Willow Creek Manor celebrated grand opening on Oct. 6
Willow Creek Manor by I-care celebrated its grand opening on October 6, one year after an extensive renovation began.
The former home of the Swift Current Care Centre underwent a lengthy eight month renovation and totally changed decor before re-opening during the summer.
Shirley Ann Friesen said it was exciting to finally be able to showcase the building during their grand opening.
“It’s great. All the hard work that we put into it,” Friesen said. “But the most important is the residents, and they’re happy.”
Friesen has worked as a Care Aid in Swift Current for the past 19 years, and five years ago she started the private care company I-care Independent Care Services.
She said her goal was to have a homelike atmosphere in the newly refurbished 24-hour care facility.
“I wanted it, for me, to be like coming into a home or coming to grandmas house. I remember walking into grandmas house, and that had very welcoming, homey, old-fashioned stuff, and that’s kind of what I wanted here. Just to be homey as soon as you come in.”
“Our motto is Willow Creek Manor: Welcome Home. So that’s what I wanted, a homey feeling when you walk in. For elderly people to be feeling at home and see things they might recognize from over the years.”
A contract began work at the former Swift Current Care Centre building last October, and the facelift was completed following eight months of renovations and redecorating.
“When I bought the building that was my vision, I saw all this. It just took a while to get there,” she said. “I didn’t give up. I had a dream and I just made it happen.”
Willow Creek Manor currently has 18 residents, and have 44 suites available as they begin their fifth month of operations.