Boyle seniorsí lodge Wildrose Villa will receive $11 million in funding to expand and renovate the current building.
Premier Alison Redford made the surprise announcement in Boyle last Saturday.
ìThis is a partnership between CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation), the Alberta government, the community and the Greater North Foundation,î Redford said. ìThe reason this is important is that it is an $11 million project, which we as a province have put almost $7 million into, to make sure that we are expanding an existing facility and adding new facilities so that the people living in Boyle will be able to continue to live in Boyle and be close to family.î
CMHC announced the villa will receive more than $4.3 million of federal funding under the Investment in Affordable Housing framework.
Rodney Neander, manager for marketing, communications and international from CHMC, was in Boyle to present the news.
ìIt is an exciting day for Boyle, and this project will retrofit 20 existing units (and) create 32 new units of affordable housing for low-income seniors in this community,î he said. ìThis is great news for people with housing needs. By providing more rental options for local residents, this project will continue to contribute to the economic and social well-being of the entire community.î
Athabasca town councillor and Greater North member Lionel Cherniwchan was proud that such a building would exist in Boyle.
ìThis facility is basically a bell tower for the community and the Province of Alberta of what can be done,î he said. ìThis is something that has not been done anywhere else.î
With the funding now in place, planning and construction can begin.
ìWe expect that over the next 12 months, there is going to be a renewal of this facility, including keeping some rooms the same and taking some rooms and expanding them to ensure there is a variety of services available for whatever peopleís needs might be,î Redford said. ì(We want to take an) integrated approach to how you live so that you can continue to live and thrive.î
Cherniwchan said the project has been in the works for quite some time.
ìI think for the Village of Boyle and the community, and even within Athabasca County, it is going to be a project that we are going to be very proud of,î he said. ìIt is going to serve our needs for many years to come.î
Redford said the project couldnít have come together without the Greater North Foundation.
ìThese projects happen in partnership,î she said. ìI want to thank the board of the Greater North Foundation for having the passion and the commitment to work with government, which is sometimes challenging, I know. But this is the right thing to have done.î
As the premier took the podium, she thanked the residents of the villa.
ìThank you for letting Jeff (Johnson) and I come to your home, because that is what this building is,î she said.
Redford said Boyle is a community that has been sustainable over the years.
ìYou speak to that,î she said, gesturing around the room. ìYou are a generation of people that built this community, who want to stay in this community, and whose families are in this community.î
Donna Clark has managed the villa for 25 years and was thrilled with the news.
ìWe have couples where the husband ends up in the hospital ó heís there, sheís here,î she said. When the husband is moved to the Athabasca hospital, travel is involved, which is difficult for seniors if they cannot drive.
ìThey might get to see them once a week, whereas they might like to go once a day,î she said. ìI think a lot of our seniors are excited to think that this is their home, and they wonít have to go and lie in the hospital for six months. We can just move them into another wing.î
