September 12, 2025 (Whitecap, SK) – Construction on the state-of-the-art building for Virtual Health Hub (VHH) has officially started. With construction slated to be completed early 2027, VHH is set to be fully operational in the unique virtual care facility on Whitecap Dakota Nation land, located 26 kilometres south of Saskatoon. This facility is the first of its kind in Canada. The project is also supported by Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT).
The project was awarded to PCL Construction Management Inc. on July 16th, 2025, with construction beginning six days later. Canada’s Minister of Indigenous Services and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health met today with VHH leadership in Whitecap to view the site.
“Congratulations to the Whitecap Dakota Nation and Chief Darcy Bear on breaking ground for the Virtual Health Hub. This innovative project is a powerful example of what Indigenous leadership and partnership can achieve—bringing cutting-edge technology and culturally safe care closer to home. By working together, we are making a real difference for thousands of people in northern, rural, and remote Saskatchewan communities.” said the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty.
“Virtual Health Hub is a strong, Indigenous-led initiative that is helping to make health care more accessible for people in Saskatchewan’s rural, northern, and remote communities. By leveraging advanced technologies like telehealth, robotics, and artificial intelligence, this project ensures more residents can access high-quality care when and where they need it,” said Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill. “Our government is proud to support the construction of this innovative facility, which aims to strengthen and secure the healthcare system for the communities it serves.”
Serving as a national hub for virtual care, the facility will employ telehealth, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies to bring high-quality services directly to communities that have long faced systemic barriers to care.
Using cutting-edge technology, VHH will offer high-quality treatment and services entirely remotely, from a state-of-the-art command center. These technologies include advanced virtual care, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging tools to bring high-quality services directly to communities that have long faced systemic barriers to care.
VHH’s Director of the Virtual Care and Remote Presence Robotics, Dr. Ivar Mendez, said, “Virtual Health Hub reflects a bold, Indigenous-led solution to one of Canada’s most pressing healthcare challenges: delivering equitable, sustainable care to remote and underserved communities.” Dr. Mendez added, “This specialized facility is designed to transform healthcare delivery by using advanced virtual care technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and robotics through hybrid care, workforce innovation, and culturally grounded implementation.”
“Innovative healthcare solutions, like the Virtual Health Hub, can not only improve patient outcomes and support health workers, but also contribute to building a stronger Canada, where everyone, including Indigenous, remote, and rural communities, can benefit from these groundbreaking health technologies and has better access to care.” commented the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, Government of Canada.
“PCL are thrilled to have been selected as the general contractor for the Virtual Health Hub project. It is the first of a kind project that we know aspires to lead the way for Indigenous-led healthcare and rural healthcare not only in our province, but across Canada.” commented Mike Staines, Vice President & District Manager of PCL Construction Management Inc.
Whitecap Dakota Nation Chief Darcy Bear commented, “Our community is proud to host Virtual Health Hub and bring together government resources to pilot a common sense and truly innovative solution to meeting the needs of healthcare, especially for those in rural and northern Saskatchewan. And, given the interest we are receiving from elsewhere in Canada, it promises to revolutionize healthcare across the country.”
Virtual Health Hub is a bold, Indigenous-led solution to one of Canada’s most pressing healthcare challenges: delivering equitable, sustainable care to remote and underserved communities. It is designed to transform access to health services through hybrid health care, workforce innovation, and culturally-grounded implementation.
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For more information, please contact:
Trevor Percy
Virtual Health Hub
1.306.850.7147
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