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The federal government will commit $15 million to build two new treatment facilities in the Greater Toronto Area for first responders facing post-traumatic stress injuries.
According to Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, the funding will help expand access to specialized care for police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, paramedics and health care workers.
“This is about changing the way we respond to invisible injuries. Too often, people with these injuries face barriers when they need support themselves,” Olszewski said.
“These are the people who show up for us in moments of crisis. They care about Canadians when they are hurting, overwhelmed and afraid. They have a huge responsibility and they do it every day under incredible pressure,” she added.
Olszewski noted that first responders and front-line health care workers especially face “exposure to trauma that can lead to post-traumatic stress injuries, depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health issues.”
He said the funding is also expected to help reduce stigma around mental health issues and drug use among first responders.
The two new treatment facilities will be located in Toronto and Caledon. Station No. 3434 in Toronto will be an outpatient clinic and Caledon Recovery Center will be a residential facility. Both will be operated by Runnymede Healthcare Centre, a rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital in Toronto’s west end.
Construction is scheduled to begin next year.
‘Occupational stress injuries are real,’ hospital CEO says
Runnymede Healthcare Center President and CEO Connie Dejac said the two facilities will form one integrated system of care with “multiple pathways” to healing.
“First responders step into moments that most of us spend our lives trying to avoid. They run toward crisis, uncertainty, human tragedy and suffering, often without stopping, and all too often without the time or space to process what is in their wake,” Dejak said.
“Occupational stress injuries are real. They are cumulative and often invisible, and if left unaddressed, they can have a significant impact on individuals, their families, and the communities they serve.”
Runnymede Healthcare Center estimates that more than 36,000 first responders in Ontario are affected by post-traumatic stress injuries, and that number is expected to rise to more than 46,000 by 2040.
Money makes a difference, says Ontario minister
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the federal funding will make a difference. In 2025, the Ontario government committed more than $10 million to the project.
“Today’s investment from the federal government brings us one step closer to building these new facilities,” Jones said.
Station No. 3434, a six-story hub that is a “gateway to recovery,” will serve as the main hub for outpatient services, including assessments, treatment sessions and aftercare for a variety of post-traumatic conditions, depression and substance use disorders, Dejac said.
The facility will also include recreational programs and facilities to support people recovering from injuries.
The Caledon Recovery Center, which is “a place where individuals can take a break from their service needs,” will have 40 residential beds and the average length of stay will be 30 days, Dejac said.
We offer detoxification services, intensive psychotherapy, and psychosocial treatment. Patients will have a personalized care plan during their stay and will have access to follow-up aftercare therapy and support to accelerate their recovery.
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