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Council approves Community Health and Wellness Action Plan, advances Community Health Hub business case .png

Port Colborne City Council has approved two significant healthcare initiatives that move the City from planning toward action on the future of local healthcare, bringing connected care, close to home. 

At their August 11 meeting, Council approved the City’s Community Health and Wellness Action Plan, establishing a long-term roadmap for improving access to healthcare in Port Colborne. Council also directed staff to develop a comprehensive business case for a potential Port Colborne Community Health Hub, including governance options, financial analysis, partnerships, potential sites and capital funding opportunities.   

The decisions follow more than 18 months of research, data analysis, consultation with healthcare experts and extensive community engagement led by the City, as the community prepares for significant changes to healthcare delivery, including Niagara Health’s planned closure of the Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre in 2028. 

“Healthcare has been one of the most important issues facing our community for many years, and residents have been very clear that they want access to quality care close to home,” said Mayor William Steele. “The Health and Wellness Action Plan moves us beyond identifying the challenges and give us a clear direction for what comes next. We know the City cannot solve every healthcare challenge on its own, but we can lead, advocate, build partnerships and pursue opportunities that create a stronger future for healthcare in Port Colborne. I also want to personally thank our Healthcare Advisory Committee, staff, and the many community members who have been engaged in this project for their meaningful contributions.” 

A community-built plan for the future of healthcare 

The Community Health and Wellness Action Plan is built around the vision “Connected Care, Close to Home, for Every Stage of Life”and identifies eight areas of focus: 

  1. Better Access Through Advanced Primary Care 

  2. Medical Imaging, Clinical and Laboratory Services 

  3. Community-Based Care 

  4. Mental Health and Well-Being 

  5. Transportation and Access to Care 

  6. Healthy, Resilient Communities 

  7. Equity, Accessibility and Culturally Safe Care 

  8. Community Voice, Advocacy and Accountability 

The Action Plan reflects four phases of community engagement undertaken since January 2025, including surveys, open houses, focus groups, partner outreach and other opportunities for residents to provide feedback. More than 500 people completed the latest community survey, with 93.5 per cent supporting the Plan’s guiding principles and average support across its eight areas of focus reaching 91.3 per cent. Better access to advanced primary care emerged as residents’ highest-ranked priority.   

Residents also made it clear that they want to see action, accountability and measurable progress. The City will develop a work plan that identifies responsibilities, timelines and performance measures. Progress will be reported publicly, supported by a healthcare data dashboard developed in partnership with Esri Canada. 
 

Exploring a Community Health Hub 

Council also approved the next phase of work to develop a potential Community Health Hub – a modern, integrated facility that could bring multiple healthcare providers and services together in one accessible location. 

Depending on partnerships and community needs, a Health Hub could potentially include primary care physicians and nurse practitioners, after-hours and urgent care, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, pharmacy, mental health supports, rehabilitation, visiting specialists, outpatient clinics and community services. The model is intended to complement, rather than replace, hospital services by expanding access to community-based care closer to home.  

The concept has emerged through community engagement, independent healthcare analysis, discussions with healthcare providers, legal review and visits to municipally supported health hubs in other Ontario communities. The City has also received preliminary interest from private-sector development partners and healthcare providers interested in participating in a potential Port Colborne Health Hub.   

“With Council’s approval and the community’s support, we can now develop the partnerships and governance framework, identify potential locations, and determine costs and funding opportunities,” said Bryan Boles, Chief Administrative Officer. “This work will allow us to bring Council a complete picture of what a community health hub could look like and how it can deliver the healthcare services our community needs for the long term.” 

The next phase will translate the hub concept into a detailed, evidence-based proposal, including potential services, delivery options, implementation timelines and key risks. Staff will engage prospective healthcare, community and funding partners throughout this work. The completed business case will return to Council following the 2026 municipal election for consideration. 

The City’s preferred timeline, should a Community Health Hub ultimately proceed, would align with the planned closure of the Port Colborne UCC at the end of 2028.  

Implementation of the Community Health and Wellness Action Plan will begin this fall, with the City continuing to work with the Healthcare Advisory Committee, the Port Colborne Health Coalition, healthcare providers, community organizations, residents and other partners to advance local healthcare priorities. 

For more information, visit www.portcolborne.ca/healthcare