Update from the Marquis Foundation
From the Marquis Foundation:
"The Marquis Foundation Board is pleased to provide an update on a project that is underway to build a new seniors facility in the Town of Vulcan to replace the Peter Dawson Lodge. This project has been a long-standing goal for many to keep our seniors in the community with their spouses, families, and friends, where they have lived for many years.
In 2019, a Viability and Feasibility Study was conducted by Colliers Project Leaders Advisory Services. The Study indicated that given the building age, inability to adapt to new standards or ability to manage increased demand of an aging population, a new building was the most advantageous opportunity for the long-term sustainability of appropriate seniors' living facilities in Vulcan County.
In 2022, Marquis Foundation hired a consultant, Derek Weiss, to assist with the project funding. The first step was to apply for seeding funding from the Canadian and Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). We received a $72,000 grant and a $99,000 interest-free loan to cover the soft costs associated with getting the project off the ground.
This year, we have hired a Project Manager, M3 Development Management, and a Design Team, JMAA Architecture. We are currently recruiting a Construction Manager.
With this team, we plan to develop a lodge facility that provides serviced housing options to our future residents.
- 31 studio basic rooms
- 11 enhances studio rooms
- 15 one-bedroom
- 3 two-bedroom suites
Bathrooms will be barrier free; doorways and hallways will be wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, and most importantly, incorporate the opportunity for aging-in-place in effort to keep seniors close to families instead of being forced to relocate elsewhere.
The projected cost of the new building is $27.5 million. We are applying to the Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP) and the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) for grants and low-interest loans for the majority of the capital required. The Marquis Foundation has committed $1.25 million from reserves and the regional municipalities have committed to $1.5 million to meet the minimum partnership funding requirements.
The project design and development will be carefully phased over the next several months in alignment with funding and financing opportunities and requirements.
With the tireless support of the Board consisting of Chair Laurie Lyckman, Vice Chair Kym Nichols, Judy Sanderson, Kelly Nelson, Patrick Wiens, Matt Crane, Jamie Smith, and Brad Koch, we are steps closer to seeing this project come to light.
We would like to extend gratitude for the assistance from Vulcan County's CAO, Nels Petersen, Town of Vulcan CAO, Kim Fath, Vulcan County's Reeve, Jason Schneider, and the Town of Vulcan Mayor, Tom Grant in getting the project underway."
For inquiries regarding the project, please contact:
Laurie Lyckman
Marquis Foundation Board Chair
Phone: (403) 423-0143
Email: laurie.lyckman@vulcan.ca