Officer Craig Kelley, County of Renfrew; Deputy Chief Dave Libby, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service; Deputy Chief Nick LeRiche, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service and Cameron McNutt, R.K. Porter General Contracting Incorporated.
RELEASE DATE:
May 1, 2026
New Paramedic Base centrally located to fill coverage gaps
The County of Renfrew is thrilled to break ground and begin construction on a new Paramedic Base in the Township of Whitewater Region.
The central location, at the corner of Foresters Falls Road and Mine View Road, was identified as a prime location for a Paramedic Service facility – well situated for serving both the future expansion of Highway 417 and enhancing emergency service delivery in the northeastern reaches of Whitewater Region.
This is the eighth base across the County of Renfrew to house the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service, which covers a primary response territory of more than 15,000 square kilometers.
Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy said the groundbreaking marks an important milestone for Renfrew County as the Whitewater Paramedic Base reflects County Council’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Emergency Services and ensuring residents receive timely, high‑quality care when they need it most.
“On behalf of County Council, I want to extend our sincere thanks to the staff who worked diligently to find and secure the new site,” she said. “Your careful evaluation of options ensured we landed on a location that will serve our Paramedics and our residents well for years to come. This milestone is possible because of your hard work, and we are truly grateful.”
Paramedic Chief Michael Nolan remarked that this announcement is the beginning of an important next step in protecting the health and wellness of residents of Renfrew County while improving access to care.
“Paramedics will now be able to better serve our communities by increasing the presence of 911 Paramedics, Community Paramedic Response Units and opening a Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre at this location,” he said.
First opened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RC VTAC) continues to provide increased access to health care to our rural population and those without a family physician.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault was also on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony as he noted strong emergency services are essential in rural communities.
“This new Paramedic Base will help ensure residents in Whitewater Region and along the Highway 17 corridor have faster access to the care they need, when they need it most. I’m proud to advocate for investments that strengthen local infrastructure and support the frontline workers who keep our communities safe,” he said.
Councillor James Brose, Chair of the Development and Property Committee, noted the construction of a new Whitewater Paramedic Base is part of a broader vision, establishing more regional resources and improving emergency response times in the Cobden, Beachburg, Westmeath communities and along the Highway 17 corridor.
“Having a base with a variety of emergency response equipment ensures Paramedics are well equipped to handle the wide variety of calls in this area, especially with an increasing population during the tourist season as well as reoccurring flooding events during the spring freshets,” Chair Brose added.
Councillor Michael Donohue, Chair of the Health Committee, noted a new Paramedic base in this area has long been in the plans to help ensure coverage across Renfrew County.
“The construction of this base marks a significant milestone for our community. Once operational, this facility will greatly strengthen the Paramedic Service deployment plan, improve response capabilities and enhance access to emergency care for residents throughout the region,” he said.
R.K. Porter General Contracting Incorporated was awarded the design build contract for the project. The 5,700 square foot, multi-functional, health support facility combines four rapid deployment paramedic vehicle bays with dedicated office, administrative, and staff amenity spaces to support 24/7 operations. The building is expected to be completed and fully operational in early 2027.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Kelley Chief Administrative Officer 613-735-7288
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
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