Busy Brampton library forced to relocate to make room for new medical school

A busy branch of the Brampton Library must vacate its current space to make room for a new medical school.

The Brampton Library’s Chinguacousy branch at Bramalea Civic Centre will be taken over by a new medical school for the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), formerly Ryerson University.

At a city council meeting on Wednesday, March 1, council chose to gift the centre and most of the land it’s on to the university, which means the library and several other tenants will need to move.

While the library board is looking at several potential locations in the city to move the library to, no new location has been confirmed yet.

According to the city, staff are currently engaging with occupants in the Bramalea Civic Centre, including the Brampton Library, on relocation plans.

“Our priority is to ensure minimal disruption to services and programming for both residents and users,” said Natalie Stogdill, the city’s manager of media and engagement.

The new School of Medicine could open as soon as 2025 and is set to receive 80 undergraduate seats and some 95 postgraduate positions.

Premier Doug Ford visited Brampton back in January to announce the location of the new school, which is the first new medical school in the GTA in over a century and the first in Ontario in over 30 years.

He was accompanied by Mayor Patrick Brown, local politicians, and representatives from TMU.

“Through the creation of the Brampton School of Medicine, we are building a healthcare system that fosters local talent and creates economic growth in the medical sector,” said Patrick Brown.

The Civic Centre was chosen as the location for the school due to its proximity to both Brampton Civic Hospital and the Peel Memorial Centre, as well as its accessibility to municipal transportation, GO transit and highway systems, the City said.

The site also meets space requirements to build 250,000 square feet of classrooms, offices, research facilities and an integrated health clinic.

The City says it will invest $20 million in funding to support building renovations required for the programming and operations of the School of Medicine.

Mohamed Lachemi, president of Toronto Metropolitan University, said the TMU School of Medicine will help support the province by “improving urban health and meeting the needs of underrepresented populations.”

More updates are expected at a later date regarding a possible new location for the Brampton Library’s Chinguacousy branch.