Boyne Lodge began as a regional vision with grass roots involvement by residents from the RMs of Dufferin, Grey, MacDonald, Morris, Roland, Thompson and the Town of Carman just over four decades ago. Local governments worked together to achieve the common objective of meeting the then growing housing needs of community elders in the Boyne Valley region. This co-operation led to the development of the Boyne Lodge in 1967. The Lodge, which began as a tradional home for the elderly, has evolved into a 70 bed personal care home (PCH). The Boyne Lodge also provides space for an adult day program for residents throughout the region. The Boyne Towers, which provides affordable elderly persons housing, opened in 1979, and is attached to the Boyne Lodge.
While the current Boyne Lodge is structurally sound and may last for many years to come, its original design does not meet the evolving needs of seniors in our region who require complex personal care. Additionally the region lacks appropriate seniors housing options for the growing interest in both assisted living and supportive care. Without a full spectrum of seniors housing options, current and future residents in the Boyne region sometimes seek accommodations in other communities, negatively impacting the region’s economic development opportunities and social fabric.
There is currently a call for current leaders in the region to provide a similar role that past leaders accepted in the 1960s to ensure the sustainability of each of the region’s communities. To adequately address the current and emerging senior housing needs of our communities, local governments will need to proactively build our own solutions. As a result, a local committee has formed as Boyne Care Holdings Inc. and is actively working towards a business plan to present to the provincial government to build a new PCH.
The local board consists of
Kelvin Smith, Chairperson; Les Vanderveen, Vice-chairperson; Linda MacNair, Secretary; Shawn McCutcheon, and Barbara Lepp. In addition a Community Council with members from the various municipalities also provide input and feedback to the Board.
Boyne Care Holdings Inc. may be contacted by telephone or via the [email protected] email address. Watch for more information as plans proceed.
Community meetings were held to report on progress of new Personal Care Home
- November 16th – Roland Hall
- November 17th – Elm Creek Community Hall
- November 18th – Miami Community Hall
- November 19th – Carman Community Hall