First residents begin move into expanded Hogarth Riverview Manor

Helen Rusnak loves her new view.

The 97-year-old on Monday became the first resident at Hogarth Riverview Manor, a 416-bed, $83.6-million expansion of the existing 96-bed home.

Looking down on the trees below, Chapples Park as a backdrop, the facility’s oldest resident said she’s happy to have a new place to call home.

“Well, I think it’ll be all right,” she said, speaking to media gathered on the seventh floor of the colourful complex.

“I have no fear. I just keeping going the way I was supposed to go. It’s nice. I like the view and everything around here.”

The facility’s oldest resident was one of 72 who made the move on Monday, all from the existing Hogarth Riverview Manor.

The remainder will come from a pair of city-operated senior homes, Grandview Lodge and Dawson Court, which had been slated for closure by the province.

Rusnak’s daughter-in-law Margaret said the new building offers an impressive environment for seniors in the community.
The move went as smoothly as could be expected, she added.

“Change is difficult for all of us at any age. And I recognize with my mother-in-law being 97 it would be difficult, but she’s really handled today well,” Margaret said.

The project’s first phase was not without controversy.

In 2003 the City of Thunder Bay took out a $45-million dollar debenture to cover the costs of replacing Dawson Court and Grandview Lodge. In 2006 council reversed the decision, as the municipality was only mandated to operate one home for the aged. The city then decided to use about half the debenture funds to cover its share of waterfront development at Prince Arthur’s Landing.

A year later, in 2007, the province stepped in and announced it was partnering with St. Joseph’s Care Group to build a new centre of excellence for integrated senior support.

Tracy Buckler, president and CEO at St. Joseph’s Care Group, said despite the delays that led up to the start of construction, every effort has been made to ensure residents have everything they need.

“It really is a home. That would be important to make it as home-like as we possibly could. It’s hard when it’s a larger institutional-type building,” Buckler said.

But it’s not impossible.

The 262,000 square foot, seven-storey building features 32 bed home areas, each containing an activity lounged designed to encourage socialization. Large windows are prominent throughout and the building contains the latest amenities, including wi-fi.

“We have kitchen facilities, we have private sitting areas, we have family dining rooms so that families can come in for special meals and special occasions,” Buckler said. “There were things that were really well thought out to make it as home-like as we possibly can.”

The 416 long-term care beds equate to Stage 1 of the project. Stage 2 will see an addition of 32 long-term care beds at the original Hogarth Riverview Manor, with Stage 3 being a connection between the Sister Leila Greco apartments and the new facility.