THUNDER BAY -- New investors and new management are looking to implement changes at the privately-operated McKellar Place assisted living retirement complex in the former McKellar General Hospital.
Thunder Bay developer Ahsanul Habib retains a stake in the development that he initiated, but a spokesperson says there is a new ownership group as well as an advisory board, and that Habib "is basically completely stepping back" in order to deal with other matters.
Chris Treftlin's company Shine At Home has been contracted to oversee management and daily operations.
For Treftlin, a retirement living consultant and native of Fort Frances, it's a return to the place that he helped design, market, staff and provide other assistance when McKellar Place was in its infancy.
"I look forward to bringing the full potential of McKellar to fruition," he said.
Treftlin, currently based in Sarnia, says his experience includes management of eight to 10 retirement homes in southwestern Ontario.
Eighty people currently live in McKellar Place's assisted-living apartment units. The capacity is 100, with the potential for 20 more.
Treftlin said he anticipates it will expand to the full capacity within the next two years.
Space in the building is also used by health services such as a nurse practitioner clinic and supported living for people living with brain injuries.
"We're really going to leverage those things to improve and increase McKellar's profile in the community," Treftlin said.
He said McKellar Place will be "an incredibly value-added program," explaining that whereas right now it's primarily apartments for seniors, with a food program they may also participate in, "we're going to turn it into a real retirement home with all the services you would expect at a retirement home."
He said services will include things such as housekeeping, three meals a day, and an activity program.
Fees will go up, Treftlin said, "somewhat," but will still be less than other facilities in the market.
"Part of the challenge that McKellar has experienced is that it doesn't really know what it is. Is it an apartment? Is it a retirement home? The strategic decision has been made by the advisory council to actually make it a pure and true retirement home."
Advisory board member Jim Peterson echoed Treftlin, saying "We are turning the corner on some historical issues that have challenged McKellar Place's ability to realize its full senior services potential."
