The provincial Ministry of Long-Term Care announced the kick-off of construction on a new Francophone long-term care home in the Niagara Region on May 2.

Foyer Richelieu Welland is one of 39 long-term care projects in development across the province where services for Francophone residents will be provided.

“Congratulations to Foyer Richelieu Welland on their ground-breaking for a brand new, 128-bed home,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today marks a significant milestone for Ontario’s Francophone community as Foyer Richelieu will offer all 128 beds to Francophone residents so they can receive care in French that is tailored to their cultural and language needs.”

Foyer Richelieu Welland is expected to finish construction and start welcoming its first residents in summer 2025. The redeveloped home will provide 66 new and 62 upgraded beds in private, semi-private and basic rooms. The new building will feature design improvements, including larger resident common areas and air conditioning throughout the home. The design is centred around ‘resident home areas’ that aim to create more intimate and familiar living spaces for up to 32 residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms.

The redevelopment of the property is enabled by the ministry’s Not-For-Profit Loan Guarantee Program. The program helps organizations in the not-for-profit long-term care sector unlock lending and reduces borrowing costs for eligible non-municipal projects.

"This will help build much needed long-term care beds for Welland and will also create a community within a community for approximately 250 residents living in our Francophone hub of care,” said Muriel Thibault-Gauthier, Board Chair at Foyer Richelieu Welland. “For the first time in Ontario, there will be the following services along the continuum of care, including: independent retirement living, assisted living, long-term care, hospice, plus a community and cultural centre, all on one campus of care."

The province also announced it will provide up to $4.6 million to Hospice Niagara for a new 10-bed residential hospice co-located with Foyer Richelieu Welland. Construction is expected to start this spring and be completed in winter 2024/25.

Ontario is supporting another 12 long-term care projects in the Niagara Region, including the development of homes in St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Together, these 13 projects will provide 810 new and 1,541 upgraded long-term care beds, for a total of 2,351 beds built to modern design standards.