The new west St. Catharines hospital is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Between three to four hundred people were in attended the ceremony.

They sat patiently as a parade of politicians, hospital administrators, doctors and provincial partners spoke on the long journey taken to make this hospital real.

When it was all said and done, all the speakers lined a long staircase and cut the red ribbon that was attached to the rail.

The first speaker was Environment Minister and St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley, who spoke of the long journey taken to bring the hospital to fruition.

The second speaker was Regional Chair Gary Burroughs who offered a wooden apple, a universal sign of preventative medicine, as part of a time capsule.

St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullen spoke third and offered a brick statue on behalf of the city as part of a time capsule.

McMullen says it symbolizes the bricks it took to build the hospital.

Other politicians in attendance included Niagara Falls MPP and Liberal Kim Craitor, Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin, Niagara on the Lake Lord Mayor Dave Eke and Thorold Mayor Ted Luciani.

The hospital will officially open on Sunday March, 24th at six o'clock in the morning.