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Province announces $10 million for seniors' housing

Bonnylodge and Villa Ouimet are the focus of an up-coming $10 million rejuvenation and redevelopment plan announced by the province this past Wednesday that aims to both increase the number of seniors' housing units in Bonnyville and modernize the ex
Town coun. and chairman of the Lakeland Lodge and Housing Foundation Ray Prevost (right) introduces Ministers Doug Griffiths and George VanderBurg at the announcement for a
Town coun. and chairman of the Lakeland Lodge and Housing Foundation Ray Prevost (right) introduces Ministers Doug Griffiths and George VanderBurg at the announcement for a $10 million upgrade of Villa Ouimet and BonnyLodge.

Bonnylodge and Villa Ouimet are the focus of an up-coming $10 million rejuvenation and redevelopment plan announced by the province this past Wednesday that aims to both increase the number of seniors' housing units in Bonnyville and modernize the existing facilities.

“It is a great pleasure that I share some news that has been in the making for several years,” said Bonnyville – Cold Lake MLA Genia Leskiw at Bonnylodge on Wednesday. “Our seniors … helped us build this province and the communities we call home. We value your contributions and we are committed to providing all of you with a safe, affordable and comfortable place to live.”

“Today, we are pleased to announce $10 million will go forward to renovating the Villa Ouimet complexes and the Bonnylodge.”

She explained the first phase of the project will create 52 added units, modernize the kitchen and dining area of the Bonnylodge and connect the self-contained apartments with the lodge, enabling seniors to stay in independent living for longer with easier access to services offered at the lodge, “for an improved aging-in-place lifestyle.”

Leskiw was joined by Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths and Minister of Seniors George VanderBurg for the announcement and both ministers stressed how dedicated Leskiw had been in representing what Bonnyville Mayor Ernie Isley last year called the “Bonnyville seniors' housing crisis.”

“I'm trying to think of a good way to describe her,” Griffiths said before the announcement. “Relentless comes to mind, because she has called every single day asking how we were advancing on this project. She is dedicated to this community, she is dedicated to the seniors in this community, she is dedicated to everyone in the entire constituency.”

He added after the announcement, “We're just grateful that we can help the community achieve some of its goals. This is going to be remarkable for the community.”

The project is the first one announced as part of the Progressive Conservative Government's commitment to creating 1,000 new seniors' housing spaces each year, explained VanderBurg.

“The one thing I'm excited about in this announcement — the premier has challenged all of us to build 1,000 new spaces each and every year,” he said. “This is 50 of that 1,000 announced early in this year and we have a lot of work to do but through great partnerships between ministries and communities and foundations like (the Lakeland Lodge and Housing Foundation) here in Bonnyville, this is a great start to those 1,000 units.”

The Lakeland Lodge and Housing Foundation has been working on the issue of seniors' housing in the area and this project specifically for over five years, said Ray Prevost, Town of Bonnyville councillor and chair of the foundation.

VanderBurg explained the Bonnyville seniors' housing issue had been brought up to him four years ago, when he was the chair of the seniors advisory council for the province.

“Back then, we had the opportunity to talk about what's possible and what the community had to do to get ready for today,” said VanderBurg. “I have to say, the community, the foundation members, the staff, the residents of this area have supported this MLA so well and we are here to deliver on that commitment that we made back then.”

In November 2011, Griffiths and VanderBurg visited BonnyLodge for the facility's 51st anniversary, leaving Prevost and the rest of the foundation frustrated and disappointed after an expected funding announcement was not made, and Griffiths addressed that disappointment at BonnyLodge on Wednesday.

“We came … three and a half months ago,” he said. “We were new ministers, newly appointed, and we got a presentation for what the potential of this building could be. It was incredibly exciting.

“I know that there was disappointment that we didn't show up three and a half months ago and make an announcement, but we had just seen the presentation and trust me, we are now looking at models from all around the province and hoping that they will follow this example.”

“As the first of several housing regeneration/

renewal projects in Alberta, I'm pleased to note that the Bonnyville project is the blueprint of housing success,” Leskiw added during her announcement.

Prevost said the announcement was “a long time coming,” making sure to stress that the foundation as a whole had worked tirelessly on the issue.

“The board was somewhat relentless,” he said. “We knew that it was a need and not a want and this $10 million project is going to go a long ways to alleviate some of the housing needs … It won't eliminate the entire waiting list but it is going to go a long ways to improve the seniors' housing in Bonnyville.”

While admitting he had been disappointed following the ministers' visit in November, Prevost was quick to add, “Now I'm quite ecstatic. I think we're all excited about it. It's going to be a long, tedious project … but I think it's well worth the efforts that we've put into it and I think the seniors will be more than happy when they see the new setup that we plan to complete.”

He added construction should begin around September of this year, after the plans have been finalized and sent out for tender, and the project is estimated to take two or three years to complete.

“This is just the beginning,” said Leskiw. “This is phase one. We're not finished being relentless with the seniors minister and the housing minister. We have other projects in the area that we have to go after and they know I will be at their doorstep.”

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