Ontario Construction News staff writer
A groundbreaking ceremony launched construction on a new Elder care home to be operated by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, a First Nation community on the shore of the Bay of Quinte.
“Congratulations to the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte on their ground-breaking for a new long-term care home. Our government is committed to our shared journey of healing and reconciliation with the Indigenous people of Ontario,” said Paul Calandra, minister of long-term care. “Today’s ground-breaking represents a significant milestone for both priorities. When the home is completed, 128 First Nation residents will have a new place to call home near their family and friends that is tailored to the needs of their community.”
The 128-bed home is expected to open by winter 2026 with128 long-term care beds and culturally appropriate services for the Indigenous community. The home will provide private, modern rooms, 24-hour nursing and personal care, social activities and food services, and help maintain connections with language, culture, and community.
Design improvements include larger resident common areas and air conditioning throughout the home. The design is centred around ‘resident home areas’ to create more intimate and familiar living spaces for up to 32 residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms. The new home will be licensed to and operated by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, represented by Tyendinaga Mohawk Council.
According to Callandra, the government is on track to build 30,000 new long-term care beds in the province by 2028, and is redeveloping older beds to modern design standards. Through a $6.4 billion investment, Ontario has 31,705 new and 28,648 upgraded beds in the planning, construction and opening stages of the development process.
As of April 2023, more than 40,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. The median wait time is 123 days for applicants to be placed in long-term care.
“Officially breaking ground on the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Elder Care Home project is not only a great achievement for our community, it also demonstrates the success of the Chief’s Committee on Long-Term Care working collaboratively with licensing and funding partners from the governments of Ontario and Canada,” said R. Donald Maracle, chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. “MBQ’s Elder Care Home will become just the fifth licensed long-term care facility on a First Nation territory. This will allow folks to remain on-territory as they age and require more care.
“As work begins on constructing this new 128-bed, net zero carbon project, we will continue working with community partners such as First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) to train nurses and PSWs in order to hire local as much as possible. The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are excited for this project to become a reality.”