A founding member of the group that saved the St. Joseph Manor from closing 30 years ago passed the torch to the new president at a wine and cheese event hosted at the seniors’ residence in Campbell’s Bay on Saturday.
Denis Larivière, longtime president of non-profit Les Amis du Manoir St-Joseph that owns and operates the home in Campbell’s Bay, officially announced his retirement this fall after 30 years.
On Saturday he accepted a plaque for his service, while also welcoming replacement Pat Shea who will serve as his successor.
The Manoir St-Joseph had operated as a public nursing home since the late 1960s, when in 1995 the province’s health ministry announced its intention to close the facility in what was part of a $2-million cut to the Pontiac health network, according to THE EQUITY’s reporting at the time.
After protests and petitions from the community, Denis and a board of directors founded the Amis du Manoir St-Joseph to save the manor from shutting its doors.
The group bought back the manor as a non-profit retirement residence, one of the first of its kind in Quebec. In the year 2000, it paid off a $75,000 SADC loan two years ahead of schedule, and in 2014 ownership of the building was transferred to the organization for a single dollar. To date, the group has re-invested $1.5 million into the building.
“The future of this building and the future of long-term care in the Pontiac was uncertain,” said general manager Colleen Larivière, also Denis’ sister, in a speech to the crowd on Saturday.
“But Denis, along with a group of deeply committed volunteers, refused to let that happen. With strong leadership and determination, supported by volunteers, Denis helped negotiate a 25-year lease with the government, allowing the manor to re-open as a private residence serving the people of the Pontiac,” she said.
Denis said in an interview after the event that after he formed a board, they were able to get a lease for $1 a year to continue offering the service to the seniors in the community.
“When they were closing the manor, I said, ‘No, they can’t close the manor. Where are all these people going to go?’ So I spoke to a few people and asked them if they’d be interested in sitting on a board to [ . . . ] see what we can do to keep the doors open,” he said.
Colleen said under Denis’ leadership the Amis du Manoir St-Joseph reinvested $1.5 million into the building, which allowed for the completion of many new projects. Colleen listed a new activity room, a roof replacement, a library, hair salon and computer room, new fire alarm and sprinkler systems, an emergency generator and most recently, 13 newly renovated washrooms with walk-in showers.
“Together these achievements rebuilt the manor into a model of excellence, strengthened its operations and ensured comfort, safety and dignity for all who call this their home,” she said.
Denis said he never expected the kind of community support they received, but he said it is a testament to the kind of care the facility provides.
“I believe that people were really satisfied with the service and the way their parents were cared for [ . . . ] You put all that together, and next thing you know you have a waiting list of 65 people on it,” he said.
He said before the COVID-19 pandemic the manor was hoping to add 10 beds at a total cost of $1 million, but after the worst of the pandemic was over, the price for the project had doubled.
“We got together again and said let’s see if we can get this moving. I met the contractor, and he said the price had gone up from a million to two million, which meant we would have had to charge twice the rent,” he said, adding that the board was not about to do that.
The board decided to re-invest the $250,000 it had raised for the rooms to pay for other needed renovations, including the new bathrooms with walk-in showers.
“We took a walk around the manor, saw what’s badly needed, and what was needed at that point was the washrooms,” he said.
Incoming president Pat Shea, who has sat on the board for five years, said he is looking forward to giving seniors the best living experience at the most affordable cost.
“We know it’s an old building and there’s always going to be things that have got to be replaced. We want to make sure those seniors are happy, and I want people to say, ‘I’m looking forward to coming here,’” he said.
Denis said he is confident that Shea, who he recruited to join the board five years ago, is the right person to lead going forward.
“If it’s got to be done, it’s got to be done, and it’s got to be done right
[ . . . ] He’s attached to the place. His grandfather worked here for I don’t know how long. Their family heritage was this,” he said.
Denis said he enjoys days like Saturday when he sees residents enjoying themselves, playing cards and taking advantage of all they have built.
“It just touches me when I come in and see the seniors sitting at a table playing euchre or bingo and they have big smiles on their faces. I had people come to me today and tell me that they sleep better at night knowing their parents are here,” he said.
