Skip to content

Pembina Lodge expansion gets started

The planned $14 million expansion of the Pembina Lodge took a huge step towards completion June 15 with the official sod turning.
Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Ken Kowalski gets a helping hand from Rod MacFarlane turning the first furrow of sod for the Pembina Lodge expansion June 15. The expansion
Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Ken Kowalski gets a helping hand from Rod MacFarlane turning the first furrow of sod for the Pembina Lodge expansion June 15. The expansion is slated to be open in February 2012.

The planned $14 million expansion of the Pembina Lodge took a huge step towards completion June 15 with the official sod turning.

The expansion, which will see 60 rooms built for rent, and another eight, larger rooms for sale, has been in the works since at least 2003, said Westlock Foundation chair David Truckey.

The project is being financed by a $5.4 million grant through the province’s Affordable Supportive Living Initiative, as well as a $7.6 million loan through the Alberta Capital Financing Authority and backed by Westlock County. In addition, Truckey said the foundation is also using $1 million from its reserve account to cover the remainder.

On hand at the sod turning ceremony were Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Ken Kowalski, Westlock County reeve Charles Navratil, Westlock mayor Bruce Lennon and Clyde mayor Wayne Wilcox.

“I’m really pleased to get this underway,” said Kowalski.

He added Westlock often draws in aging Albertans from places as far away as Slave Lake and Clyde, and this expansion sends a clear sign that Westlock is committed to assisting the aging side of the community.

Kowalski also played a part in securing the $5.4 million grant from the province, through helping to steer the Westlock Foundation board in the right direction. He said the board had a good plan and it was not difficult to decide to help.

Truckey said he is also happy to be at the point where construction is ready to get started, and he credits all the people who worked to make it happen.

“A lot of work, time and effort on the part of staff, the municipalities and the board went into this,” he said. “Everyone pulled together.”

When he first joined the board in 2003, he said they were already talking about needing an expansion to accommodate demand. This expansion will help ease that demand, he said.

When completed, the new rooms will take a considerable chunk out of the foundation’s 100-plus person long waiting list, he said. “I’m very pleased that that many people will be moving into the facility,” he said.

Westlock Foundation CEO Marilyn Lannon agrees with Kowalski and Truckey that the start of construction is an exciting culmination to years of work.

“It’s seeing the fruits of our labour,” she said. “There’s been a lot of talk and now it’s happening.”

She added that at this point it’s like having a baby; it’s so amazing that the day has arrived that you forget about all the work that was necessary to get to this point.

In addition, you also need to remember that there is still a lot more work ahead.

Truckey said construction on the expansion is expected to start this week, with an expected completion date of February 2012.

When completed, the expansion will have two towers with an atrium between them. The expansion will be done using modular construction, which is faster than traditional building methods.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks