Even if it had been pouring rain, Tracy Buckler would have turned the sod for the groundbreaking for the next phase of the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services.
“It’s a really exciting day today to be able to get going on this project that we’ve been waiting for a very long time,” said the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Care Group Thursday morning at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“It’s something that will be absolutely worthwhile at the end. A lot of tenacity, a lot of negotiation and a lot of happiness today to be able to get going,” Buckler added.
The first phase of the project was the Sister Leila Greco supportive housing apartments which had its first tenants move in at the beginning of this year.
This second phase will include a new 416 long-term care bed building to replace Grandview Lodge, Dawson Court and Bethammi Nursing Home.
Once the new building, located on Lillie Street next to the Sister Leila Greco apartments and Hogarth Riverview Manor, is complete, an addition will be constructed to Hogarth Riverview with another 32 long-term care beds.
The project was initially announced in 2007 and Thursday’s groundbreaking has been a long time coming, said Buckler.
“There’s been a lot of partnerships and that takes time,” she said, adding the project had multiple sources of funding and the process took longer than she expected or wanted.
“I think people are anxious to get moving. We need to have new environments and appropriate environments for the seniors that need our care. That’s really the bottom line for us,” she said.
The project has grown in scope as it was originally supposed to be just 300 long-term care beds, said MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan).
“It’s a spectacular day for seniors who are going to have quality, modern living accommodations. It’s really remarkable and it’s been worth every bit of effort we all put into it,” he said.
The initial 416 beds will cost $83.5 million. Funding still needs to be secured for the other 32 beds.
The project is expected to be completed in two years.
