Minister visits new long-term care site

Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care Natalia Kusendova-Bashta (fifth from left, holding her son Matthew) was at the site of where the new Chateau Park Long-Term Care Home is being built. She provided an update during her March 4 visit.

Ontario’s minister of long-term care was in Amherstburg last week to get a look at the new long-term care home under construction.

Chateau Park Long-Term Care Home is moving to the building currently under construction at 140 Fryer St., at the corner of Richmond St., and it was learned during Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta’s visit last Wednesday afternoon that the home is roughly 25 per cent complete.

Kusendova-Bashta highlighted the jobs associated with the new long-term care home and the financing of it as well. Chateau Park Long-Term Care Home is currently in Windsor and has 59 beds, but will have 160 beds once it opens in Amherstburg. The anticipated opening date for the redeveloped long-term home is mid-2027.

The project is expected to support roughly 370 jobs and more than 200 permanent long-term care positions once the home opens. Kusendova-Bashta pointed out the efforts to make that happen, including Riverdale Living and the ARCH Corporation, the contractors as well the Building Ontario Fund (BOF), the latter who assisted with the financing.

The ministry said this home is a recipient of the ministry’s construction funding subsidy top-up and is additionally financed through Building Ontario Fund (BOF) in partnership with Manulife. BOF plays a critical role in advancing revenue-generating infrastructure development in Ontario by catalyzing investment in priority projects. Arch Corporation has partnered with BOF to develop long-term care homes in smaller communities.

“As you can see, it takes a village,” said Kusendova-Bashta. “As minister, I can’t do, I can’t do it alone.”

The long-term care minister added “we’re marking a significant milestone for Amherstburg” and that “we are building for the future to create good-paying jobs and support stronger, more resilient communities.”

“We’re bringing hope for the community,” she added.

Mayor Michael Prue said the location was a “logical choice” for the developers, given its proximity to other amenities in the area. Prue cited the Amherstburg Community Hub next door, which has a nurse practitioner’s office and Amherstburg Community Services among its tenants, as well as the redevelopment of H. Murray Smith Centennial Park next door and the nearby seniors centre where the Golden Age Club meets.

“We even dug up the road to make sure the water and sewage was available,” said Prue. “Amherstburg has done its part.”

The mayor offered thanks for the long-term care home coming to Amherstburg, with the 101 new beds being added to the 59 that are being transferred from Windsor.

“This is a seniors corner,” he said.

Bringing the redeveloped home to Amherstburg has been in the works for quite some time, Prue added, believing it will lead the town to become better in the process. He said an tax abatement program offered through the town was used to entice the development to Amherstburg.

Asked about the jobs shifting from Windsor to Amherstburg, Prue cited a number of shared services throughout the region. 

“It’s not far away,” he added. “It’s half an hour.”

“The people of Amherstburg are both very proud and very happy to have the new Chateau Park Long-Term Care Home in our community. Every day we are witnessing this new building (which will accommodate 160 local residents and about 240 staff) rise from the ground,” he said. “It will be a symbol of our civic pride as we move forward to make Amherstburg a stronger and more vibrant town. Thank you to both Chateau Park and the Government of Ontario for your support of our seniors.”

The new long-term care home will have five “resident home areas” which will provide a more intimate and familiar living space for residents with their own dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms. The home will also have therapy rooms, a beauty salon, a worship room, activity rooms with natural sunlight, and multiple courtyards.

“I am very pleased that the government is investing in a new long-term care home in Amherstburg, so that people who are ready for it can find the home they need. This will allow people who grew up and retired in Amherstburg to stay close to their family and close to their friends,” added Essex MPP Anthony Leardi.

Shana Bond, president of Riverdale Living, added her gratitude for the BOF funding and to the municipality and province. She said the company prides itself on the quality of care they deliver, and she thanked their staff as well for their work.

“Your efforts are truly valuable,” she said.

Michael Fedchyshyn, CEO of the Building Ontario Fund, added: “Financing smaller long-term care homes that we find in rural communities throughout Ontario presents unique challenges. By bundling four ARCH properties together, we were able to bring institutional capital to the table to see new homes built in Prescott, Tay Valley Township, Lancaster and right here in Amherstburg. These homes will not only provide expanded, high-quality care for our seniors but also serve as significant centres of employment in their communities.”

The total capital cost of the project is estimated at $75 million. 

Minister visits new long-term care site

By Ron Giofu