At least 100 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) multi-million dollar facility in Sundre on Friday.
The $26.6-million facility is currently being built on municipally-owned land located at the end of 6 Street SW. The project is planned for completion in July of 2016.
“All the funding is in place and the work has started, and it feels really good that in a year and a half we're going to have it all done,” said Sam Smalldon, MVSH administrative officer.
“My role has always been to bring something to the seniors. That's the lasting part of it. We all like to have meaningful work and to me it's good to do something for the seniors.”
The project includes 103 units, including 40 new supportive living spaces in the new facility. Forty-five units will replace the current units at the Foothills Lodge and 18 additional independent living spaces will be available as well.
The 40 new spaces will offer homestyle living, round-the-clock care and meals and services to meet the seniors' needs. It will also include a day program for seniors, he said.
Several representatives from area municipalities were present at the groundbreaking ceremony, including Olds mayor Judy Dahl, Didsbury mayor Rick Mousseau and Cremona mayor Tim Hagen.
“This is community involvement and regional leadership at its best,” said Sundre mayor Terry Leslie.
“This facility will allow people to age in place, to be cared for no matter what level of care they need, and be surrounded by family and friends – which is so critical.”
Mountain View County reeve Bruce Beattie said the Sundre project is a demonstration of communities and municipalities working together.
“I'm just really pleased to be part of the whole process,” said Beattie.
Cal Dallas, MLA for Red Deer South, attended the ceremony as a representative from the Alberta government.
Provincial officials announced in October of 2013 they were providing a $3.8-million grant towards the facility. The funding is from the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) grant.
“As a partner and a funder, the provincial government is tremendously proud of the community here and the collaboration that's happened amongst all of the municipalities that have really come together to make this happen,” said Dallas.
“We look forward to seeing the progress of the project. It will be a great day when the first seniors move in and make this a new home.”
Dallas, Beattie, Leslie and Smalldon gave speeches at the ceremony, as well as Dr. Rob Warren and Charlotte McInnes, who is the chair of the Sundre Seniors' Housing and Care Committee.
Smalldon noted in his speech that the work done by former Sundre mayor Annette Clews was a significant part of the project as well.
