Canada and Ontario partner with Bluewater Rest Home to make important renovations

December 18, 2009

Left to Right: Ben Lobb, MP, Ron Heimrich (Chair of the Board of Directors at Blue Water Rest Home), Martha Craig (Blue Water Rest Home administrator), Carol Mitchell, MPP and Mark Tucker (Vice-Chairperson of the Blue Water Rest Home Board of Directors)


ZURICH, ONTARIO – Canada and Ontario today announced an investment in partnership with Blue Water Rest Home that will re-purpose and renovate vacated portions of the Long-Term Care Home. This total investment of $1,037,769 will help to create local jobs in Zurich and support senior’s services and the development of other programs in the community.

To make the announcement, Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce, and Carol Mitchell, Member of Provincial Parliament for Huron-Bruce joined Administrator Martha Craig and Directors of the Blue Water Rest Home. Huron County Warden Bert Dykstra and Bill Dowson, Mayor for the Municipality of Bluewater, were also in attendance.  

“I am proud today to be jointly announcing funding for a project that will get shovels in the ground, jobs created, and enable this organization to enhance its services for years to come,” said Lobb.  “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government has announced an historic number of projects to help strengthen our communities, including here in Zurich.”

“Today’s investment in Blue Water Rest Home is yet again another demonstration of the McGuinty government’s commitment to strengthening our communities’ not-for-profit sector in Huron-Bruce,” said Mitchell.  “This investment will not only help deliver valued community services, help create jobs, and stimulate our local economy, but will also improve the quality of life for residents in Huron-Bruce.”

“This funding from the Infrastructure Stimulus Program will allow us to move on with the development of the local Community Service Hub, which we have named the ‘West Huron Care Centre’, said Ron Heimrich, Chair of the Blue Water Rest Home Board of Directors.  “It provides a tremendous boost for our next Phase: ensuring that the whole campus becomes a Community Continuum of Care.”

“Nearly two-thirds of the funding is allocated for renovating and retrofitting our older East Wing, once Long-Term Care Residents are safely moved to their new Home area in 2010,” said Martha Craig, Administrator, Bluewater Rest Home.  “This space will be re-purposed to accommodate a Daycare, Assisted/Supported Living suites, and other community services.”  Craig added, “The balance of the funds are designated for renovations to the main building entrance, the lobby and its roof, as well as expanded parking at the front of the building.”

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and Blue Water Rest Home are each investing one-third of the total project cost.  Canada’s funding is part of its new national Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan unveiled in January 2009.  Ontario’s matching contribution is provided through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.

Canada and Ontario are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure.