LifeLabs reopened the doors to its patient service centre in Haliburton for the first time in almost six months on Monday (Sept. 21).
The relaunched site, at 7199 Gelert Rd. inside the Haliburton Family Medical Centre, restored access to laboratory testing in the village. The space had been shuttered since March 25, leaving the Minden Health Hub as the closest location for locals requiring bloodwork.
“This reopening marks an important milestone for the Haliburton community. We recognize the importance of these services and appreciate the patience and understanding shown by patients, health-care providers and community partners through the disruption,” read a LifeLabs statement emailed to The Highlander on Friday (Sept. 18).
The closure came after Dysart et al brought in a consultant to investigate air quality concerns last spring. Peterborough-based firm Pinchin Ltd. found limited ventilation to some units and elevated carbon dioxide levels throughout the building, with most offices closed. The township spent $26,000 fixing the issue over the summer.
While most tenants had moved back in by mid-July, LifeLabs was the sole holdout.
In August, Dysart’s acting mayor, Walt McKechnie, said he reached out to MPP Laurie Scott to help him bring LifeLabs back to the table. Following more discussions, the mayor learned the company was still concerned about a lingering odour at the site.
CAO Tamara Wilbee told The Highlander the township found a propane leak that was repaired by local HVAC firm Mx Co. Ltd.
LifeLabs said it completed more air quality testing in early September, with no indication of hazardous gases present within the facility. Monitoring was done for hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and combustible gas levels.
“We would like to thank mayor Walt McKechnie and CAO Tamara Wilbee for their assistance in helping get to a resolution on this issue,” a LifeLabs spokesperson said.
While council initially approved drainage improvements and oundation repairs to the building this summer, a lone submission from Total Site Services came back significantly higher than expected. Wilbee told council last month there wasn’t enough money in reserves to complete the work this year, but in a follow-up with The Highlander, confirmed it will be included in the 2027 budget.
LifeLabs to stay in medical centre
While rumours were flying around social media this week that LifeLabs could be moving to another location in Haliburton, Wilbee said the township is in the process of renewing its lease with the company at the medical centre.
Talk online centred on LifeLabs leaving the municipal building in favour of the former Pet Valu space at 231 Highland St, though the building’s owner, Peter Brady, poured cold water on those rumours.
“I don’t know where the rumours or the conversation has started, but it certainly hasn’t come from us,” said Brady, who has owned the unit for 15 years. “The building used to house an MDS Laboratories location, back when that’s what LifeLabs was known as. So, there’s some history there. Maybe that’s what people are thinking.”
LifeLabs confirmed on Wednesday (Sept. 23) that, while they assessed multiple temporary options to get operations up and running again, they have no plans to move from their Gelert Road location.
McKechnie said it was a big win getting the space reopened before winter.
“Everybody was getting very frustrated by the situation… you just don’t realize how important a business like LifeLabs is to your community until you lose it,” McKechnie said. “This was devastating for a lot of people, but especially seniors who had to make plans to go to Minden or somewhere else to get what they needed done.”
