Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on the redevelopment of Extendicare St. Catharines, a new 256-bed long-term care home in the city. The project is part of Ontario’s broader initiative to address the growing demand for senior care across the province, with plans to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds in communities where they are most needed.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the project which is supported by the Ontario government’s construction funding subsidy top-up, which funds the building and upgrading of long-term care homes across the province.
The new facility will include 104 new beds and 152 redeveloped beds, spread across four floors. Each floor will feature two Resident Home Areas (RHAs), which are designed to provide a more intimate and personalized living space for up to 32 residents.
“This new facility is designed with the specific needs of our residents in mind, offering a modern environment where they can receive the highest quality care,” said Dr. Michael Guerriere, president and CEO of Extendicare. “Today’s groundbreaking marks our seventh redevelopment project and the latest step in our plans to redevelop all our older homes to modern design standards to improve the quality of life for our residents.”
The home will offer a range of care options, including restorative and palliative care, as well as private spaces for families supporting residents through end-of-life care. Additional amenities will include a café for residents and visitors, dedicated family dining areas, a chapel, and a beauty salon/barbershop.
Construction is expected to be completed in early 2027.
It’s part of a broader strategy by the provincial government to modernize the long-term care sector. This includes building new homes, redeveloping older facilities, and improving care standards to ensure that Ontario’s seniors receive the care they need and deserve.
The government is also taking innovative steps to accelerate the construction of long-term care homes, including selling unused lands for development and leveraging hospital-owned land to build homes in high-demand urban areas.