Celebrations were underway last Wednesday at Wildrose Villa lodge to mark the construction of new seniors housing in Boyle.
After seven years of hard work and campaigning for a new facility, Wildrose Villa will be converted into 22 larger assisted-living units and a dementia wing. Next door will be added a brand-new building with 36 additional units.
“This dream started many years ago when the (Boyle) Campus of Continuing Care group was formed,” recalled Boyle Mayor Bob Clark. “As people changed and the governments changed, the dream never left and the drive to fulfill that dream never diminished one bit.
“Through a lot of hard work and diligence, today their dream has come forward.”
Boyle Campus of Continuing Care Society worked over many years to get the project off the ground, conducting preliminary research, driving many miles, and sending countless phone calls and letters to government officials as they shuffled and changed.
And now, both the federal and provincial government are on board, jointly contributing $8.78 million to the Wildrose Villa under the Investments in Affordable Housing agreement.
At the celebrations last week, Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP David Yurdiga announced the funding agreement would be renewed to 2019, for a total of $1.25 billion in federal investment over the next five years.
The federal government committed $4.4 million to Wildrose Villa and the provincial government $4.96 million through the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative and Alberta Social Housing Corporation.
At the celebrations last week, Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP David Yurdiga announced the Investments in Affordable Housing funding agreement would be renewed to 2019, for a total of $1.25 billion in federal investment over the next five years to organizations proving affordable housing to low-income households.
Another $2 billion of federal money will be invested through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to house low-income households, seniors, people with disabilities and aboriginal people.
“Our government understands that having a safe and affordable place to call home is important to Canadian families and their community,” Yurdiga said.
Wildrose Villa has been operating since 1978. Under the Greater North Foundation, the seniors lodge has been providing low-income seniors with affordable housing since 1984, in addition other housing Greater North manages in Athabasca, Lac La Biche County and the M.D. of Opportunity.
When inquires began for a new building nearly seven years ago, Athabasca County Reeve Doris Splane, and Elmer Kennedy were the driving forces behind the project.
Sadly, Kennedy passed away last November at the age of 79.
“Mr. Elmer Kennedy was one of the hardest working individuals on that group,” Clark reminisced. “Before he left us, he said, ‘I have my room picked out. It’s number 216, right next door to the elevator on the second floor.’ And we said, ‘We’ll keep it for you, Elmer.’ He left us with a smile on his face knowing this dream would come true.”
Accommodating couples and keeping families together was one of the goals of the new Villa.
Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health and Minister of Seniors, said it would allow seniors to stay close to their family, friends and the community they’ve helped build, even as their care needs change.
“We know it’s better for everyone when we get a chance to see the people who love you on a regular basis,” she said. “This is going to be a really good investment for the community, for the seniors of today, and all of us who will get there one day in the future.”
Signe Genoud, a resident at the Villa, knows firsthand what it’s like to be separated from a loved one. After 60 years of marriage, Genoud and her husband were separated when he was moved to a long-term care facility in Athabasca.
“When he was here in the local hospital, I could visit daily and cheer him up,” Genoud said, “but once he was there (in Athabasca), one day he said to me, ‘I hate this place. It’s the worst place I ever been.’ He had a beautiful room, lovely view, excellent care, and the next statement cut me to the heart — ‘It’s all your fault.’ So I am thankful that you visionaries are going to keep people together.”
