The expansion of the Bow River Seniors Lodge in Canmore has seen a couple of major changes recently, including being split in two phases and acquiring a bigger price tag than the original $8.5 million announced a year ago.
Bow Valley Regional Housing executive director Ian Wilson said the good news is the province will pay the cost up front for phase one, which will provide 63 units and is expected to cost $15.7 million.
“Last week we found out we have funding for phase one for those 63 new units,” Wilson said, adding the work will include a new kitchen and dining room space. “But we will be foregoing the renovation of the old lodge. It is a 50-year-old design in a 40-year-old building.
“It could be renovated to make it OK, but it still wouldn’t be what we need for seniors and would not mitigate for fire safety.”
The older area of the lodge, Wilson said, would be used for phase two of the expansion and the addition of higher levels of care for seniors than what is currently offered at the facility.
BVRH manages seniors housing and social housing in Canmore and Banff and draws a requisition from its member communities. Wilson told Canmore and Banff Town councillors on Tuesday (Oct. 28) that the municipalities will have to pay 20 per cent of the project, but not yet.
“The province will pay 100 per cent of bills going forward and at some point we will repay our percentage, but over time,” he said.
The 63 unit project at the lodge is adding 20 brand new units and replacing 43 units in the original section. Construction is expected to be complete in 15 to 18 months. The facility also has 15 units that were rebuilt after a fire and 28 independent living units.
Wilson said phase two is expected to provide levels three and four of care – something that does not exist in the Bow Valley and has been identified as a critical need.
Phase one will provide level two care, but he said if 24-hour home care can be negotiated with Alberta Health Services, many of the needs of seniors could be met until level three and four are built. Currently, the Lodge has home care for half the day and Wilson said with 24-hour coverage he is confident they can meet 30 to 70 per cent of the gap in care needs that currently exist between what is offered at the Lodge and local hospitals.
“We are really hoping to do a comprehensive update to our seniors housing needs study to inform phase two,” he added.
However, the province has indicated it is providing $180 million this year for continuing care beds across the province. Wilson said that means BVRH has five weeks to apply for the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative grant funds for phase two; but if not successful, there will be more funds made available next year.
“They want to start building beds and that is really good news for us,” he said.
Several open houses are planned for later in November to provide the community with more details.
