Plans for a new long term health care facility in Meadow Lake have been finalized by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Construction started in April, with the project expected to be complete by fall 2021, said the authority’s release.
Local city and RM councils contributed $7.3 million to the new 72 bed, $36.6 million facility. The Government of Saskatchewan contributed 80 per cent of the funding, while the city and the RM contributed 10 per cent each.
Discussion about the new facility has been going on for the past 10 years, said Diana Burton, Meadow Lake’s city manager, with the current 55-bed Northland Pioneers Lodge showing its age.
The new facility will serve the community and its residents greatly, Burton said.
“Building code changes or technology changes in the last 70 years are significant. Anytime you can get a renewed or updated piece of infrastructure building to today's standards and operating that way, it can do nothing but help the residents of the facility.”
Timothy McKay, reeve of the RM of Meadow Lake, said the updated and modernized facility will be a place where people can continue their long term care close to home instead of having to move out of the area.
