On August 13, 2025, Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) reached a significant and transformative milestone with the opening of the new Andersen Ambulatory Assessment Area – Zone 7 at Brantford General Hospital (BGH).
After nearly a decade of planning and collaboration, this new space represents not only an expansion of the Emergency Department (ED), but also a vision for the future of patient care in Brantford-Brant.
Spanning 2,200 square feet, Zone 7 is purpose-built to support patients with less urgent care needs while improving patient flow and easing pressures on the main ED.
The new area includes six private treatment rooms, six treatment chairs, a dedicated minor procedures room, modern equipment and furnishings, and thoughtfully designed kid-friendly spaces that are welcoming to children and families in moments that can often feel overwhelming.
For Dr. Somaiah Ahmed, Chief & Medical Director of Emergency Medicine, stepping into the new space for the first time was deeply meaningful. “This feels like the first step in the culmination of an ED project that was first envisioned nearly 10 years ago,” she says.
“It represents a vision that we will continue to grow into spaces that provide the very best care for our patients.”
That vision is built into the design itself. A dedicated new minor procedures room allows care teams to perform treatments with proper sedation in a safe, efficient environment, enabling faster turnaround times and improved access to care.
Dan DeJonge, Redevelopment Project Manager, oversees the ED Renovation Improvement Project and calls the opening of Zone 7 a defining moment. “This is the first clinical space redeveloped as part of the project, and it marks a major milestone,” he says.
“There were challenges along the way, but I’m most proud of the teamwork that brought us here. What we’ve built is flexible, efficient, and future-focused.”
This achievement would not have been possible without the generosity of the BCHS Foundation and its donors, who successfully raised over $8 million in support of the overall ED Renovation Improvement Project.
For Kari Wilson, Executive Director of the BCHS Foundation, the opening reflects the power of community.
“The new Andersen Ambulatory Assessment Area – Zone 7 is a symbol of what’s possible when the community comes together.”
“Gifts of all sizes have made this possible, and the response from the Andersen family and our donor community has been overwhelming.”
With the new Zone 7 now open, the community has its first glimpse of that vision brought to life.
The overall Emergency Department Renovation Improvement Project will continue in phases and is expected to be completed in early 2027 at an approximate cost of $32 million.
BCHS would like to thank the Ontario Ministry of Health, Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation and its donors, our BCHS Redevelopment and construction teams, our Emergency Department care teams and staff, and all of those involved with the project who have worked tirelessly to turn this space into a reality.
Photo: Kari Wilson (left), Dan DeJonge (back left), and Dr. Somaiah Ahmed (center middle), celebrate the opening of the new Andersen Ambulatory Assessment Area – Zone 7 with Emergency Department care teams and staff.