BOW VALLEY – Phase two of the Bow River Seniors Lodge expansion will soon be underway, with officials confirming this week construction of the $16.9 million facility to begin in the spring of 2020.
During a tea party held at the lodge in Canmore Friday (Oct. 4), Alberta’s Minister of Seniors and Housing, Josephine Pon, as well as the local MLA and MP, both Banff and Canmore mayors, and a few town councillors were all in attendance to acknowledge work completed so far and celebrate the commencement of phase two.
“It’s an exciting time for the Bow River Seniors Lodge, you’ve already completed the first one [phase one] … and again, ready to go for the second one, so congratulations,” said Minister Pon to a crowd of seniors, staff and officials.
“Sixty new housing units underway, and to serve you a better life quality – and this is my job – to make sure you live comfortably.”
The Alberta government previously approved funding $16 million for the project, which will provide 60 new units – 30 for designated supportive living level four care and 30 for designated supportive living level four dementia care – both identified as a crucial need in the Bow Valley Regional Housing’s (BVRH) 2018 housing needs assessment. According to Pon, even with the new government and delayed budget, she doesn’t foresee any changes with that number.
“As we all know, we are still working on a budget right now and the budget will be disclosed Oct. 24,” said Pon.
“Regardless, we still continue to build to support the community and provide affordable housing and lodge to the seniors. That plan hasn’t changed. In terms of the numbers in the budget, you’ll find that out on Oct. 24.”
Grant Canning, chair of the BVRH board, said with the changing governments this past spring, it created uncertainty around phase two, which was supposed to see construction start this year.
“The provincial government had allocated some money for this, and then with the changing government, and just things moving around, there was some uncertainty that was thrown into the budget process,” he said.
“I think [BVRH's] discussions with the ministry, it became quite apparent that we could play a significant role in that to make up those shortfalls. Once that became apparent, then the individual councils through the board members were more than happy to put their support behind it and say ‘this is significant for the community.' ”
Canning and Ian Wilson, BVRH’s chief administrative officer, said there was a suspension in the design process while some numbers got worked out, but the board and subsequent communities were able to make up for the estimated $900,000 shortfall, with the project as a whole estimated at $16.9 million and the province providing $16 million.
“At the end of the day my board [BVRH] elected to offer to contribute up to $900,000 from our capital reserves to make sure the project went ahead, and that was pretty pivotal in making things more forward,” said Wilson.
That number is capped at $900,000, so should construction go over, other avenues will need to be taken to ensure the costs are covered. As well, on Dec. 1 building codes in Alberta will change, so the BVRH is hoping to get all its permits before that. If not, it’s likely the cost of phase two will increase at least $700,000, according to Wilson.
“When this all started eight years ago, we were looking at building them ourselves, instead the province has put $30 million into the Bow Valley, so $900,000 is a bit of a deal,” said Wilson.
Canning added he gets the sense the new government will continue to fund the things that need to be funded.
“This project is essential to the valley, as we know through our housing needs study, that this is a need that’s here, we know it’s here, it’s a severe problem for us in the valley to have these levels of care,” said Canning.
“So it was really great to hear the minister discuss how they recognize this is an ongoing issue and they will continue to support it.”
Canning and Wilson said the plan is to begin construction in April, while excavation has already begun, with completion planned for summer of 2021.
“From there, we’ll have a whole commissioning, and I call it a ramp up, or rent up period,” said Wilson.
“Because it’s an AHS [Alberta Health Services] facility in terms of determining who comes in because of the high need of the folks, it will be a 10 to 12 month rent up period. Rather than bring all these high needs folks in at once and then they wouldn’t be properly served, it’ll be 10 per cent per month.”
BVRH published a housing needs assessment this spring and projected a need for seniors supportive living housing at a level four and level four with care for patients with dementia care at 23 and 12 units respectively by 2017-22. Those numbers rise to 50 and 40 units by the 2022-27 time period, according to the regional study produced by the Headwaters Group.
Visit the BVRH’s website at www.bvhr.ca for more information.
