Chelsey St. Pierre – The Suburban LJI Reporter
The official groundbreaking of the new Denis-Benjamin-Viger seniors residence took place last week in Pierrefonds. This project is one of the 2,400 CHSLDs that are slated to undergo renovations or reconstruction over the coming years. The dilapidated CHSLDs will gradually be rebuilt into seniors’ homes with improved features in terms of functionality, safety, comfort, atmosphere, as well as infection prevention and control.
The MNA for Anjou-Louis-Riel Karine Boivin-Roy was present at the groundbreaking on behalf of the Minister responsible for Seniors Sonia Bélanger. “I share the community’s pride in knowing that the work will begin shortly. Soon, residents will be able to discover this new, more adapted living environment in which they will be able to flourish. By transforming CHSLDs into seniors’ homes, our government is demonstrating that it is attentive to the needs of communities. Thank you to the teams who contribute to the realization of this project,” Boivin-Roy said.
According to the Office of the Minister for Health and Seniors, the work currently underway is expected to be completed by winter 2025-2026. Residents of the existing Denis-Benjamin-Viger accommodation centre in Île-Bizard, deemed to be dilapidated, will be moved into the new building in Pierrefonds-Roxboro that will also serve Dollard-des-Ormeaux upon completion of the project.
The new residence will accommodate 192 occupants and will include individual rooms with adapted toilets and showers.
“The start of work on this new seniors’ home is an important step for the population of western Montreal. We will offer residents a warm environment, where the organization of care and services is focused on their needs. Seniors deserve the best. This is why our government is continuing to transform now dilapidated facilities into places of accommodation where the quality of the living environment is the priority,” Sonia Bélanger, Minister responsible for Seniors and Minister for Health said.
Assisting in the groundbreaking were Brigitte Garceau, MNA for Robert-Baldwin; Jim Beis, Mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro; Alex Bottausci, Mayor of Dollard-Des-Ormeaux; Jean-François Miron, CEO of CIUSSS West Island; and Marie-Ève Gaudreau, Political Advisor. n