The Honourable Minister of Seniors and Housing, Josephine Pon, brought good news to the Drumheller Valley Friday afternoon, announcing an investment of $7 million for the expansion of Sunshine and Hillview Lodges.

           The announcement is for an expansion of the lodge facility to add approximately 26 new senior living accommodations. 

           “Seniors are important and we understand as a government with an ageing population, it is going to increase more every day,” said Minister Pon. 

“I am proud to announce this important investment for the community of Drumheller on National Housing Day. Integrating continuing care spaces in seniors lodges is an efficient and more affordable way to address the needs of seniors and support them to age in their own communities.” 

           Drumheller Town Councillor and Chair of the Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation, Tom Zariski, says this is a much-needed contribution.

           “It is something we have needed for the last 20 years,” said Zariski, noting the expansion will be of SL4 beds, this is the highest level of care.

           “The need for SL4 has increased over the last number of years because quite frankly people are living longer and we have more people who are older who need a little more care. It has been a huge deficit in the Drumheller area.”

He explains that when there was no space to accommodate the higher needs residents, often these residents would have to leave town to get the care they need.

           “That was the most terrible thing you can imagine. We literally had people born and raised in Drumheller, lived here for 89 years, these are people who built Drumheller… and they were basically told ”there’s no room at the inn and you will have to go live in Hanna, Three Hills or Red Deer,’” said Zariski.

Mayor Heather Colberg is grateful that the community will receive this grant.

“As a community, we are honoured that the government is making this important investment into Drumheller. Our seniors are so important to us and this willallow more residents the opportunity to stay in the community and be with their loved ones. We are truly grateful that Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing, and Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health, are helping our community in such an important way,” said Colberg.

She adds she is grateful for the work by Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner who lobbied on behalf of the town for this investment.

Minister Pon said that $4.9 million of the funds came from Seniors and Housing and $2.1 is from the Ministry of Health. The Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation will operate the redeveloped lodges, and Alberta Health Services will administer the Health Care Services.

 Zariski notes the grant is the building envelope and the Senior Foundation will continue to fundraise for equipment and amenities.

 “Seniors are the most cherished citizens for us, they built Alberta for us and where we are today,” said Pon.

The Drumheller Fire Department, RCMP and AHS Ambulance responded to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of South Railway Avenue and 2nd Street SE near McDonald’s at about 9:30 am, Friday November 22. The fire department is on scene directing traffic while the incident is being investigated and clean up takes place. Injuries are not known.