An empty building is all that remains of the former St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network building located on Sir Winston Churchill Avenue. The network has made the move to St. Albert Centre mall and will be ready to open on Oct. 17. Dr. Ashan Fernando, board president of the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network and local family physician, says the move is going to “improve the ability to accommodate patients." “I’m really excited, I think this is going to be a great location. It’s convenient, it’s accessible and it allows us to see more patients,” he says. He says the network decided on the move before summer began. The former location had around 4,100 square feet of space, limiting classroom size to around 15 to 20 people depending if there were chairs and tables in the room. The new location in the mall has around 7,000 square feet, allowing for bigger classroom sizes and different types of classes that involve more activity. “We’re anticipating some walking groups and exercise groups just because of being in the St. Albert Centre and right next to the river,” he says. Dena Petersen, executive director of the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network, says the network decided to move due to a number of reasons. “Accessibility at the mall will be better, there’s better lighting for safety,” she says. Petersen adds that the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network will be more noticeable now that it’s located right off of St. Albert Trail, which she says will hopefully bring in more patients. The new location offers ample parking and is located by bus terminals, making it more accessible than its former location. The network will have four formal exam rooms, five consultation rooms, two large meeting rooms and one smaller boardroom. The St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network was established in St. Albert in 2006. It offers maternity, mental health, seniors' health, nutrition and health management services. Eventually the network will incorporate different programs to accommodate more walk-ins from people shopping at the centre. Petersen says one of their classes, health basics, has an active portion to the class. Participants were cramped in the old location, but the St. Albert Centre offers more room for exercise. Petersen says classes are currently being held at the Red Willow Place and the library. Equipment is sitting in storage while the last of the walls are put up at the centre. For more information on the Primary Care Network visit their website at www.saspcn.com.
