Shasta Seniors Living presents long-term care facility update to county
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, Doug Murphy, president and CEO of Shasta Seniors Living, presented to the Wheatland County Public Presentation Committee.
The purpose of the presentation was to provide an update on and answer questions regarding the seniors’ care community building proposed to see construction in Strathmore.
“We have had a lot of questions about the project, a lot of misinformation, and we just wanted a forum to talk about what we are doing, what we have done to get here and how we see ourselves going forward,” said Murphy. “We are doing similar things (to the Hospice Society) but in a different way. It is good to clarify the difference between what the lodge is and what our care building is because they are completely separate people who will live there.”
The timing of presenting before the county now was intentional, as Shasta Seniors Living will soon be starting on the geotechnical and environmental evaluations necessary prior to construction of the facility beginning.
In October 2020, Shasta Seniors Living Society responded to a request for expression of interest and qualifications from Alberta Health Services for the provision of supportive living, long-term care and hospice spaces in a host of locations across Alberta, one of which being in Strathmore.
Shasta received a signed commitment letter for funding 54 long-term care spaces, 18 supportive living level four spaces, 18 supportive living memory care spaces, and six hospice spaces with Alberta Health Services in October 2023. These will be fully funded by Alberta Health Services, with accommodation rates set by Aberta Health.
Approval has been granted for Shasta to purchase 3.25 acres of the Strathmore Health Centre land. Land investigation, appraisal, subdivision, and sale is anticipated to be finalized in June.
“We have had a number of meetings with the Town of Strathmore, all generally positive. Our interactions with the planning and development department have been exceptional; they are very knowledgeable, very responsive, and we are going to enjoy working with them very much,” said Murphy.
Despite serving a similar purpose to the facility which the Wheatland and Area Hospice Society aims to construct in Strathmore, Murphy added he does not anticipate adverse or hostile competition with them.
Plans for the project propose a three storey, 87,520 square foot facility, including an 8,000 square foot hospice.
The anticipated cost of the facility is currently estimated at approximately $36.5 million, and aims to see a construction period of two years, opening in early 2026.
The Strathmore facility will be the fifth such development of this nature completed by Shasta in Alberta, with other locations located in Edmonton, Medicine Hat, and Airdrie.