Markham, ON (September 15, 2023) – Mon Sheong Foundation hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony for the largest Long-Term Care Facility in Markham, marking a significant milestone. The Honourable Stan Cho, new Minister of Long-Term Care, MPP Billy Pang, and Mayor Frank Scarpitti of City of Markham graced the event with their presence, ushering in the commencement of a purposeful ceremony that sets the stage for the forthcoming construction. Anticipated to be ready for occupancy in 2026, this facility will provide 320 long-term care beds and create 400 jobs when completed.
This new long-term care center, located at 30 Apple Creek Boulevard (formerly recognized as 8885 Woodbine Avenue) in Markham, has 11 stories. Upon completion, it will become the largest long-term care home in Markham, providing 320 care beds. The design focus of this new long-term care home remains primarily resident-centered, with a particular emphasis on infection prevention and control.
Tim Kwan, Chairman of Mon Sheong Foundation stated, “According to government statistics released in April 2023, there are currently 40,000 people in Ontario awaiting long-term care beds, with an average wait time of 123 days. There is a wait list of 8,000 people for the four long-term care centers of Mon Sheong Foundation, with an average wait time of five to seven years. Over the past several years, Mon Sheong Foundation has been granted a total of 1,472 new bed licences by the provincial government, of which 320 are for the Stouffville Long-Term Care Center that officially began operation in October 2021. This Home has already accumulated a waiting list of over 2,000 people. In light of the continuous increase in demand for long-term care beds at Mon Sheong, we have actively pursued the construction of new long-term care facilities to meet the healthcare needs of our local senior community. We are pleased to announce the commencement of the construction for the Markham Long-Term Care Center today and sincerely thank the provincial government and the City of Markham for their steadfast support.
The global pandemic could be unstable. Infection Prevention and Control remains the utmost importance in designing Mon Sheong new long-term care centres. In addition to fundamental features like individual HVAC systems and real-time positioning systems in each resident’s room, we also plan to provide a private washroom for every basic room in the new facility, same design as current private room’s, but at the charge of a basic room. We are glad that this plan has been approved by the Ministry. While the construction cost per basic room is higher, and it occupies more space, it offers better infection prevention and control and privacy of residents, which aligns with our commitment of providing resident-centered care.”
The Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care stated, “Congratulations to the Mon Sheong Foundation on the ground-breaking of this exciting project. Seniors deserve to receive the highest quality of care within their own community, and that is exactly what this home will achieve once completed.”
Garth Low, President of Mon Sheong Foundation commented, “The senior population in Markham is projected to increase by 120% by 2026, leading to a steep rise in nursing care demands. However, there is a severe shortage of personal support workers (PSWs), making the training of skilled PSWs a top priority. Therefore, we will be establishing a PSW training center in the Markham Senior Care Campus, where our new Markham Long-Term Care Centre is located, providing training and placement opportunities. We hope this will encourage more individuals to enter the field and nurture high quality PSWs to serve residents and members of the community in need of care.
During the Ministry’s review process, all related documentations, including financing arrangements were required to be ready by end of August. Each step in the process required clearance from the Ministry and it was not an easy task for us. We are pleased to host this groundbreaking ceremony today and can commence the construction. Mon Sheong Foundation is grateful for the trust and support by the provincial government, which expedited the complex review process. We would also like to thank the municipal government for their cooperation so that the construction can start smoothly.
Although Mon Sheong Foundation has made various arrangements and utilized reserves, it greatly relies on the continuous support and participation of the community. “Because We Care” capital campaign for the construction of new long-term care centres is now underway. The Foundation calls upon the generosity of the community at large, hoping that everyone can come together to contribute to the well-being of the elderly in the community.”
Minister Cho, MPP Pang and Mayor Scarpitti expressed their unanimous commend on Mon Sheong Foundation for their significant contributions to the community. The aging population issue is becoming increasingly severe, and providing high-quality care services is the best way to repay our elderly for a lifetime of hard work. The capital campaign is Mon Sheong’s response to the community’s demand for long-term care services. The Foundation hopes that the community will join hands to support its goal to provide quality care for the elderly.
For more information, please visit http://www.monsheong.org/capital-campaign or call toll-free at 1-866-708-0002.
