The former Georgian College Muskoka Campus in Bracebridge could soon be transformed into a regional health and wellness hub under a rezoning application going before the Town’s Planning and Development Committee this week.
The application would allow the existing 1.34-hectare property on Wellington Street to be repurposed following the conclusion of Georgian College programming after the 2025-26 academic year.
Rather than constructing a new building, the proposal focuses on renovating the existing campus to create a centralized healthcare facility offering a range of medical and wellness services. At the heart of the project is a proposed Family Medicine Teaching Unit that would provide patient care while training future physicians and healthcare professionals.
Plans also include a medical clinic with examination rooms, medical offices for family physicians, specialists and allied health professionals, as well as physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. A drug store and a small restaurant, limited to 50 square metres, are also proposed to support patients, staff and visitors.
The zoning amendment seeks to add “medical office,” “drug store,” and a small restaurant as permitted uses while maintaining the property’s primary healthcare focus.
No additions to the existing building are proposed. Instead, the redevelopment will consist of interior renovations to accommodate healthcare tenants, along with minor exterior façade improvements and landscaping enhancements.
The site currently includes the main college building, an outdoor covered seating area, a gazebo and a storage shed that will remain. Two additional storage sheds are slated for removal.
Parking capacity will remain at 110 spaces, although six accessible parking spaces will be provided—up from the current two—to improve accessibility for patients and visitors.
Town planning staff say the proposal makes efficient use of an existing institutional building and municipal infrastructure while helping address growing healthcare needs in Bracebridge and across Muskoka. If approved, the facility would create a centralized destination for healthcare services while supporting physician education and expanding access to family medicine and other medical services in the region.
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