Southeast Public Health to close several offices as part of regional restructuring

Offices within 50 kms of SEPH-owned locations in Belleville, Kingston, Brockville and Smiths Falls will be closed.

Southeast Public Health is consolidating its operations and will close multiple offices across the region as part of a restructuring plan taking effect March 1, 2026.

The agency says it has been reviewing how best to deliver services since the merger that created SEPH. The review examined office locations, service usage, occupancy costs, community needs, and workforce preservation.

SEPH found that several leased offices were underused and that ending those leases would allow the agency to reinvest in new ways of offering public health programs. Offices within 50 kilometres of SEPH-owned locations in Belleville, Kingston, Brockville and Smiths Falls will be closed.

The leased sites affected are in Almonte, Gananoque, Kemptville, Napanee, Perth, Picton and Trenton. SEPH will also end operations at its owned office in Cloyne, which the agency says is not suited to support its programs. The leased office in Bancroft will remain open due to its distance from other sites.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza says the changes will help protect core public health services and support long-term sustainability. He says SEPH remains committed to serving rural communities and will introduce new rural service strategies in the coming months.

No permanent employee positions are being eliminated as part of the restructuring.

Story by Grant Deme