TEMISKAMING SHORES – City council is considering a request from Extendicare to make 11 acres of land available near Temiskaming Hospital for its planned new $60 million, 128-bed long-term care facility.
The site proposed by Extendicare is located at the east end of Barr Drive, which extends off Shepherdson Road between English Catholic Central School and the hospital. The new location will replace the aging 60-bed facility on Bruce Street in Haileybury.
“Extendicare has been a trusted partner in the Temiskaming Shores health system for several decades with our 60-bed long-term care home providing high-quality care to our most vulnerable seniors and generations of local families,” Extendicare senior director Omair Syed said in a letter to city council seeking to acquire the land.
“After more than 50 years of service it has come time to replace our existing home with a modern 128-bed home built to current Ministry of Long-Term Care design standards. Over the past two years we have investigated multiple sites, actively consulting with municipal staff to better understand servicing and land use limitations.
“To advance the development of our new long-term care home, we request that council dispose of approximately six-to-eight acres of land for the purpose of developing a future long-term care home, along with an additional two-to-three acres of land for the purpose of road extensions and access, from municipally owned lands.”
A total of 15 sites were considered before Extendicare settled on the Barr Drive location. Their hope is to open the new facility in 2029.
During a presentation to council back in December, Imran Amin of Extendicare said there are about 100 people on the waiting list locally for beds. The newer facility will not only accommodate more people but provide better facilities.
He said the Barr Drive site is preferred because it is serviced, has lower site development costs and is near the hospital.
Syed said the first goal is to have the municipality declare the land surplus so that purchase negotiations can begin. From there, appraisals, regulatory approvals and various studies would take place, followed by the start of construction in mid-2027 with an eye toward opening in mid-2029.
The building itself would be a two-story facility which not only more than doubles the occupancy of the existing facility, but doubles the space of each individual room.
