Southeast Public Health to close seven leased offices across the region by March 1, 2026, as part of a restructuring plan aimed at reducing costs and shifting to a new rural service delivery model.
The closures affect locations in Almonte, Gananoque, Kemptville, Napanee, Perth, Picton, and Trenton. SEPH will also discontinue operations at its owned office in Cloyne due to low usage and space limitations. Services will continue in the leased Bancroft location because of its distance from the agency’s four owned offices in Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, and Smiths Falls.
SEPH says no permanent staff positions are being eliminated and that savings from the move will be reinvested into long-term service delivery.
‘Fully committed to rural communities’
Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Southeast Public Health, said the restructuring follows a months-long assessment of service usage, occupancy costs, and evolving community needs.
“The merger has given us time and funding to truly look at how we were delivering programs and services as legacy agencies,” he told Hometown News on Nov. 24. “The decision to close these offices was aimed at optimizing operations while continuing to serve the community’s needs.”
The agency’s review found several leased sites were underused, with low clinic hours compared to the number of clients served. Programs offered across the closing sites included sexual health, infant feeding support, immunizations, and environmental health.
New rural strategy in development
A new rural service strategy is expected in the coming months. Oglaza said the plan will rely on in-kind community spaces, mobile and pop-up clinics, and other flexible models that allow programs to be delivered within local communities without maintaining full-time offices.
He noted many public health services used by residents in rural areas already originate from the main offices, and that mobile services can often reach equity-deserving populations more effectively than fixed locations.
“In some cases, our bricks-and-mortar locations may have only had two clinics a month,” he said. “We can continue reaching the equivalent volume of clients served without having to lease a building for the entire month.”
Transportation concerns
Asked how SEPH will support rural residents who may need to travel farther, Oglaza said the strategy is designed to “meet people where they are,” using mobile services or setting up clinics in partner locations within each affected community.
Cost savings and reinvestment
The agency expects to save roughly $300,000 a year by terminating the leases. These funds will be redirected to support long-term sustainability and offset projected future deficits, Oglaza said.
Staff working in the affected offices, 25 in total, will be reassigned to the agency’s owned sites. SEPH would not comment on individual changes to commute times, citing privacy.
Municipal consultation
SEPH did not consult municipalities before announcing the closures, describing the move as an operational decision tied to service delivery. Municipalities were notified after staff and will be engaged as the rural strategy is developed.
“We hope to continue to have productive conversations with our municipal partners in the coming months on this matter,” Oglaza said.
Keep connected to your communities—Read the latest Lanark County news.
