Ontario News Release- Ontario Breaks Ground on Long-Term Care Home in Marathon

ONTARIO NEWS-NEWS RELEASE

Ontario Breaks Ground on Long-Term Care Home in Marathon

New home will bring 14 much-needed long-term care beds to northern Ontario

October 06, 2023
Ministry of Long-Term Care

MARATHON — Construction is underway at a new long-term care home at Wilson Memorial General Hospital in Marathon. This home is one of 67 long-term care home projects fast-tracked this fall with support from the Ontario government’s increased provincial construction funding subsidy for construction starts before August 31, 2023. This is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to build more than 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.

“Congratulations to North of Superior Healthcare Group on their ground-breaking for a brand new home. Our government is fixing long-term care and ensuring we build homes for seniors in the communities that they helped build,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today marks a significant milestone for Marathon, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, and brings more beds where they are urgently needed in northern Ontario. When building is complete, 14 residents will have a new, modern and comfortable place to call home.”

The new home will be attached to Wilson Memorial General Hospital and fully integrated into the existing infrastructure as part of a campus of care that provides direct access to the hospital’s services, including an on-site physiotherapy department. The hospital’s new long-term care wing will provide 14 new beds in private (one resident) and basic (two residents) rooms. The modernized design is centred on a ‘resident home area’ that creates a more intimate and familiar living space for residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms.

Indigenous residents will have access to culturally appropriate services, including a cultural space that can accommodate the ceremonial and healing practices of residents and their families. The home is expected to be completed and welcoming its first residents in summer 2025.

The new home in Marathon is one of 67 homes receiving the government’s supplemental increase to the construction funding subsidy, which was designed to stimulate the start of construction for more long-term care homes across Ontario. Under the program, 67 projects have met all government approval criteria to start construction — which means 11,199 new and upgraded beds are now being built to modern design standards across the province.

The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve, both now and in the future. The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.

Quick Facts

• As part of its plan to fix long-term care and address sector waitlists, the government is building more than 30,000 net new long-term care beds in Ontario by 2028 and upgrading more than 28,000 older beds to modern design standards.

• Building more modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors is part of the Government of Ontario’s Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021.

• The province is taking innovative steps to get long-term care homes built, including modernizing its funding model, selling unused lands with the requirement that long-term care homes be built on portions of the properties, and leveraging hospital-owned land to build urgently needed homes in large urban areas.

• As of April 2023, more than 40,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. The median wait time is 123 days for applicants to be placed in long-term care.

Quotes

"Today’s announcement marks an exciting milestone for the North of Superior Healthcare Group and our community members from Marathon, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg. The addition of 14 new, modern, long-term care beds will allow us to better serve the growing seniors population in our communities, by increasing access to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual care residents need, close to the comfort and support of their families and friends."

- Adam Brown
Chief Executive Officer, North of Superior Healthcare Group (NOSH)

Additional Resources

2023 Ontario Budget: Building a Strong Ontario

Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care

Wawa Public Library Wrapping Up First Nations Public Library Week Celebration

Wawa's library is wrapping up a special celebration.

All week, the Wawa Public Library has been marking First Nations Public Library Week with special guests, and a couple more events are planned.

Head Librarian and CEO Sue Jarrell explains a couple more guests will be visiting from 1 pm to 3 pm today.

Jarrell adds the celebration will wrap up tomorrow.

While the limited space for tomorrow's painting is currently booked, there is a waiting list that people are encouraged to join by contacting the library.

Jarrell reminds the Library's also marking Library Month with its Food For Fines campaign - giving "fine-free" coupons when people bring in non-perishable food donations for the Wawa Community Food Bank - while a book and DVD sale supports the Alzheimer Society, and they're promoting having a library card by entering people into a draw if they bring in and use - or get a new - card this month.

Ontario Public Libraries Week is also coming, the third week of October.

Public Skating Fees Covered at MMCC

Some good news for Wawa skaters.

Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson says a local business has stepped in to help cover some costs.

Patterson notes the ice season's begun - with some youth programming already underway - while work on the curling ice is set to begin in a couple weeks, in time for the season to start the first week of November - a pair of curling league registration events will be held at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre October 16th and 17th.

Anglophone Parents Offered Help By French Catholic School Board

Parents of local French Catholic school students can get some help learning the language.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says parents and guardians of students with the board will be able to access two free fifteen week French-as-a-second-language programs - "Beginner 1" and "Beginner 2" - offered online by Collège Boréal starting October 16th.

They're intended to help Anglophone or Allophone parents support their child's learning, though space is limited.

Wawa Public Library Continues Marking First Nations Public Library Week

The Wawa Public Library's continuing to mark a special occasion.

All week, the library's had special guests for First Nations Public Library Week, and CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell explains that continues with an event from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm tonight.

Jarrell adds that Gretchen Weicht and Dan Ayotte will visit tomorrow - from 1 pm to 3 pm - with First Nations Public Library Week wrapping up Saturday, with an afternoon of painting with Christina Bekintis - while that's currently booked up, there is a waiting list if people want to contact the library.

Jarrell reminds the Library's also marking Library Month with its Food For Fines campaign - giving "fine-free" coupons when people bring in non-perishable food donations for the Wawa Community Food Bank - while a book and DVD sale supports the Alzheimer Society, and they're promoting having a library card by entering people into a draw if they bring in and use - or get a new - card this month.

Ontario Public Libraries Week is also coming, the third week of October.

PHSD Reports Rising COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 38 since Monday - 33 in Greater Sudbury, five in the broader Sudbury District - pushing known "active" cases up to 121 - the highest since the end of March - with one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

The health unit's also reporting a slight rise in cases in hospital, to seventeen, including two in ICUs.

Wawa Sees 25th Annual Take Back the Night March

That's the sound of Wawa residents marching to "Take Back The Night" last night.

Wawa's 25th annual Take Back the Night March garnered several people - some marching with signs - marching from Dr. Rose's Beach to the Legion Hall, where CHADWIC Home Executive Director Paula Valois delivered a keynote speech with other speakers, ending with a vigil for women and children who've died in Ontario in the past year.

The march was held just a day after Valois appeared before Wawa Municipal Council, urging them to declare intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic, which Council did with Deputy Mayor Mitch Hatfield saying it was "well needed".

Those who are - or know someone who is - experiencing abuse can contact CHADWIC Home 24 hours a day, seven days a week for support, shelter, or referrals by calling 1-800-461-2242.

Township of Chapleau to Run Handi Transit Bus Service, Pushing on Recycling

The Township of Chapleau will continue running its Handi Transit Bus service.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says the Township had put it out for tender - to see if an outside contractor could deliver the service - but Chapleau Town Council decided against it during Monday's meeting.

Mayor Bignucolo says Council also had an update on recycling, just weeks after decided to expand metal recycling.

Bignucolo emphasizes there simply isn't the capacity for recycling in the North.

Chapleau Council also approved a "refresh" to the Township's Open Air Burning by-law.

Superior East OPP Officer Honoured for 20 Years Service

A local OPP officer's been honoured for longtime service.

Superior East OPP Sergeant Kim Franklin - out of Wawa - received a Police Exemplary Service Medal recognizing 20 years of full-time service with a recognized Canadian Police Service - the medal was presented at the OPP North East Region Awards Ceremony held in Powassan on Wednesday, one of dozens of northeastern OPP officers recognized for ten or twenty years service, with dozens of civilians recognized for 20, 30, even 40 years of service.

Commissioner's Commendations and Commissioner's Citations for Livesaving were also presented to several officers across the Northeast.

Ecole Sacre-Coeur Raises Over $1900 in Terry Fox Run

Students from a Chapleau school raised more than $1900 in its annual Terry Fox Run.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Ecole Sacre-Coeur's school community "demonstrated its solidarity and generosity" in the recent event, with students, staff, and families raising $1913.70 in donations for the Terry Fox Foundation, which supports cancer research.

Chapleau Mayor Meeting with Provincial Figures on Local Issues

Chapleau's mayor is meeting with provincial figures to discuss a few key issues for the community.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says he's meeting today with Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Mayor Bignucolo says they'll also discuss funding for bush roads.

Mayor Bignucolo adds there'll also be talks with the MTO about the Sultan Industrial Road.

Mayor Bignucolo emphasizes the importance of the road, given many residents use it to get to Sudbury for medical appointments.

OPP Hosting Chapleau Recruitment Info Session

Ontario Provincial Police are encouraging people interested in joining the OPP to come out for an information session in Chapleau tonight.

That event will see a recruiter provide details and information about the OPP uniform recruitment process, including various stages of the process and how to prepare for a career in policing.

Tickets are available through Eventbrite - the Township of Chapleau has a link on its website - with the info session to be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm tonight at Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium.

25th Annual Take Back the Night March in Wawa

Wawa residents march to "Take Back The Night" this evening.

CHADWIC Home frontline worker Dawn Charbonneau explains Wawa's 25th annual Take Back the Night March is intended to show solidarity with survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence.

Charbonneau says participants are asked to meet at Dr. Rose's Beach to march downtown.

The march from Dr. Rose's Beach to the Legion Hall begins at 6 this evening.

This comes just a day after Wawa Municipal Council declared intimate partner violence and violence against women an "epidemic", as requested by CHADWIC Home Executive Director Paula Valois.

Those who are - or know someone who is - experiencing abuse can contact CHADWIC Home 24 hours a day, seven days a week for support, shelter, or referrals by calling 1-800-461-2242.

Wawa Council Declares Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence & Violence Against Women

Wawa Municipal Council's declared intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic.

Council passed a resolution making the declaration last night, after receiving a delegation from CHADWIC Home Executive Director Paula Valois, who noted it was a recommendation of an inquest into a 2015 triple murder in Renfew, in which all three women killed had a prior relationship with their killer.

Valois also cited figures from Superior East Ontario Provincial Police, who reported that - in 2021 - they had 105 domestic calls for service in Wawa, with 27 resulting in charges and eight deemed "insufficient evidence to proceed", though Valois noted not every domestic call is intimate partner violence, but also "most" intimate partner violence is not reported.

Valois says her main request of Council was to pass such a resolution, declaring intimate partner violence is an epidemic.

Deputy Mayor Mitch Hatfield - who chaired last night's meeting - says the resolution was "well needed".

Wawa Motorcyclist Killed in Goulais River Collision

A Wawa motorcyclist is dead after a collision in the Goulais River area.

Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck at the intersection of Highways 17 and 552 in Fenwick Township shortly after 11:30 this morning, with the motorcycle driver pronounced dead at the scene - they've only been identified as a 68-year-old from Wawa at this time.

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario-Ontario Forensic Pathology Service is assisting the investigation - which involves a Technical Collision Investigator and Reconstructionist, as well as the North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement, TIME, team - with a post-mortem examination to take place at a later date.

17 remains closed between Post Office Road in Fenwick Township to Highway 556 in Heyden, though a detour is possible by using Post Office Road, to get to Highway 552, then 556.

It's unclear when 17 will reopen.

PHSD Urges People Get Stay Healthy This Fall & Get Vaccinated

Local health officials are urging everyone to "stay healthy this fall", getting your COVID-19 and flu shots for protection.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's offering a "phased approach" for vaccination this season - aligning with Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines - available first for "high-risk" individuals, defined as hospitalized individuals and hospital staff, long-term care home and Elder Care Lodge residents, staff, and caregivers, and those at high-risk of COVID-related complications or hospitalization.

The health unit will roll out vaccinations for the general public later this month.

APH Reports Surge in COVID-19 Cases

A surge in COVID-19 cases is being reported in the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting 62 new cases over the last week - a jump from the previous week's 49 - with 58 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, one in the Elliot Lake area, and another in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - pushing known "high risk active" cases up to 74, including fourteen in hospital.

Highway 17 Closed in Goulais River Area Due to Collision

Highway 17 is closed just north of the Sault, due to a collision.

Ontario's Ministry of Transportation's reporting 17 is close in both directions at Goulais River, north of Sault Ste. Marie, with no estimated time for when the highway will reopen.

The collision-related closure was reported just before noon.

PHSD Reports 221st COVID-19 Death

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 193rd in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 221 - it's also updated figures to show this death and the prior, which was reported the previous Monday, were both deaths in which COVID was the underlying cause.

It's also reporting 46 new cases since Wednesday - it did not post an update Friday - 40 in Greater Sudbury, five in the broader Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 106.

The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed fifteen in hospital, two in ICUs.

Wawa Council to Hear About Femicide, Community Fire Risk Assessment

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a pair of meetings tonight.

First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes a pair of delegations - from CHADWIC Home Executive Director Paula Valois on femicide, and from the Loomex Group about Community Risk Assessment - along with discussion about Council travel to future conferences.

That'll be followed by tonight's regular Council meeting, which includes resolutions to accept the staff recommendation on the arena ice cancellation policy and confirm a revised schedule for deputy mayor, with the arena ice policy change to be confirmed in a by-law also up for approval tonight.

The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.