Out with the old, in with the new. This could well describe the feelings of St. Adolphe’s residents as they witness the early stages of demolition of their long-standing convent turned nursing home. Others may indeed be saddened by the loss of a century-old icon nestled in the heart of the community.
The sale of the aging facility to Niverville Heritage Holding Inc. (NHHI) in 2013 was secured with a condition: that the condemned building be removed at the new owners’ expense and that NHHI make every effort to redevelop the site for a new seniors housing facility. NHHI has since been working to maintain that promise, holding discussions with the RM of Ritchot, the provincial government, and the local daycare board.
The proposal brought forward by NHHI—a not-for-profit organization also holding the assets to the Niverville Heritage Centre (NHC) campus—includes three stages of senior living. Eight life lease units and 24 assisted living units would be newly constructed, all with indoor parking. NHHI is in discussion with Manitoba Housing to integrate the nearby existing seniors housing, The Chalet, to provide for supportive housing in the future.
“The concept is that nearly 90 percent of seniors will be afforded appropriate housing options in the community,” says Gord Daman, spokesperson for NHHI.
Believing firmly in the model of the NHC campus and its multigenerational, all-inclusive components, the current concept plan for St. Adolphe’s facility would also include a daycare centre and commercial space for professional support such as a medical clinic, physiotherapy, and other practitioners. Rounding out the aging-in-place concept, Daman says a café and commercial kitchen would be incorporated to provide food services to the seniors.
“This type of facility would be extremely beneficial for the community overall,” says former Ritchot mayor Jackie Hunt. “It would help address the growing needs of our expanding community. With the price of housing and rising energy costs, most families do not have the choice but to be two-income families. As such, the need for expanded daycare spots is substantial. Secondly, with the aging population, and the lack of affordable and supportive housing for seniors, having new assisted living units in the community would help with the cycle of care that is required when people age.”
Though a personal care home (PCH) is not being pursued for the St. Adolphe facility, Daman says that there will be an easy transition for its residents to the nearby Niverville PCH for seniors at that stage of care.
The proposed daycare facility would be built according to provincial guidelines with approximately 6,000 square feet of space, allowing for the 90 daycare spots already approved by the province. The NHHI is seeking a community partner to manage the daycare facility and is in talks with the St. Adolphe Daycare Board.
Before construction can begin, NHHI will need to see clear evidence of interest in seniors living units. With a level of funding already promised by Manitoba Housing for these units, construction would need to begin by spring of 2018 to meet the deadline for that funding. The availability of these funds would also allow NHHI to provide assisted living units at a reduced rental fee.
Beyond that funding, the facility is intended to be completely self-sustaining. NHHI will require tenant commitments on the life lease and rental commitments on the assisted living portion of the facility before they proceed. Further to that, there would need to be the guarantee of an experienced daycare operator who is able to lease the space.
“The NHHI board… will not leverage the existing Heritage Centre in any way towards the St. Adolphe development,” says Daman. “While NHHI will be the sole member of the not-for-profit company that will operate the St. Adolphe campus, [we are] not in any way utilizing existing capital assets in Niverville as security to allow the project to proceed. The project must be self-sustaining and will not go forward if our due diligence over the next number of months indicates [otherwise].”
Daman adds that local contractor Von Ast Construction is working on a projection of the total capital costs. This, too, will determine its long-term operational viability, as well as NHHI’s ability to sustain the necessary mortgage. Should it not prove viable, Daman says the land will be placed on the market for sale. Though he feels it’s an unlikely outcome, NHHI will have met its earlier commitment to the RM of Ritchot.
“Assuming the project proceeds, the construction period will be approximately 24 months, so the space would be ready in spring of 2020,” says Daman. “As such, the daycare would likely be able to begin operating in mid-2020.”
With the ongoing shortage of adequate daycare spots in Niverville, and with 5,000 square feet of space soon to be vacated in the Niverville Heritage Centre upon the medical clinic’s move, the question arises as to the reasons why the NHC stakeholders (the NHHI) would pursue daycare spots in St. Adolphe. Daman notes that this impending available space was offered to Growing Minds Child Care (GMCC) of Niverville and it was declined.
“GMCC is [already] one of the largest provincially run daycares in the province,” says Jennifer Duff, chairperson for the GMCC board of directors. “We strive to provide the highest quality of childcare and programming to all children in our care.”
Duff adds that, as a licensed centre, rates are provincially legislated, making GMCC highly dependent on government funding.
“That funding has now fallen flat,” says Duff. “This has definitely played a role in our inability to expand our capacity and keep up with our growing community. It is for that reason that it is just not financially or operationally feasible for GMCC to expand… at this time.”
Duff encourages families on a childcare waiting list to reach out to their elected officials in this regard. Should the St. Adolphe daycare plan come to fruition, Daman adds that it may also offer a viable alternative to commuting families.
