Official ground-breaking to get construction underway for Southampton Care Centre

On Friday, July 28th, the Southampton Care Centre came one step closer to completion as dignitaries gathered for an official groundbreaking.

(L) Chief Conrad Ritchie, Harrison and Olive Jarlette, MPP Lisa Thompson, Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Minister Paul Calandra, MP Ben Lobb, Centre Administrator Brenda Ohm – for larger view, Click on Image

Brenda Ohm, Centre Administrator, said that,  “This ground-breaking is a big step forward in redeveloping the Southampton Care Centre community, built in 1974, to a brand new state-of-the-art home for 160 residents.  It will be a community focused home that will be able to respond to the unique needs of future generations of residents of Saugeen Shores and surrounding area. We are proud of our community relationships and journey that has led us here. We could not have this without the support of our provincial representative MPP Lisa Thompson, Minister Calandra and our municipal government under Mayor Luke Charbonneau.”

Among the dignitaries in attendance was Minister of Long-Term Care, Paul Calandra, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs and Huron-Bruce MPP, Lisa Thompson, Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie, Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, Harrison Jarlette, municipal councillors, residents and their families.

Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie opened the ceremony saying that some of the elders live in the Care Centre.  “We should look after our elders, the knowledge keepers, and make sure they are looked after.  We want to create unity and togetherness through actions and not just words.”

“The human being is the only species that has lost its way and connection in spirit. We inherit the land from our ancestors and borrow it from our children. So, as leaders, we have to look after our ancestors and children.”

 

“This will be the 50th anniversary of the Southampton Care Centre and what a way to celebrate,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP Huron Bruce, “and move forward into the future. I want to thank the Residents’ Council for advocating among your peers.  You have made sure that it’s understood the importance of investing when it comes to senior living. We need to make sure across this province that we continue to make sure that communities are well represented and that investments are made at the local level.”

“This new 160-bed home will be built on the existing site and, after seeing the rendered drawings, the design includes five resident home areas, dining and activity areas, lounges, and bedrooms for 32 residents, all in the spirit of continuing to foster that sense of community that is so important,” added Thompson. “There will not only be more space for residents but also for families to come and visit.  This is a great day for the Southampton Care Centre.”

The guest of honour at the ceremonial ground-breaking was Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Long Term Care who said the work done by Residents’ Councils are leaving a foundation for better homes not only for today’s residents but others in the future. “When opening a new home, it’s a good day for the community, for the residents and for the government when we can deliver this.  This is a new 160-bed home that are part of 58,000 new and upgraded beds being built across the province.  This means that small communities and rural communities will have long-term care and that people want to live in communities that they helped build. This is something that should have happened many years ago.”

“This is not just about the 58,000 beds,” added Calandra, “it’s about the type of care.  We have increased the care from 2.5 hours per resident per day to four hours through that addition of 27,000 home care workers.  It’s also about building new homes that foster communities.  For too long, long-term care was institution based but Residents’ Councils told us that a home is a home where new friends and memories are made, where families can visit and celebrate holidays. I want to thank Jarlette and the staff because they have understood what government has not – that it is a home and investments have to be made.”

Calandra said the province is investment $15 billion in long-term care.  “It is the largest investment in Canada’s history for long-term care.”  He pointed out that the government will be spending $176 million on the Southampton Care Centre alone over the next 25 years and that the Federal Government has offered $200 million, with the trade-off that it be a full partner in Ontario’s long-term care. He then asked Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb to take a message to Ottawa.  “We say no. That ($200M) is an insult and is not enough.  The $170 million being spent by the province is for this facility alone and includes the construction and the increase of care to four hours.”

Minister Calandra then went on to thank Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau and Council. “There are communities that have suggested they don’t want long-term care and have put obstacles in the way of building long-term care.  This community was different. They removed the obstacles and we are celebrating the ground-breaking today because of the Mayor, the Council and the focus on the people who have built this community.  For municipal friends across the province, you should take the example of this Council and work with us to get shovels in the ground and build long-term care homes … or we will remove you as an obstacle, we will work around you and we will build long-term care homes.  We will find communities like this that are willing to build long-term care homes.”

“We will meet our commitment of building 58,000 new and upgraded beds across the province. We will meet our commitment of 27,000 additional staff. We will meet our commitment of four hours of care and we will meet our commitment to Residents’ Councils, to the staff, to provide you with the best possible long-term care homes in the country, if not North America,” Calandra said adding, “We hear you. We understand you and we will get the job done.”

Mayor Luke Charbonneau thanked the Jarlette family for its on-going commitment to long-term care.  “There is a large contingent here from the Town of Saugeen Shores because this is a red-letter day in the history of our community.  These are difficult times to work in long-term care and the folks who show up every day and are committed to their work make a huge difference in the lives of people who live here. Saugeen Shores is the fastest growing community in our region and one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario.

“We have made it a mission in our community to ensure that we are a place where anybody who wants to, can find a place to live, where there’s housing for all and that includes, importantly, our seniors and those in need of long-term care. Saugeen Shores has 27 per cent over 65 and the provincial average is 19 per cent and 47 per cent are over the age of 50 when compared to the provincial average of 39 per cent.  This Centre and providing homes for those folks is so critical.”

Harrison Jarlette, the third generation in his family’s business, that was started by his grandparents, said that, “This ground breaking for a brand new Southampton Care centre is fantastic news,” he said.  “The Jarlette team as a health organization’s foremost concern every day is the health, well-being and comfort of our residents.  It is our mission to make an outstanding difference in the lives of others.  Through the passion of our team members to raise the bar for high-quality care and through the Butterfly approach to care that focuses on emotional and dementia care.  The commitment to the care of residents is deeply rooted in the Jarlette family legacy.  We could not undertake this redevelopment without each level of government’s support.”

When asked about the potential moving of residents from Chesley to the new Southampton Care Centre in the future,  MPP Thompson replied that, “Some from our smaller communities, are already shopping in Saugeen Shores, so it’s just a natural next step that they come and visit their family members right next door, as well.”

Construction is expected to begin within weeks on the site with a completion goal of January, 2026.

Following the ground-breaking ceremony,  it was time to celebrate with the residents with cake and music.

(L) Minister Calandra, MPP Lisa Thompson and Residents’ Council President Gerald cut the celebration cake – photo submitted