One Year of Community Impact: MRHA Marks First Anniversary of the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department
January 29, 2026
Carleton Place, ON – The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) is
marking the one-year anniversary of the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department at
Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH), recognizing a year of
meaningful impact for patients, families, and communities across the region.
Since opening on January 29,
2025, the modern, purpose-built Emergency Department has supported the care of
almost 20,000 patients, providing a safer, more efficient, and patient-centred
environment for emergency services. Designed to meet both current and future
healthcare needs, the facility has enhanced patient flow, privacy, and clinical
functionality while continuing to deliver the trusted emergency care local
residents have relied on for decades.
“This milestone is about much
more than a new facility, it’s about how that space is being used, every day,
to support patients and the teams who care for them,” said Brad Harrington,
President and CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance. “Over the past
year, the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department has demonstrated exactly why
this investment mattered. It supports safe, timely, and compassionate emergency
care, while providing a modern environment that better meets the needs of both
patients and staff. It is a clear example of what can be achieved when healthcare
organizations, governments, foundations, and communities work together with a
shared purpose.”
The Emergency Department project was made possible through a combination
of provincial investment and exceptional community generosity through the Healthy
Futures. Together! campaign, led by the CPDMH Foundation and
Campaign Cabinet.
“The one-year anniversary of
the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department is a moment to reflect on the lasting
impact our community has created together,” said Patrick Kenny, Chair of the
Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation. “Through the
Healthy Futures. Together! campaign, we raised $5 million to support a
modern emergency facility and essential patient-care equipment — investments
that are already making a meaningful difference for patients and families every
day. This state-of-the-art Emergency Department reflects the quality of care
our community residents deserve.
“This achievement is also a
powerful example of the foundational role the Foundation plays — serving as a
bridge between the generosity of our community and the care our neighbours
need, today and into the future. We are profoundly grateful to our donors,
campaign cabinet, and community leaders whose generosity and leadership made
this vision a reality.”
While the space is new, the
Emergency Department continues to be staffed by the same dedicated physicians,
nurses, and support teams who have served the community for years, now working
within an environment designed to better support modern emergency medicine and
patient needs.
As the MRHA looks ahead, the
Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department remains a lasting investment in the health
and well-being of the region, reinforcing the Alliance’s commitment to
delivering high-quality care close to home for the growing communities it
serves.
For more information, visit www.mrha.ca.
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Additional
Resources:
B-roll and video footage of the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department is
available here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXCWWZIrKJ8
Media Contact:
Caitlin O’Hara, Communications Lead
Mississippi River Health Alliance
613-621-9638
caohara@mrha.ca
About the Mississippi River Health
Alliance (MRHA)
The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) was
formed in 2016 to formalize and strengthen collaboration between the Almonte
General Hospital Corporation—which includes Almonte General Hospital (AGH),
Fairview Manor (FVM), and the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS)—and the
Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Corporation (CPDMH). This
partnership delivers seamless, high-quality healthcare that addresses the
evolving needs of local communities. Together, the MRHA is building an
integrated healthcare system that provides comprehensive care close to home,
enhancing access and improving health outcomes throughout the region. For more
information visit MRHA.ca.