Solving a local crisis

Primary care access is a key part of building a healthy and thriving community. With the region's critical shortage of family doctors, we put partnerships into action to build a solution.

Thanks to a partnership led by the previous Council, as part of the deal for the Veteran's Memorial Park expansion, in 2023 the City was already building a new, relocated Masons Lodge on Bryn Maur Road that was set to bring commercial space to the downtown core. 

When the South Island Primary Care Society approached the City with a vision to expand primary care services - but with no other sources of funding immediately available from other levels of government, the Mason's agreed to provide affordable leasing space, while the City agreed to provide $1.7 million in funding for tenant improvements to build out a welcoming clinic space on the ground floor of the new Mason's Building.

As of June 2026, over 7,000 patients have been attached to a family doctor at the Goldstream Medical Clinic, with more to come.

Along with the collective efforts of community-led fundraising, this ambitious idea made it over the finish line. By working together, we've taken a major step toward ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the primary care they deserve. If you're one of the many still waiting, I see you. We're not stopping yet and already have our eyes set on building our next partnership.