Construction is underway on the $110-million Willow Square Continuing Care Centre in Fort McMurray, which will create 108 spaces with room to expand as the community grows. Expected to open in the spring of 2020, the new facility will offer various levels of supportive living, long-term care, and palliative care.
“The Willow Square Continuing Care Centre continues to be a high priority for our government and for the citizens of Fort McMurray and Regional Municipality of Woof Buffalo,” said Sandra Jansen, minister of infrastructure. “I promised that I would keep this project moving as quickly as possible and I am very excited that construction has started and we are proceeding full speed ahead.”
The $110-million centre is being designed and built by Pomerleau Inc. and S2 Architecture. Key project milestones include:
- Construction start – spring 2018
- Begin construction of parkade and super structure – summer 2018
- Continue design development and prepare construction packages – spring/summer
- Complete construction – fall 2019
- Hand over to Alberta Health Services for operational commissioning in late 2019
- Estimated opening – spring 2020
The facility design supports residents by creating a community that includes a café, library, chapel and auditorium. A series of pathways will also ensure barrier-free access to local transit and other amenities.
Alberta Health Services will operate the new facility and deliver a number of programs and services including resident spaces, home care, support services and the Northern Lights Bridges program, which is a day respite care program for the elderly, disabled, or people with dementia or cognitive impairment.
“We are pleased to be the design-builder for the long-awaited Willow Square Continuing Care Centre our largest building project in Alberta to date,” said Francis Pomerleau, president of Canadian building operations for Pomerleau. “Pomerleau is excited to bring our collaborative approach to the region and to be growing its national presence. Our company is dedicated to transforming our clients’ visions into reality and becoming a trusted partner in the process.”
During construction, the project will support 240 jobs, with an additional 127 full-time positions for care and support staff to operate the facility.
