This release was issued under a previous government.

Seniors in the Fort Saskatchewan area will have greater access to comfortable, safe housing when Dr. Turner Lodge is replaced with a new building in the Sherridon area. 

This $18 million investment will create an improved environment for lower-income seniors to enjoy an aging-in-place lifestyle.

“Seniors have helped build this province and we want to ensure the place they call home is in good condition and a great place to live now and for years to come, said Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “We want to ensure Alberta seniors will continue to have a safe and affordable place to live.”

Griffiths and Ed Stelmach, MLA Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, were joined by representatives of the three local housing management bodies: Pioneer Housing Foundation, Fort Saskatchewan Foundation and Fort Lions Haven. These organizations operate more than 550 units in Fort Saskatchewan and Sherwood Park.

“This project is a fine example of how we can work together and take a big-picture approach to meet the current and future needs of seniors in their own communities,” said Stelmach.

The Dr. Turner Lodge project will offer more integrated housing units for seniors, better use of available land and repurposing of the existing facility. The new development will include 90 units of independent and supportive living options including self-contained bachelor, one- and two-bedroom units. The project will help create a more vibrant community for seniors and their families in the Fort Saskatchewan area.

“Positive partnerships help build positive housing solutions for our seniors,” said Don Westman, Vice-Chair, Fort Saskatchewan Foundation. “Housing management bodies, municipal and provincial governments, and the City of Fort Saskatchewan have worked hard to give seniors and their families greater choice for affordable housing.”

The project is one of several investments this year that will go towards updating and replacing aging government-owned housing across the province. In total, the Government of Alberta is investing $260 million over five years as part of the Long-term Real Estate Strategy for its social housing portfolio.

Budget 2012 invests in people. It allocates approximately 75 per cent of provincial funding to the core programs of health, education and human services without raising taxes, while forecasting a return to a balanced budget by 2013-14.

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Backgrounder: Alberta’s Social Housing Long-term Real Estate Strategy, Dr. Turner Lodge project details

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Wendy McGrath
Municipal Affairs Communications
780-427-8862
[email protected]
@ABMuniAffairs

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Backgrounder

Alberta’s Social Housing Long-term Real Estate Strategy

Government of Alberta social housing portfolio & Long-term Real Estate Strategy

  • Alberta’s social housing is for lower-income Albertans, including families with children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
  • The government owns, through the Alberta Social Housing Corporation (ASHC) more than 26,000 social housing units. The ASHC portfolio includes 3,716 seniors lodge units, 14,143 seniors apartment units, and 8,714 community housing units. The replacement value of these assets is valued at $4.2 billion.
  • The Long-term Real Estate Strategy takes a province-wide approach that works in partnership with communities.
  • Many of the government’s social housing buildings are over 30 years old and require renovations, redevelopment or replacement - including many seniors’ self-contained units and lodge units. As a regular course of business on all social housing properties, funding is provided in operating budgets to conduct routine maintenance and improvements. The regeneration and renewal projects address more significant needs to update existing housing through redevelopment or replacement.
  • Projects focus on community-based solutions achieved through partnerships with housing management bodies and municipalities, which may involve leveraging partnership assets, such as land.
  • The projects help illustrate the kind of housing solutions that can create more efficient buildings, increase housing supply, and provide improved accommodations to meet residents’ needs. For example, some designs may offer better utilization of a site, increased mobility in units, and common areas, units adaptable to changing needs.
  • Projects will be developed in stages so residents can continue to live on site as new housing is built.

Dr. Turner Lodge Project:

  • The new Dr. Turner Lodge will replace the current seniors housing complex with a three-storey building with 90 supportive and independent housing units including 60 lodge rooms, as well as 30 self-contained studio, one- and two-bedroom units.
  • Plans are to vacate and repurpose the current facility once the new facility is completed.
  • The new site allows for a second phase that could include additional supportive or assisted living and independent living units depending on the needs of the community.
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Media inquiries may be directed to:

Wendy McGrath
Municipal Affairs Communications
780-427-8862
[email protected]
@ABMuniAffairs

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.