ARNPRIOR – West Carleton’s McDonald Brothers Construction (MBC) will lead the way for the Gove Nursing Home expansion as Arnprior lead’s the way for the province’s plan to create 15,000 new long-term care beds.

More than 100 officials, dignitaries, volunteers and current Grove residents filled the nursing home’s multi-purpose room Thursday, Nov. 14 to listen to the speeches preceding the sod-turning ceremony held outside.

“This exciting investment will improve access to 21st century long-term care in Arnprior (and surrounding area) and ensure modern, resident-centred support is there for local seniors now and into the future,” Minister of Long-Term Care and Kanata-Carleton MPP Dr. Merrilee Fullerton said. “As part of our government’s commitment to ending hallway health care, we are proud to be building capacity, innovating and creating comfortable environments that our most vulnerable can call home.”

The new Grove Nursing Home will open in fall 2021 and increase the capacity for the number of residents from 60 to 96. The home will create a community-style of living divided into three neighbourhoods – each will have its own living room, dining room, activity room, bedrooms and access to a secure garden.

MBC already has shovels in the ground and Paul McDonald is excited to get going.

“Very much so,” he told West Carleton Online from the site last Thursday. “This is an important project we’re very excited to get underway. It’s very interesting to hear people speak so passionately about it. Community-based projects are some of the most rewarding.”

McDonald says this is one of his carp-based firm’s “larger projects” but has experience with big jobs such as the Merivale Arena, Bruyére Senior Residence, Summerside Public School, South Nepean Muslim Community Centre and Lakehead University Hangar to name a few.

McDonald says he expects the project will have “70 to 80 people on site any given day,” and that will include “lots of Valley staff and sub-contractors.”

All bids had to come from pre-qualified firms and MBC’s came in at the lowest cost. Construction of the new free-standing home begins this month and will not impact the day-to-day lives and care of the current Grove residents. The project will be completed and handed over to Arnprior Regional Health (ARH) by June 2021. Further outfitting, including equipment and furniture installation, will be required in preparation for a fall 2021 move-in date.

“It is an honour to celebrate the Grove redevelopment project moving ahead and our government’s commitment to increasing long-term care capacity for the Arnprior community,” Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski said.  “We know how important it is for people as they age to stay connected to their community and loved ones – and the new Grove will help accomplish this for the people of Arnprior and surrounding areas.”

The total cost of the redevelopment project is estimated to be $29.2 million. The ARH Foundation is currently completing its $4-million campaign in support of the construction. The balance of $25.2 million will be borrowed by ARH and repaid through the construction funding subsidy from the Ministry of Health, and ARH operating funds.

“It is a tremendous milestone to begin construction of the Grove Nursing Home that will provide exceptional care for even more residents in our community, “ARH President and CEO Eric Hanna. “There has been a great deal of work by many current and previous hospital and community leaders, spanning numerous years. A special thank you to you our community whose generous support through the Arnprior Regional Health Foundation’s campaign has made the new Grove possible.”