Bidding closes for major hospital redevelopment project in Bowmanville

Lakeridge Health and Infrastructure Ontario will have some homework over the summer after the deadline to design, build and finance the Bowmanville Hospital redevelopment project closed this week.

Shortlisted teams Bowmanville Health Partners and PCL Partnerships submitted their detailed proposals, signaling the close of the eight-month Request for Proposals stage.

“The close of the Request for Proposals is an exciting milestone for the Bowmanville Hospital redevelopment, bringing us one step closer to breaking ground on a project that will help meet the health-care needs of our growing community,” said Lakeridge Health CEO Cynthis Davis. “This redevelopment will expand access to care and support our vision of ‘One System. Best Health.’”

Over the following months, the proposals will be evaluated by Infrastructure Ontario and Lakeridge Health, with a decision to award the contract expected this fall, with construction anticipated to begin shortly after.

A fairness monitor is overseeing the entire procurement process.

The redevelopment and expansion of the Bowmanville Hospital will more than double the size of the current hospital, expand critical care services and introduce modern, patient-centred facilities, including private rooms, ambulatory care clinics and a haemodialysis centre.

The upgrades will also bump the hospital up to Level 3 Critical Care capacity and add a rooftop helipad to support rapid access to emergency services.

“Today’s milestone brings us another step closer to getting shovels in the ground for the Bowmanville Hospital’s redevelopment and is another way our government is connecting families in Durham Region to the right care, in the right place, for generations to come,” said Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones.

The brand-new hospital will be built entirely on site, ensuring patient care remains uninterrupted throughout construction.

“Infrastructure Ontario is proud to be driving the Bowmanville Hospital redevelopment project forward and supporting the future of health care in Durham Region,” said Infrastructure Ontario CEO Angela Clayton. “We look forward to continuing our work with Lakeridge Health and our partners to help deliver this important project and support better care for the community.”

The final price tag for the ambitious expansion has not been identified but what is known is $110 million is expected from the community – the largest fundraising initiative in the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation’s history.

“Today’s milestone is an exciting step forward for the future of health care in Bowmanville and across Durham Region. As the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation marks 50 years of community generosity and support, we are proud to continue inspiring the giving needed to help bring this new, modern hospital to life,” said Bowmanville Hospital Foundation CEO Maria Petri. “This is a once-in-a-generation project, and every gift brings us closer to expanded care, modern equipment, and a hospital built for the needs of our growing community.”

The fundraising efforts were driven by the We Care, We Can campaign, which was launched in 2022 to invite local businesses, residents, and community groups to use their platforms and creativity to raise funds and awareness for the campaign. In 2025, the foundation was chosen as the beneficiary for 58 community fundraising events, helping to advance plans for life-saving equipment and move the hospital’s redevelopment forward.

Lakeridge Health is one of Ontario’s most comprehensive health systems, with five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a state-of-the-art, community-based surgical centre, and more than 30 community-based locations delivering acute, ambulatory, and long-term care.

“Together,” Davis said, “we’re building a healthier future for Durham Region.”