Councillor, Louise Portelance, looks over the future site of the Valley East Long Care Centre. The facility has been a year in the planning stages, and with construction scheduled to begin in July, doors will be opening in the fall of 2002.

The privately owned health centre is being located on a 16 acre parcel of land at the northeast corner of Frappier and Main Street in Val Caron. Once built, the centre will consist of two floors with spacious accommodation for 128 residents in four home units of 32 residents each. Each home unit will include dining, lounge and activity areas and will be tastefully decorated in a homelike manner to ensure independence and comfort. As well, there are many nature trails in the area  and the property will include a  well landscaped courtyard. The owners are Mr. Alex Jarlette of Midland and Mrs. Erna Baniulis of Orangeville. Collectively, they have over sixty years of experience in providing seniors care in Ontario and have constructed over a dozen similar facilities in the province.

“This is a great thing for Valley East,” commented Portelance. “Now people can stay right here close to their family when they need long-term medical care. It also means that many people who moved away can now think about coming back home for the final years of their life.”

She continued, “It is in an excellent location and is accessible to people from all over the region. And where else can you find 16 acres of land such as this which is perfect for this kind of development?”

Portelance, who has been a strong proponent of improved medical care in the community, was especially pleased that the approval to turn the former Town Hall building into a medical centre was accomplished during the Council Meeting held on May 22.

Besides providing for the demands of our aging population with respect to long-term care, the centre will also create employment for up to 120 people when fully operational.