Construction of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment in Moosonee is complete, and the facility is officially open.

The Ontario Government announced the opening of the facility on January 19.

The $20-million facility, which is located on Butcher Road, will provide frontline police officers with the leading-edge equipment and technology they need to better serve and protect their communities. The facility is a satellite detachment that forms part of the OPP James Bay Detachment, and has been designed to meet the LEED Silver performance standard.

"Our government is taking action to strengthen public safety in Northern communities," said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. "With this new detachment, we are ensuring our frontline police officers have access to the leading-edge tools and equipment they need to continue to protect the residents of Moosonee and surrounding communities."

The new Moosonee OPP detachment provides approximately 18,000 square feet of space, a modern infrastructure design to support ever-changing technology requirements including facilities to secure evidence, 11 holding cells, closed-circuit television technology and other advanced security features.

"This modern, new workspace allows our Moosonee detachment members to enhance their policing services and support to many vast, remote communities and First Nations Territories that present significant land and air accessibility challenges. This important modernization project demonstrates the commitment we share with our government to preserve public safety and uphold the law," said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.

The new detachment is part of the OPP Modernization – Phase 2 project, a $182-million initiative announced in 2018 to replace nine aging OPP facilities across the province that have reached an average age of between 40 and 60 years, and are at the end of their lifespans.

The new detachments will range in size from 17,000 to 35,000 square feet, and are located in Huron County, Mississauga, Hawkesbury, Manitoulin Island, Marathon, Parry Sound, Fort Frances, Orillia and Moosonee.

All nine are being built by Bird Capital OMP Project Co Inc., a consortium led by Bird Construction.