Donald Teuma-Castelletti
CAMPBELL’S BAY
June 14, 2018
Having just recently acquired ownership of the facilities, one non-profit retirement residence is already planning on making room for more, as they kick off fundraising for a major expansion.
Filling up the Campbell’s Bay Recreation Association, the Friends of St. Joseph’s Manor (FSJM) announced their next step for providing benchmark senior living with the plan to build an additional 10 rooms at a wine and cheese gala on June 14.
“Our goal has been and will continue to be providing a quality service to the seniors in our communities, and this is why we intend to pursue a 10-room addition,” said Colleen Larivière, director of the FSJM, at the event.
The current initiative, starting with the social last Thursday night, sees the FSJM seeking to fundraise a quarter of a million dollars. The estimated cost of the addition currently sits at $955,020.
While they entered the evening with a pre-raised amount – starting with $45,000 towards their goal – the group were excited to share that they would be received another significant investment. Promutuel Insurance made a large donation, adding $10,000 to their efforts.
“Today, we embark on a huge fundraising challenge, because we need the community’s support in order to ensure that this project becomes a reality,” said Larivière.
There will be a focus on fundraising for this project in order to help the FSJM stick to their goal of providing affordable, comfortable living to the residents.
In order to do this, a fundraising committee of nearly 10 volunteers had stepped forward to organize a variety of upcoming events, all of which will benefit this expansion project. First up will be the annual barbeque, which will be fully organized by this new committee, on June 23.
Following the barbeque, the next events the group are organizing will be a bake sale on Aug. 18, as well as a ladies’ night event planned for Oct. 12.
Currently, the wait list to get into the FSJM is over 30 people long, hence their eagerness to get the ball rolling on fundraising.
As well, the rooms will not be the only thing added onto the FSJM’s facilities, as there will be many new additions, too. Guests can look forward to enjoying a chapel and hair salon on-site, with additional rooms set aside for a laundry room, administration office, staff room and a washroom. An architect has already been hired and the plans for the addition were shared with the group at the social.
Larivière also pointed out another important detail, while highlighting the comfort factor of the new wing.
“These rooms will also be suitable for couples,” she added. “So, it’s 10 rooms, but we might have five couples.”
This expansion has been a project in the works for many years but has only become within reach once the FSJM took ownership of the property in April of this year. Previously, the land and building had been on a 25-year loan from the province, at the agreed rent of $1 per year. After providing many renovations and upgrades to the building over the years, including repairs to the roof and more recently, a new sprinkler system, the province agreed to transfer ownership of the building to the FSJM for just one more dollar.
The FSJM saw the papers signed this past April, making them the proud owners of 24 Reid Street in Campbell’s Bay.
Since the property has become fully owned by the FSJM, they’re now able to enter projects like this knowing full well that they will continue to be able to use the property and will oversee everything. Previously, they were aware that everyone was just a tenant and could face eviction if the province decided not to renew their lease.
