NEW LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY OPENS IN WESTERN HILL OWNER DONNA SPASIC SAID SHE WANTED IT TO FEEL HOMEY

St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik called it "the future of Western Hill."

The new WestHills longterm care facility on Louth Street in St. Catharines has finally opened, after being in production for nearly six years.

Sendzik, along with Regional Chair Jim Bradley, and ward councillors Matt Harris and Joe Kushner, were on site for the opening Thursday, May 12.

But it wasn't any of the dignitaries who cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. Instead, new resident and president of the Resident's Council Diny Bruszkowski got the honours.

Bruszkowski was also on site for the groundbreaking just before the pandemic, and said she's excited to finally see her room.

Donna Spasic, who owns the new facility, said she's immensely proud of what they've built.

"The whole idea is to make it homey," she said. "It's more like a resort.

We're not done outside yet, but a lot of places you go and it looks like a box, and has no character or personality. I always say 'Would I want to live there?'"

The Louth Street property was first purchased in 2015, and the redevelopment proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in May 2016.

The three-storey, 160bed facility offers both basic and private rooms.

"Our basic rooms are even designed to provide complete privacy and dignity for those residents," she said, explaining that only two residents in basic rooms share bathrooms.

Spasic said they've gone above and beyond ministry requirements, with each floor having their own family kitchen, balconies, and hair salon stations.

"It's been a lot of work," she said. "If you don't have the love and the passion for (helping) seniors, you should never be in this business."

The facility also has family-use laundry machines, therapy and exercise rooms, and "quiet rooms" for people in palliative care or with behavioural issues.

With two courtyards, raised garden beds, and balcony access, the facility offers lots of outdoor time

for residents.

"What made me feel the best is when we had a tour for the families and the families were crying," Spasic said. "It mean so much. It really touches me."

The new 115,000-squarefoot facility provides employment to over 150 employees.

Spasic said the wait-list for the new facility is already more than 375 people long.

"We are a long way from achieving our goals, and this is a huge building, and it's going to take us another year," she said. "Come back in a year, and we'll have done even more."