| Supporting Partners | |
| Ontario Mental Health Centre | |
| The Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene
is a 290-bed psychiatric hospital with two distinct
divisions. The 150-bed Regional Division offers a broad
range of specialized programs and acute care for a
Central Ontario service area stretching around Georgian
Bay. The 140-bed Oak Ridge Division offers treatment
programs for mentally disordered offenders from all of
Ontario. Throughout the institution full
multidisciplinary clinical teams design and implement
individual treatment programs for all patients. The grounds and area surrounding the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (MHCP) are steeped in history. The original 380-acre site was chosen by Governor John Graves Simcoe as a naval and military base to protect the Upper Great Lakes from American threats in the aftermath of the War of 1812. Perched at the entrance of Penetanguishene Harbour, the site retains its commanding view of Severn Sound. (During the 1960's about 60 acres were turned into a historical park to preserve the early history of the site.) Carving a military site out of the bush led to further development in the region. The beginnings of a town sprung up on the harbour to service the lumber trade, farming and the military - including a pub, which was probably located on the edge of the current hospital grounds. A number of Victorian heroes such as Sir John Franklin (who later perished in an ill-fated search for the Northwest Passage) visited the military site until it was decommissioned and turned over to the Government of Upper Canada in 1855. Visit our website at: www.mhcva.on.ca/mhcphist.htm The Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene is a great supporting partner of the Battle of Georgian Bay 2001 for their generous use of facility grounds for parking and modern camping. |
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