The Government of Alberta has stepped forward with an extra $3 million after tenders for the Bonnylodge and Villa Ouimet expansion projects came in over the $10 million the government had already promised.
Genia Leskiw, MLA for Bonnyville – Cold Lake, announced she had secured the funding at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) convention in Edmonton after receiving confirmation from Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
“I was very happy to have lunch with the mayor of Bonnyville and the Bonnyville councillors,” said Leskiw. “I said to them at the table, ‘I've got good news for you guys. We should open up a bottle of champagne.'
“Unfortunately, all we did was toast with a glass of water and I told them I did secure $3 million to cover the difference between what they originally projected and what the new cost is.”
The announcement comes two weeks after budget concerns forced the cancellation of a planned sod-turning event at the Bonnylodge to celebrate the beginning of construction. After tenders came in over the $10 million, the status of the project was in question.
Connie Surgeson, CAO for the Lakeland Lodge and Housing Foundation, admitted she was a little concerned the project might not happen at all.
“But with the help of our board and our MLA, they rallied the government,” she said. “Both our board and our MLA secured the funding and we were quite excited about that. They were working really hard.
“It's definitely a need in this area. We have a huge waitlist at Bonnylodge and this will alleviate a portion of that waitlist.”
According to Coun. Ray Prevost, chair of the Lakeland Lodge and Housing board, credit for this success belongs to the perseverance of the board, both past and present, and Leskiw's hard work.
“It's a credit, I think, to the board, past and present, that bought into it and stayed the course, and the results are quite positive. I think that's the best way to do things.”
He said it had been a long process and a lot of hard work, but that was necessary to achieve the end result.
“It's not as if people drive through the town of Bonnyville, stop at A&W, and say, ‘holy cripes, there are a lot off seniors here. We should build a lodge.'
“That's not the way it works. You really have to do your homework, do a needs assessment and work with the MLA and then achieve some success.”
He said he's pretty proud of all the hard work the board members achieved to earn this success.
He also said Leskiw worked “tirelessly” to secure the funding.
“We are very excited about it,” he said. “We hope to have the sod turning ceremony in the very near future.”
