The new HJ McFarland Long Term Care facility is on track and halfway to being ready for residents to move in. 

Council heard an update on the progress of the facility, which is 48 per cent of the way to completion, during the September 10 Committee of the Whole. The project has experienced a slight delay, but administration is confident there is an opportunity to make up for lost time. 

Mohamed Jaber, project manager with Colliers Project Leaders, explained there was an error made with the concrete, along with issues where the contractor was deviating from the contract.

A slab of concrete will need to be demolished before the project can move forward, though the demolition has already been scheduled.

“We’ve had an issue on-site where transfer slab had to be demolished and re-constructed, so that’s one of the big issues we have experienced so far, and it will have a significant impact on the schedule, and we are talking about six months,” said Mr. Jaber.

Councillor David Harrison noted the project has not gone smoothly. But Dione Mills, Director of Your Community Living, was quick with assurances.

“The project team and construction partners are actively identifying and implementing opportunities to recover lost time and minimize impacts to the overall timeline.The initial occupancy plan has been submitted to the Ministry for review, marking an important milestone in preparing for the transition into the new build space,” she said.

“Overall, the project continues to progress.” 

In an effort to monitor any further issues, Colliers will give another interim report to Council in the next few months. Aside from the issues Colliers is experiencing with contractors, the project is moving steadily ahead.

Procurement of furniture, fixtures and equipment has also commenced, with planning and purchasing activities underway to support future occupancy. 

External service providers are preparing to mobilize on site and begin work on connectivity and infrastructure requirements. These activities support a coordinated transition and help ensure the new space is ready for future service delivery. Staffing the facility once it is built is not foreseen as an issue. 

Over the past year, H.J. McFarland has welcomed 111 additional Personal Support Worker (PSW) students, with 54 students completing clinical placements at the Home and 9 students subsequently securing employment. 

“The staffing complement is now full, with the exception of Registered Practical Nurses (RPN). These remaining vacancies are expected to be resolved in the near term due to changes from negotiations,” Ms. Mills explained in her report

These students gained valuable hands-on experience in a long-term care setting while contributing to resident-centered care. 

Additional students have expressed interest in joining the organization; however, available positions are currently limited. The initiative continues to provide a pathway from education to employment while supporting the development of a strong future workforce. 

H.J. McFarland is also exploring an opportunity with the college to establish an on-site Registered Nursing staff classroom aiming to expand local education and training opportunities while further supporting recruitment and retention.  

“Agency staff continue to be utilized as required to maintain safe and consistent staffing levels during periods of increased vacation usage and to respond to unexpected staff absences. Overall, the improved staffing complement is contributing to greater workforce stability, reduced reliance on agency staffing, and improved operational efficiency,” Ms. Mills said. 

The community has also come together to support the project in a variety of ways. A community cookbook has been crreated in collaboration with staff, and residents from across PEC. Printcraft provided 30 donation boxes, spread across local businesses in the County.

Family Council has developed a memorial fundraising initiative that will provide families and friends with the opportunity to purchase a memorial stone in honour of a past loved one.  

In regards to the name of the facility, developers have put out a request for a naming sponsorship. 

“A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to identify a qualified third-party partner to support the development and implementation of naming rights and sponsorship opportunities. This initiative will help expand fundraising opportunities and support the organization towards achieving its overall goal.”