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Community & Public Health

Community Health Centres


Community Health Centres (CHCs) offer non-emergency health-care and health promotion programs to individuals, families, and people not covered by OHIP (the Ontario Health Insurance Plan). The staff includes doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and other kinds of health providers. Community Health Centres often offer culturally-adapted programs for the needs of their communities. A Community Health Centre is a good choice for people without a health-care provider, newcomers to Canada, or people without Ontario health insurance.

Community Health Centres are also mandated to provide services to people residing in Ontario who do not have Ontario Health Insurance coverage and who are considered a priority population for the purposes of Community Health Centre services. This population faces a significant barrier to accessing appropriate primary care.

The information listed below was provided by 211 Community Connection. 

Community Health Centres
Barrie Community Health CentreEagle Ridge Professional Complex 
490 Huronia Rd 
Barrie, ON L4M 6M2
705-734-9690
Centre de santé communautaire CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre845 King St, Unit 10 
Midland, ON L4R 0B7
705-527-4154
admin@chigamik.ca
South Georgian Bay Community Health CentreRamblewood Medical Centre 
14 Ramblewood Dr, Unit 202 
Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 0C4
705-422-1888
jwalker@southgeorgianbaychc.ca

Public Health Unit


A Public Health Unit is a health agency that provides a wide range of programs and services carried out by specially qualified staff.  Health units focus on promoting and protecting community health, and preventing disease, disability, and injury.  They provide health promotion and prevention programs, and work with communities and individuals to ensure people live, work and play in healthy, safe and clean environments.

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit provides a variety of public health programs and services that range from healthy living to child development, vaccinations to safe food, infectious diseases to injury prevention, sexual health to dental care, and much more.  You do not require a health card or need to have a doctor to use these services.

The health unit also provides Health Connection, a free confidential public health information and advice service for residents and visitors to Simcoe and Muskoka.

Health Connection links you to all health unit programs and services.  It can also link you to other community resources like parenting programs, car seat inspection clinics, or help you find the nearest walking trail. 

Available by phone, emailFacebook and Twitter, Health Connection is staffed by public health nurses and inspectors who can help you get the information and resources you need to keep you and your family healthy.

If English is not your first language, or you have a family member who is more comfortable speaking in their mother tongue, Health Connection can help.  Simply tell one of the public health professionals that you would like to speak in your own language and immediately you will be connected with a professional interpreter over the phone, at no cost to you.

Using an interpreter will not affect your right to privacy or confidentiality, but will allow you to confidently make decisions about your own health based on the best possible information.

You can talk to a public health professional at Health Connection, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520.

Public Health Unit
Health ConnectionPhone: 705-721-7520
Toll-Free: 1-877-721-7520

Home and Community Care support services


Community-based health care is available for people who need health-care assistance at home.  Home and Community Care Support Services coordinate services for individuals in their own community by helping people to live independently at home, apply for medical services or to a long-term care home, or by providing information about community support services agencies in their local communities.

Home and Community Care Support Services help patients, their families and caregivers when they need services, support and guidance to:

  • Remain safely at home with the support of health and other care professionals
  • Return home from hospital and recover at home
  • Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner
  • Find community services that support healthy, independent living
  • Transition to long-term care or supportive housing
  • Die with dignity in the setting of their choice

Click here to learn more about Home and Community Care Support Services in Ontario: