Ontario breaks ground on Huntsville LTC home

HUNTSVILLE, ONT. – The Province of Ontario has announced construction is underway at Fairvern, a long-term-care home being redeveloped in Huntsville.

The home will provide 84 new and 76 upgraded beds in private, semi-private and basic rooms, for a total of 160 beds.

The new building will feature such design improvements as larger resident common areas and air conditioning throughout the home. The design is centred around “resident home areas” with pod-like living spaces for up to 27 residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms. Fairvern will also offer specialized health care services, stated a release.

The home will be operated by the District Municipality of Muskoka and is expected to open in fall 2025.

The project owner is participating in a program through which the Ontario government is providing a supplemental increase to the construction funding subsidy to stimulate the start of construction of more long-term-care homes across the province by Aug. 31. Not-for-profit homes have the option to receive a portion of the funding as an up-front construction grant payable at the start of construction.

The Ontario government has announced it will spend $6.4 billion to build 30,000 new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term-care beds.

“Our government is fixing long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors,” said Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra in a statement. “Today’s groundbreaking is a significant milestone for Fairvern and the Muskoka region.”