Homewood Health Completes Acquisition of Dunsmuir Lodge from the University of Victoria

State of the Art Inpatient Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Facility to Open on Vancouver Island

GUELPH, ON, Jan. 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Homewood Health announced today that it has completed the purchase of Dunsmuir Lodge on Vancouver Island, British Columbia along with 28 acres of surrounding property from the University of Victoria. Homewood is converting Dunsmuir to an inpatient facility specializing in mental health and addiction treatment with a capacity of up to 99 beds. Opening is planned for the Fall of 2018.

An important aspect of this purchase has been the collaboration between Homewood Health, the Pauquachin First Nation as well as other Saanich First Nation communities. Homewood is excited to be forging a close partnership with these Nations. The Dunsmuir Lodge facility will be renamed to reflect the historical and spiritual significance of the site and mountain on which it is located.

"The completion of the purchase from the University of Victoria is a major milestone on our way to restoring the building and property as well as bringing new mental health and addiction treatment options to British Columbia," Jagoda Pike, President and CEO of Homewood Health said. "It's been exciting to be part of a transaction that facilitates the purchase of the adjacent 72 acres by the Pauquachin First Nation from the University of Victoria and to develop a plan that positively impacts the community," Pike said. "We look forward to welcoming clients in 2018."

As a key part of Homewood Health's nationally available services, this facility will specialize in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, addiction as well as treating the complex challenge of co-occurring mental health and addiction conditions. Its treatment programs will be based on the medical treatment model and decades of expertise employed at the Homewood Health Centre ? one of Canada's leading mental health facilities located in Guelph, Ontario. All clients at the new Vancouver Island treatment centre will have access to Homewood Health's comprehensive national aftercare services following discharge, as well as access to outpatient treatment and aftercare at The Homewood Clinics in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Mississauga and Montreal.

The new Homewood Health facility will open in the Fall of 2018 and will employ approximately 80 full-time employees. Recruiting has already begun for a broad range of clinical experts including psychiatrists, addiction physicians, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and recreational therapists.

Homewood is also pleased to announce that Robert DeClark has been appointed General Manager of the new facility. Mr. DeClark brings 20 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment and has managed the delivery of mental health and addiction treatment services for the past 11 years. He has also been highly involved in working with young athletes in the British Columbia Hockey League, where he co-created the mental health-focused "Talk Today" program in conjunction with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

"I am thrilled to be leading the opening and ongoing management of a much-needed, innovative mental health and addiction treatment facility here in British Columbia. This community is important to me and I'm proud of the high quality of mental health services and addiction treatment Homewood is going to bring to the province," said De Clark.

About Homewood Health

Homewood Health is Canada's leader in mental health, addiction and trauma treatment. With 135 years of experience, we achieve outstanding outcomes every day through our national network of over 4,500 local employees and clinical experts, The Homewood Clinics, The Residence, Homewood 360?dtx, and through the Homewood Health Centre in Guelph, ON ? Canada's largest and leading facility for medical treatment of mental health, trauma and addiction disorders. We support individuals and their families, employers and organizations, insurers, and medical professionals with a full suite of outcome-focused services for prevention, assessment, treatment, return-to-work, and ongoing recovery management.

SOURCE Homewood Health inc.