Large elders facility planned
MLA optimistic for opening within two years
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, January 18, 2016
IQALUIT
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak is hoping to see a large, multi-purpose elders facility built in Iqaluit - and she wants it to be open within two years.
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak told Iqaluit city council last week she wants to see an elders' facility built within two years. She asked city council to speed up the rezoning process. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
"I'm quite ambitious about this project," Angnakak told city council on Jan. 12. "I'd really like to see it happen and open its doors within two years."
No current facility meets the needs of elders today or in the future, she said.
"Every day I have somebody coming up to me saying, 'Where am I going to put my mom or dad? Where could I get help for my family?'"
Her proposed facility would have long-term care beds, dementia-care beds, assisted-living accommodations, hospice, elders' programs and services, a heritage theme and even a daycare.
"Elders love to be around children and I think it would be a really good thing," said Angnakak.
Specifically, she wants 25 to 28 long-term care beds, 12 dementia beds, six hospice beds and 32 to 34 small apartment-like rooms for assisted living.
The Sailivik Society, which was formed by Angnakak and a group of supporters, aims to be a non-profit organization operated by a board of directors with the proposed elders' facility owned by the community.
Angnakak's goal is to begin construction this summer and open the building's doors the summer of 2017.
Lori Kimball, president of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and Clarence Synard, vice-president of the Nunavut Construction Corporation, are advisors to the project.
"We are asking you that Iqaluit city council prioritize our zoning revision request," she told council members, understanding that zoning changes often take several months to go through. "We are requesting that you speed this up for us if you can. We need to have this type of service in place as soon as possible."
Coun. Joanasie Akumalik asked if the facility would service elders from outside of Iqaluit.
Angnakak said it would be a territorial facility capable of delivering a high range of services because of the proximity to the hospital.
She pointed out that a prime concern that inspired the idea was Iqalummiut worried about their parents' future because the current elders' facility is already full with people from outside of Iqaluit.
"I think the board of directors would be very sensitive to that," said Angnakak.
City councillors gave her no answer about speeding up the rezoning process at the meeting.
