We officially opened the Clair Road Emergency Services Centre today!
You may remember its opening was delayed because of a fire set by an arsonist. Everything has been put right and it is a magnificent facility.
This is the first time in Ontario that Fire, Police and Emergency Medical Services have collaborated on a joint facility – another feather in Guelph’s hat and the way of the future. Through partnerships like this, we can deliver exceptional services more effectively and efficiently.
In particular, the Guelph Police Service should be applauded for their willingness to partner on this facility. The GPS could have decided to build a new, stand-alone facility to meet their space needs to serve a growing city. Indeed, that was the plan. Instead, they elected to become a partner in this facility and renovate their existing facility to meet their needs for the next 20 years or more. This is the type of leadership we should be expecting to co-produce public value.
The Centre services residents and businesses in the south end – one of the fastest growing areas of our city – in addition to providing service to the entire City and, in the case of ambulance, the County of Wellington.
The facility has been designed to use 50% less energy and 30% less water than a typical building and is generating some of its own energy. It has achieved Canada Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.
We were joined by MPP Dave Levac on behalf of MPP Liz Sandals (MPP Levac had joined us for the ground breaking), County Warden Chris White, MPP Ted Arnott, Gord Tosh (Chair of the County’s Social Services Committee), several members of Council, members of the Guelph Police Service Board, Thomas Brown Architects, Devlan Construction, members of the three services and members of the public.
June 20, 2011
Excellence in Municipal Services