TEMISKAMING SHORES – With the blessing of the neighbouring Haileybury Family Health Team and support from the city, the Pavilion Women’s Centre could soon begin construction of a new two-storey facility to house its existing 11 emergency shelter beds and add 10 transitional housing apartments.
At its regular public meeting on April 21, Temiskaming Shores city council agreed to proceed with plans to donate almost an acre of land next to the Haileybury Medical Centre on Meridian Avenue as the prospective new home for the Pavilion – a non-profit agency which provides emergency shelter and support for women and children escaping domestic violence, crisis and abuse.
The 38,600 square-foot parcel of land – about the size of two hockey rinks – would also absorb about half the current parking lot of the medical centre, which initially caused some concern for its tenant, the Haileybury Family Health Team.
However, since first learning about the project back in January, representatives from the family health team have since met with the Pavilion to discus the project, and on March 30, they issued a letter endorsing it.
“We would like to reiterate that the Family Health Team is in full support of the Pavilion’s proposal,” the group said in a joint letter signed by its six physicians.
“We emphasize that any concerns we raised regarding this project have been with the process and not with the project itself. We agree wholeheartedly with the city’s plan to donate this land parcel; our only ask was that planning ensures that the parking spaces meet the need for patients to access our clinic.
“We look forward to being a part of making the Pavilion project a reality and fostering a collaborative relationship as neighbours – one in which we both continue to thrive and grow in our mutual efforts to improve the health of the people of Temiskaming Shores.”
Council did receive a few objections from area residents, some expressing concern about the possible impact on their view of the lake with a new two-storey building. One letter writer expressed concern about the city giving away valuable property and another was concerned about the loss of parking for the medical centre.
In their report to council, city Community Development Director Ben Krul recommended the property donation proceed regardless.
“The proposed Women’s Pavilion aligns with City of Temiskaming Shores Community Based Strategic Plan by continuing to support providing social supports to the City of Temiskaming Shores,” he said.
“This project is an opportunity to align with the city’s strategic priorities, especially those related to housing development and addresses a need within the city.
“Staff have reviewed the comments provided; however, they do not affect the proposed use’s consistency with both the Official Plan and the Zoning By-law designation, and aligns with the city’s Strategic Plan. For these reasons, the disposition is recommended.”
Krul said staff also reviewed parking to ensure both the Pavilion Women’s Centre and Medical Centre can be accommodated. For Medical Centre parking, a total of 44 standard spaces and four accessible spaces can be provided, he said, subject to improvements to the southern portion of the Medical Centre parking lot to support the proposed development.
“This exceeds the 36 parking spaces (including three accessible spaces) that are required under the Zoning By-law,” he said.
Krul noted parking for the Pavilion Women’s Centre will be provided separately as part of the site plan process, and parking areas would not be shared between the facilities.
City staff will now draft formal paperwork for the land transfer and council will vote on the official document at a future meeting.
By Joe O’Grady, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on May 13, 2026 at 07:51
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