Health and Community Services
January 25, 2011

Progress Continues on New St. John’s Long-Term Care Project

The new St. John’s long-term care facility continues to take shape as structural steel, foundations, site grading and municipal services transform the land of the former Janeway Apartments in Pleasantville. Once complete, the facility will accommodate a total of 456 beds, and space for recreation therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and spirituality.

“Our government has put considerable time and thought into the development of key health care infrastructure that has seen the construction of new long-term care facilities, the ongoing development of new hospitals, and essential updates and renovations for health centres across the province,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “Once the new long-term care project in St. John’s is complete it will offer a state-of-the-art facility for the people who will call it home, and continue our government’s trend of planning for the future for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”

The two main tenders for the new facility have been awarded to Marco Services Ltd. at a cost of approximately $118 million. This includes the construction of two residential buildings and a core centre block.

To date, site grading and the underground water and sewer services are nearing completion. The foundations for the east tower are 65 per cent complete with structural steel on two of the four wings largely finished. The foundation pad for the centre building has been started and preparation for the west tower foundation has begun. The construction phase of the entire project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2013, with occupancy slated for late that year.

“This new complex is one of many new long-term care facilities which our government has invested in,” said Minister Kennedy. “We have an aging population and in order to meet future needs we are taking the necessary steps today.”

“It is exciting to see the progress of this large and very modern facility which will provide a high quality of life for all those who will live there,” said Vickie Kaminski, President and CEO of Eastern Health. “This significant investment by the Provincial Government will better enable our staff to address the physical, mental and social needs of our long-term care residents.”

Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future includes a significant investment of $208.9 million for health care infrastructure throughout the province, including $177.3 million for new facilities and equipment and $31.6 million for repairs and renovations. New long-term care facilities have been constructed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Corner Brook, and progress continues on a new health centre in Lewisporte, and the long-term care facility in Carbonear. In addition, investments announced this past summer and fall saw vital funding allocated for long-term care facilities in Stephenville Crossing, Baie Verte, Springdale, Carbonear, Gander, Botwood, Bonavista, Twillingate and Grand Falls-Windsor.

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Photo #1: Early January 2011, the crane is lifting formwork to complete a concrete stairwell in the East Tower, North wing - St. John’s Long-Term Care Facility.

Photo #2: In the foreground is the Northeast stairwell and in the background is the Northwest stairwell of the East Tower, North wing - St. John’s Long-Term Care Facility.

Photo #3: The “mounds” in the centre of the picture are for the under-slab drainage for the centre core building. In the foreground, the roller is prepping the pad area for the West Tower, in the background is the East Tower, North wing - St. John’s Long-Term Care Facility.

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2011 01 25                                                    1:00 p.m.