PETROLIA – January 8, 2026 – Bluewater Health announced today it has received Ministry of Health approval to proceed to tender for the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital (CEEH) of Bluewater Health Capital Redevelopment project.
Approval to proceed to tender enables Bluewater Health to begin the procurement process for a construction partner and marks the transition from planning into the next phase of the project. The redevelopment includes renovations to the Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging, along with associated clinical and support areas, and is designed to modernize hospital infrastructure while ensuring patient care and hospital operations continue throughout the work.
“This approval represents an important step forward for the CEEH and the community it serves,” said Paula Reaume-Zimmer, President and CEO, Bluewater Health. “Reaching the tender stage reflects years of planning, collaboration, and advocacy, and moves us closer to delivering modernized spaces that support safe, high-quality care now and into the future.”
The CEEH Capital Redevelopment project has been in development since 2016. Construction will be completed in eight phases to allow hospital operations to continue throughout the work. Once underway, construction is expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months.
The project is supported through a partnership between the province, Bluewater Health, and the community, with Bluewater Health Foundation and Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital Foundation working collaboratively to support fundraising for equipment, furnishings, and other project needs. The redevelopment builds on earlier community planning work completed in partnership with the Town of Petrolia.
Throughout the capital planning process, Bluewater Health has continued to invest in the Petrolia hospital through hospital capital funding and Health Infrastructure Renewal Funding, including infrastructure improvements, renovated patient spaces, and facility enhancements.
