Detailed planning continues on the second phase of the Vermilion Continuing Care Capital Project - replacement of the Alice Keith Nursing Home. In this phase, 65 continuing care beds at Alice Keith Nursing Home will be replaced by a new generation 48-bed nursing home to be built on the Vermilion Health Centre property. When complete, the aging Alice Keith Nursing Home will be demolished.

In late November, Rockcliff Pierchaljo Architects and Planners Ltd. of Edmonton completed conceptual drawings of the new buildings. These are posted on the East Central Health project web page at http://www.ech.ab.ca/services/verCCproject.htm. Over the winter, staff at Alice Keith will be invited to participate in task groups that will be established to choose new furniture and equipment, recommend interior design and planning for the move to the new facility.

The architects have finished the final building design and are currently working on contract documents to be completed by the end of February. The project will go to public tender in March 2006 and plans are to award the contract so construction can begin in April with the arrival of warmer weather. Construction on the new facility should be complete by spring 2007.

In the first phase of the project, ECH worked with Vermilion & District Housing Foundation to build 40 new supportive housing spaces owned and operated by the foundation. That project was completed in early 2005 and was followed by an opening ceremony held October 12. Overall, the project increases continuing care beds by 23 in Vermilion. It also provides more options for seniors to remain independent while ensuring their health care needs are met.