Bethesda Wellness plans to invest $100-million

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This article was published 08/01/2024 (532 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The future of health care facilities in Manitoba could be setting its foundation in Steinbach.

Bethesda Wellness Inc. is a registered charity whose board of directors wants to use funds from provincial grants and donations to the Bethesda Foundation to invest in potentially $100 million of real estate and provide space for a wide range of health care services.

Years down the road, that investment could pay itself off and start generating revenue that could in turn be reinvested into more health care projects in the community. The hope is after investment debts are paid, there would be a six percent or $6-million per year return.

Money would come from leasing space to the province, dentists, physiotherapists and anyone else in a health care field who wants to be part of a growing health campus at the corner of Heritage Drive and Stone Bridge Crossing.

This grand plan all started after percolating in the mind of investing charity Bethesda Wellness board chair Darrel Penner, who also became chair of the fundraising charity Bethesda Foundation in 2023 after being a long-time board member.

Penner was a bit bashful taking credit for the idea when asked how he came up with it.

“I don’t know, that’s what I’ve done all my life for the most part. Come up with innovative stuff and think outside the box a bit,” admitted Penner.

He said a collaboration with former Steinbach councillor and deputy mayor Ken Friesen helped form a solid plan that could be taken to Southern Health.

“They liked the concept for the Bethesda Primary Care Centre. It took us a couple years to figure that project out, and I’m very happy with how that turned out,” said Penner.

The Bethesda Primary Care Centre was completed in August 2017 and houses the Steinbach Medical Clinic, a QuickCare Clinic, Community Health Services office, and a pharmacy.

The next project completed was just three months later in November 2017 with the Stonebridge Wellness Centre. It has 16,500 sq. ft. of space leased out to different types of health care providers.

But the first project completed was over a decade ago. Prior to February 2012, the Southeast had no designated psychiatric beds. The Crisis Stabilization Unit at 450 Main Street now meets the needs of people experiencing an emotional or life crisis, without the need to go to the hospital. This not only helps those experiencing a crisis, but frees up hospital emergency room staff and beds for more physical health requirements.

“It was a solution for the Province in a way,” said Chris Goertzen, who now sits on the fundraising Bethesda Foundation side, and who was mayor of Steinbach in 2012.

“There was no space to create this, and Bethesda Wellness was able to create that space,” said Goertzen.

“It worked. It has helped the province, but it’s also been a catalyst for Bethesda Wellness to maintain some control of funds here in the region,” he added.

Now the concept is to develop the health care campus so the local charity could help run health care facilities locally. About $19 million has been invested so far, with $80 million to go to reach their long-term goal.

There is space to grow, with more details to come as a fundraising campaign that was put on hold during the pandemic cranks up again this spring.

“We own land north of Bethesda Primary Care Centre; not sure what’s left there, maybe five-six acres. And we bought another seven to eight acres from Steinbach Campus Foundation just recently,” said Penner.

“And the whole concept is to develop and own health care assets in our community.”

And the double-board chair is confident the Province will look to Bethesda Wellness properties as the government looks for the flexibility of not being in the real estate game and moves towards more leasing. While that concept is yet to be proven with a new NDP government, the good names of Bethesda Wellness and Bethesda Foundation are familiar to all parties.

“We’ve developed a good brand with Manitoba Health, the foundation has. They wouldn’t sign these kind of leases with a private real estate owner, they just wouldn’t do it.

“And they know that any surpluses that we generate on our projects, that will all go back to health care anyway,” said Penner.

He added the trust of the community also is what allows them to build this health care dream.

“They trust us with giving us money for future projects. The big difference there is if we have the money there to pledge, we can also negotiate projects with the province or Southern Health. It’s a lot easier when you have the money,” explained Penner.

He said there are ideas for the spring fundraising campaign, but we will need to wait for details.

“We are working on a project right now which potentially will be at the earliest likely be announced first quarter of 2025. It’s not that far away,” said Penner.

Goertzen said with the growth of Steinbach and the region, there will be more to do.

“We anticipate there will be additional projects, there will be additional needs, and we want to be ready for that,” said Goertzen.

“We want to be ready so that we can say yes to the provincial government if they need their community contribution.”

The easiest way to donate to the Bethesda Foundation, which helps fund Bethesda Wellness, is to visit the foundation website at bethesdafoundation.ca.