The Timmins Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee is excited to announce that it has achieved its funding goal, thanks to a $600,000 donation from Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (“Agnico Eagle”). Together, Agnico Eagle, the City of Timmins, and Timmins and District Hospital (“TADH”) will invest $1.8 million in physician incentives to attract physicians to Timmins. This funding will support the creation of a $60,000 start-up grant for up to thirty physicians over the next three years.

“Agnico Eagle is committed to being a partner in the communities where we live and work. We are honored to support the Timmins and District Hospital and applaud the collaborative efforts driving this vital physician recruitment initiative. Access to quality healthcare is not just a necessity, but a cornerstone for healthy, thriving communities. Supporting this important initiative helps ensure that our employees, their families and our neighbors have the access to care they need. As part of our broader commitment to sustainability, we believe investing in healthcare is investing in the long-term well-being, resilience and prosperity of Northern Ontario,” said Andre Leite, Vice-President, Ontario, Agnico Eagle.

The Committee is a collaborative effort among community partners to tackle the urgent physician shortage in our region. In 2024, the Committee recognized the competitive landscape and the need to support practice start-ups to help physicians transition into a new community. This recruitment initiative addresses this need. The Committee connected with key community partners, including the City of Timmins, Timmins and District Hospital (“TADH”), and a local industry leader to support this initiative.

“Achieving this funding milestone paves the way for more patient-care successes at TADH. I am so proud of the unwavering support from our community, including Agnico Eagle, and the collaborative efforts of the partnerships to address the critical need of physician recruitment,” expressed Kate Fyfe, President and CEO of Timmins and District Hospital.

In 2024, the Committee secured a $200,000 annual commitment for the next three years from the City of Timmins and TADH, respectively.

Mayor Michelle Boileau shared “Investing in physician recruitment is essential to ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare, close to home. This leads to improved public health, economic growth, and supports the overall well-being of our community. The City of Timmins, Agnico Eagle, and Timmins and District Hospital are making a crucial commitment towards strengthening our local healthcare system. This is another example of how we can work together towards the long-term success and stability of Timmins.”

Currently, Timmins and District is facing a physician shortage of approximately 45 family physicians and specialists. Dr. Doug Arnold, Chief of Staff and VP of Medicine at TADH shared: “Physician recruitment is an ongoing challenge and with this grant, we can set ourselves apart and continue to work toward meeting the needs of patients.”

Quick Facts:

• The Physician Recruitment and Retention Initiative supports 30 new physicians to Timmins and District Hospital with a $60,000 start-up grant over the next three years. The funding was raised by collecting a $1.8 million commitment split equally between the City of Timmins, Timmins and District Hospital, and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.
• The Recruitment and Retention Initiative is in addition to other recruitment incentives available to physicians opening a practice in Timmins, including a $150,000 interest-free loan through a partnership with the Venture Centre and Timmins and District Hospital, and the Northern Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative.
• Timmins is currently experiencing a shortage of approximately 45 physicians: 20 primary care physicians and 25 specialists.
• In the last five years Timmins has recruited 24 physicians to the area.
• The Timmins Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee is a community collaboration co-chaired between the Timmins and District Hospital and the Timmins Economic Development Corporation to proactively recruit and retain family and specialty physicians in Timmins.