The symbolic sound of shovels piercing through the ground marked the start of construction today of Eden Gardens, a new publicly funded, 130-bed, licensed residential care home for seniors and adults in need of round-the-clock care.

“Eden Gardens is a perfect example of how government is working in partnership with health authorities to create and strengthen health-care supports for residents as close to their home communities as possible,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “This facility will provide residents with access to a variety of services for seniors and those with dementia, including 24-hour secure care, all under one roof. Today’s announcement reflects our broader strategic vision for health-care provincewide.”

“It is my pleasure to be here today for the official ground-breaking ceremony of the new Eden Gardens,” said Michelle Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Healthy Living and Seniors who attended the event on behalf of Health Minister Terry Lake. “I look forward to the completion of this new residential care home that will provide safe, quality care for residents and their families for many years to come.”

Eden Gardens will be located at 1917 Northfield Road in Nanaimo. In the months ahead, the property will transform into a campus of care, providing different types of licensed residential care all under one roof, including licensed dementia care. This care model approach has proven highly successful in meeting the care needs of many individuals assessed as needing complex care due to moderate dementia and other cognitive conditions, but who otherwise have lower medical or physical needs.

The Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society will build and operate Eden Gardens, and will relocate the existing 90 residential care beds from its current location on 1298 Nelson Street, as well as add 40 new licensed beds. Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society was selected by Island Health as the successful proponent following a public tendering process that invited organizations to submit proposals to build and operate a new campus of care for seniors.

“We are delighted to partner with Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society on this important project and I want to congratulate the Society for its vision to provide a place where seniors and adults living with dementia can receive the care they need and enjoy an excellent quality of life,” said Don Hubbard, Island Health board chair.

Island Health will provide approximately $10.4 million in annual operating funding. The Government of B.C. will be providing approximately $26.2 million to Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society for the new facility.

“For many years the board, management and staff of Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society have dreamed of building a new facility to increase our ability to provide quality dementia care,” said Sheila Anderson, the Society’s past president. “Our Society has been serving this community for more than three decades and we are honoured that we have been selected to expand our services to provide those living with dementia with the care they need and deserve at the new Eden Gardens campus of care.”

Construction of Eden Gardens is anticipated to be completed in May 2016.

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Janeane Coutu
Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society
250 714-9350

Val Wilson
Island Health Communications
250 739-6303

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452-6476