GORE BAY—While the redevelopment project for the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home remains in the early stages, a potential preferred site has been identified for the new nursing home and an architect has been retained for the project.
“The proposed potential site we are looking at is on the top of the west bluff (Armstrong Road) overlooking the bay,” stated Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane. “There are two reasons we are looking at this as a potential site. We require 5.5 acres of property for a new site for the development of the new Lodge and parking etc. This site sits on about 20 acres of property. There is no suitable property available within the main part of town, and the site we are looking at is all vacant, and privately owned. If it is transferred for a new nursing home, it would be transferred to St. Joseph Health Centre.”
A release from the three proponents of the project, the Town of Gore Bay, Manitoulin Lodge (owned by Jarlette Health Services) and St. Joseph’s Health Centre of Sudbury states, “In the interest of open and transparent communication with the residents, family and team members of Manitoulin Lodge, as well as the broader communities of Gore Bay and Manitoulin Lodge, we are providing the following update with regard to the planned redevelopment of Manitoulin Lodge long-term care (LTC) home.”
“In our joint statement of June 15, it was shared that the Town of Gore Bay and Manitoulin Lodge were in preliminary discussions with St. Joseph’s Health Centre of Sudbury to explore the possibility that it may become a partner in the proposed development to eventually become the management and the licensee of the LTC home. As a regional health services provider relatively close to Gore Bay, we are certain that St. Joseph Health Centre possesses the resources and expertise to manage the day-to-day operation of the redeveloped Manitoulin Lodge, which would be larger and more complex in operation than it is today, well into the future.”
“Since these discussions include our ministry partners and require provincial approval to move forward, the redevelopment project remains at an early stage. However, in the hope of positioning Manitoulin Lodge in an ever-stronger position for redevelopment and to demonstrate our commitment to moving forward, we are today sharing that ongoing and regular discussions have continued between the Town of Gore Bay, Manitoulin Lodge and St. Joseph’s Health Centre. A potential preferred site for the development of the long-term care home has been identified within the town limits of Gore Bay and an architect has been retained for the project by St. Joseph’s Health Centre.”
Mayor Lane told the Expositor that Louis Belanger of Belanger Salach Architects of Sudbury, which has worked with St. Joseph’s Health Centre in the past, has been retained as the architect for the project.
As for the future of the current Manitoulin Lodge building, “This will be further down the line, but if things go as we hope we (town) would become the owner of the building and redevelop it for what services we feel would be most useful,” said Mayor Lane. He pointed out the current licencee, Jarlette Health Services has plans for the Lodge in place until June 2025. “If the new long term care home is not ready by then, it is proposed that St. Joseph’s Health Centre would take over its operation until the new site is ready, to provide continuity for residents and staff at the Lodge. Once St. Joseph’s begins to operate the current Lodge building and the town has ownership of it, we would lease it out to them. All of this depends on approvals being given by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. St. Josephs would be applying for the licence for the new nursing home.”
“The health, comfort and well-being of Manitoulin Lodge’s residents, their family members and team members, have and always will be our greatest priority. The Town of Gore Bay, Manitoulin Lodge and St. Joseph’s Health Centre of Sudbury have been vocally advocating that long-term care services should remain within the community of Gore Bay to ensure that residents and families of Manitoulin Island continue to be well served,” the release continues.
“It remains the objective of both Manitoulin Lodge and St. Joseph’s Health Centre of Sudbury to preserve employment for the team members at Manitoulin Lodge who have been providing care to date. We also remain committed to providing regular updates to the residents, family members and team members of Manitoulin Lodge and community stakeholders throughout this lengthy process, as we have done today,” the release adds.
