Margaret Rivers, 107 years old and the oldest resident in the at the long-term care home, is surrounded by hospital staff and community dignitaries as she cuts the ribbon at the grand opening. Photo by Tiffany Lloyd/Kingstonist
The Lennox and Addington County General Hospital marked two milestones on Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2026, celebrating 60 years of serving the community while officially opening its new 128-bed long-term care home.
The ceremony brought together elected officials, hospital leaders, staff, physicians, volunteers, donors, residents and community members to reflect on the hospital’s history and its expanding role in providing care close to home.
Board Chair Laurie French said the anniversary and ribbon-cutting represented both a celebration of the hospital’s past and its future.
“Today is a very special occasion as we celebrate six decades of caring for our community while also marking the opening of our most beautiful long-term care home,” French said. “This is a project that reflects our continued commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of our community today and for generations to come.”
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee called the long-term care project years in the making and said expanding capacity has been a priority for the province.
“The long-term care facilities in this province have been underserved and under capacity for an incredibly long time,” Bresee said. “Having that capacity right here in Napanee, right here in Lennox and Addington County, is so very important.”
Bresee presented provincial certificates recognizing both the hospital’s 60th anniversary and the opening of the long-term care home.
Hospital Foundation Chair Jeff Cuthill credited decades of community support for helping expand local health care services.
He highlighted the growth of the emergency department, the addition of chemotherapy and dialysis services, improvements to diagnostic imaging and the arrival of MRI services, which made the hospital the smallest community in Ontario with its own MRI at the time.
“None of these milestones happened by chance,” Cuthill said. “They happened because this community believed they were possible.”
President and CEO Mike Bell reflected on the hospital’s growth since opening in 1966 and said its greatest strength has always been its people.
“When I joined in 2024, I was just impressed out of the gates with the pride across Lennox and Addington County,” Bell said. “It’s really hard to match the pride that Lennox and Addington offers across the county.”
Bell said recent achievements include opening MRI services, earning exemplary standing with Accreditation Canada and strengthening regional partnerships, while maintaining a focus on compassionate care.
Among the ceremony’s special guests was Marilyn McCullough, the hospital’s first employee, who worked for the hospital association from 1964 before the facility opened.
McCullough recalled the excitement surrounding construction of the original hospital and praised generations of staff, volunteers and community members who helped it grow.
“I now look back over the 60 years to see how much the vision of a few members of the community who worked so hard to see the hospital built has evolved into a much greater service,” she said.
The celebration also included the dedication of the Serenity Space, a memorial garden created in honour of Dr. Jessica Biederman.
Dr. Heather Beldman said the space, located between the hospital and the long-term care home, offers a place for staff, patients, families and visitors to reflect.
“It is a place where staff, patients, families and visitors can pause, breathe and find a moment of peace during both joyful and difficult times,” Beldman said.
Long-term care Medical Director Dr. Pierre Robichaud said the new home reflects the hospital’s commitment to treating residents with dignity.
“Our residents are not living in our workplace, but rather we’re working in their home,” he said.
Administrator Kyah Dillon said the opening marks the beginning of a new chapter centred on resident-focused care.
“The home represents our commitment to providing compassionate, resident-centred care in a place where people can truly feel at home,” Dillon said.
The celebration concluded with French thanking generations of board members, physicians, staff, volunteers, donors and community partners before inviting dignitaries to officially open the new long-term care home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
With files from Tiffany Lloyd