The current La Ronge long-term care facility has 14 beds for a population of over 2,500. But back in 2015, the community decided it would need to plan for an expanded facility.
“The current facility had approximately one-third of the long-term care beds per capita compared to anywhere else in the province,” said Jacob Page, fundraising coordinator for the La Ronge & Area Long Term Care Fundraising Committee.
The province decided to move ahead with expanding the facility in 2020, and construction began in 2023. This February, the province announced the 80-bed facility was halfway completed and that doors are expected to open in 2027. More beds won’t be the only additions to the new facility.
“There are also a few cool things in here that make it culturally inclusive, including a traditional healing space, dedicated offices for elders, a serenity room,” said Page. “It’s just going to be an incredible facility for not only everybody here in the north but also, I think, the province as a whole.”
The province has made a total financial commitment of around $100 million to the project, and the new facility is being developed to include additional therapies and a dialysis unit.
“There are quite a few people who have to travel two or three times a week to Prince Albert or Saskatoon for dialysis treatment or to see a speech-language pathologist,” said Page.
The La Ronge & Area Long Term Care Fundraising Committee was established two years ago and has set a $5 million goal to purchase furniture and equipment.
The fundraising efforts have included everything from a car smash to Chase the Ace, and the committee is planning to announce its progress later this month.
