Wheatland County tours Airdrie Shasta facility

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Members of Wheatland County council, as well as Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Chantelle de Jonge, were given a tour of the Shasta Care Community building in Airdrie, Apr. 4. 

The tour of the facility acted effectively as a follow up to a presentation made by Doug Murphy, codeveloper with Newport Senior Living Ltd. to the county, Feb. 13. 

“I was really grateful for the opportunity to tour Shasta’s Airdrie Care Community. I was impressed. It was so modern, but also cozy, and the commitment to the Eden alternative philosophy, I thought, was a beautiful foundation for preserving the dignity and respecting our communities like seniors,” said Wheatland County Reeve Amber Link. “I’d also say there was evidence of implementation of that Eden philosophy all throughout the tour and the community was markedly different from other supportive living facilities I visited and I am certainly grateful that that quality of care is coming to our community.”

Shasta received a signed commitment letter for funding 54 long-term care space, 18 supportive living Level 4 spaces, 18 supportive living memory care spaces, and six hospice spaces in the Town of Strathmore with Alberta Health Services in October 2023. 

The team behind the facility aims to have shovels in the ground this summer, with an approximately 14-month completion time. 

“We obviously had a presentation from Doug Murphy regarding the contract that he was awarded with AHS for the care community in Strathmore, and one thing that we have realized is that there isn’t a high degree of awareness in the community about that contract and about the project that will be coming to the Town of Strathmore,” added Link. “Additionally, we recognize that there may be concerns in the community around the fact that it’s a private operator who is building that care community. And so, for me, I wanted to visit one of Doug’s communities and actually witness firsthand what it was like.”

Link also emphasized the “highly stringent” regulatory framework which exists in Alberta for all facilities, regardless of being privately or publicly funded or operated. 

She added she feels the local region is in need of innovative ways to ensure seniors are cared for and that they can retire and live with dignity in the final years of their lives. 

“I have complete confidence that Shasta will provide that for our residents in the care community that they are building in Strathmore,” said Link.

An exact date for when shovels will hit the ground has not yet been established for the care facility.