New seniors’ lodge opens in Magrath
As Magrath residents beamed, Alberta’s minister of seniors and housing joined local officials cutting the ribbon on a spacious 43-unit lodge Tuesday.
“This investment supports seniors to age in their community, close to family and friends,” said Lori Sigurdson, as the community celebrated the opening of the $10.7-million Diamond Willow Terrace Lodge.
The seniors facility is one of about 60 underway across Alberta, Sigurdson noted. Overall, she said the provincial government is investing $1.2 billion in seniors and affordable housing over a five-year period.
Replacing a smaller, 50-year-old lodge on the south side of town, the new Diamond Willow will be operated by the Chinook Foundation, a nonprofit organization like the Green Acres Foundation in Lethbridge. It also manages facilities in Cardston.
Maintaining ties with family and friends helps seniors preserve their health and sense of belonging, pointed out Kim Schnoor, the foundation’s chief administrative officer.
“Our new Diamond Willow Terrace Lodge will provide a safe, comfortable and modernized home, both for longterm residents of Magrath and those preferring a peaceful and beautiful hometown community,” he said.
Offering individual units for singles and couples, the two-storey lodge features a large activity room, performance space, computer stations, an easy-access spa, a pool room and a conference room. It also boasts a large kitchen and dining area, along with self-serve coffee and hot drinks.
Residents will receive Level 1 or 2 care, officials said, as provided through provincial programs. Fees will be collected on a sliding scale, based on income.
Costs of construction were shared by the senior levels of government, under the Affordable Housing 2014-19 Agreement. That’s part of the federal government’s National Housing Strategy, officials said — a $40-billion plan to create 100,000 new housing units “and lift 530,000 families out of housing need” over 10 years.
For Magrath and Cardston, the taxsupported Chinook Foundation doesn’t just provide comfortable food and lodging for their seniors. Schnoor said it also provides employment, partor full-time, for about 70 local women and men.
“About one-third of those are fulltime,” he added.
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