$2 million facelift for St. Margaret’s Home

The $2 million renovation and modernization project was announced by MNA Jacques Chagnon on behalf of Health Minister Philippe Couillard.

"These facilities provide very important services for seniors requiring extra help in their daily activities," Chagnon said. "The funding we are announcing today will improve the living environment for our elderly in assisted-living facilities."

David Gregory, president of the Board of Directors that oversees the home, said the renovation “will go a long way to helping us provide the sort of first-rate care and quality of life that our residents expect and deserve.”

He welcomed the announcement of the provincial government approval and funding for the project.

“With this investment, the government seems to clearly recognize the increasingly vital role of long-term care facilities in the health-care continuum — as well as the remarkable legacy of St. Margaret’s, which has been serving anglophone Montrealers for well over a century,” Gregory added. “We are delighted with the prospect of being able to offer residents a more attractive, up-to-date and home-like environment.”

The $1,993,000 renovation project will focus primarly on the common areas — lounges, dining room, recreation therapy and meeting facilities — of the Hillside Avenue residence, which was completed in 1991.

As well, the bath and shower areas of the home will receive upgrading and modernization. Detailed planning is currently under way with project engineers and architects with the active participation of employees and the management team.

Work is slated to begin in mid 2008. It was also pointed out that every effort will be made to minimize disruptions for residents and staff during the construction period.