Province confirms 128-bed home for Havelock

Work to begin in spring; medical centre also part of project

HAVELOCK — Havelock-Belmont-Methuen’s mayor can rest easy during his upcoming political retirement after receiving confirmation that the township will still get its long-awaited long-term care facility.

The Ontario government announced Friday that AON Inc.’s new build in the township will get 128 new beds.

“It’s wonderful to see all the hard work that council has put into play over the last decade come into fruition,” Mayor Ron Gerow said.

Gerow isn’t running in the upcoming municipal election, putting an end to his 33-year political career.

Township council has been lobbying for long-term care facility for nearly a decade. Gerow even led a rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto in 2016 to put pressure on the government.

In February, the Liberal government declared their commitment to new beds in HBM after previously rejecting a proposal.

But after the Progressive Conservatives took power in June, cancelling many other Liberal programs, there was a chance long-term bed promises could meet the chopping block, too.

Gerow, however, said he wasn’t too concerned after previously getting reassurance from Eric Hoskins, former minister of health and long-term care, that the plan would go ahead indefinitely.

“There was never any doubt in our minds,” Gerow said.

Also as promised, Peterborough’s Riverview Manor longterm care facility on Water Street is getting 36 new beds and a new Extendicare Peterborough facility will have 84 new beds.

The Ontario government pledges to add 15,000 long-term care beds in five years and 30,000 in 10 years to help cut hospital wait times and end hallway medicine.

Although Gerow said he was confident the township would still get its 128 beds after the government changeover, he couldn’t quiet every little nagging thought.

“You always have that lurking feeling in the back of your mind, is this going to get ditched or are we going go forward.”

At the end of the day, Gerow’s biggest concern was that all the paperwork wouldn’t be finalized by the end of his term on Nov. 30.

AON recently got word to go ahead with licensing, Gerow said, and progress is underway.

At Monday’s township council meeting, the township officially turned over a piece of property on Old Norwood Rd. to AON for the build.

Gerow said he expects shovels in the ground by spring 2019.

The facility will also house a medical centre, open to residents in the community, Gerow said.

It’ll be open full-time, unlike the current one that’s only open three days a week, and is expected to have doctors, nurse practitioners, a dentist and pharmacy.

As Gerow prepares to depart from politics, he said pleased to see the long-term care facility close to becoming a reality.

“I’m taking it as part of my legacy. It was very long, arduous trip to get to where we are.”