Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government has announced the start of construction on two new long-term care homes in St. Catharines and Sarnia, part of the province’s plan to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds.
The projects include the redevelopment of Extendicare St. Catharines, a new 256-bed facility, and the Trillium Villa Nursing Home in Sarnia, which will feature 160 beds. These initiatives are supported by the Construction Funding Subsidy top-up, designed to enhance long-term care infrastructure across the province.
The new Extendicare St. Catharines home will include 104 new beds and 152 redeveloped beds across four floors. The facility will feature Resident Home Areas (RHAs), each designed to house up to 32 residents in a more intimate, home-like environment. RHAs will include dining and activity areas, lounges, and specialized care options, including dementia and medical care for individuals who don’t require hospital-level services.
The home will also provide restorative and palliative care, as well as amenities such as a café, family dining areas, a chapel, and a beauty salon and add more than 100 beds for seniors currently on the waitlist for long-term care in the region.
In Sarnia, the Trillium Villa Nursing Home will replace the current 152-bed facility with a new 160-bed building. The redevelopment includes eight new beds and 152 upgraded beds, with five RHAs offering personalized living spaces for up to 32 residents. Each RHA will have its own dining room, activity areas, lounges, and outdoor spaces, as well as nursing and utility rooms.
The home will also feature a chapel, café, tuck shop, beauty salon, and outdoor gardens. The new facility is expected to open in mid-2026.
S&R Group Limited CEO John Scotland said the redevelopment marks a new chapter for Trillium Villa, which has provided high-quality care since it first opened in 1970. “We are deeply grateful to the Ontario government for its commitment to making this redevelopment a reality,” he said.
Both projects are part of Ontario’s commitment to addressing the growing demand for long-term care as the province’s population ages. These redevelopments in St. Catharines and Sarnia will provide seniors with modern, comfortable living spaces and improved access to specialized care.
Good stuff.