Alberton’s Rev WJ Phillips Residence is in an expansive mode.

Construction has started on a four-room Community Care expansion, said Connie Rennie, Chair of the board of directors of ERC Concepts Ltd.

ERC Concepts Ltd. is a non-profit charitable corporation that owns and manages the Residence on Dufferin Street. 

Ms Rennie also announced that Marlene Bolger has joined the Phillips Residence as transitional executive director.  

“Her role will be to facilitate improvements at the residence as we work through the process of hiring a permanent full-time Executive Director”, said Ms Rennie.

Ms Bolger retired from her post of administrator at Western Hospital and Maplewood Manor, both in Alberton.  

“Her expertise in care management and institutional process management will ensure we meet the high standards the Board and community expect of the Phillips Residence,” added Ms Rennie.

“With help from CMHC and the Island Community Fund we are implementing Phase One of a multi-phased expansion plan,” explained Ted Haslam, secretary-treasurer of the ERC Concepts Ltd. board and Chair of the Expansion Planning Committee. 

“There is a need for community care beds in West Prince,” he explained, “and there is an even greater need for Assisted Independent Living (AIL) apartments.” 

A future expansion phase focusing on AIL apartments at the Phillips Residence “will be approached opportunistically, should federal and provincial policy be targeted to support the development of apartments with AIL services - but at an affordable cost for seniors with incomes typically found in West Prince,” said Mr Haslam. 

“The four new community care rooms should be ready for residents by summer,” confirmed ERC Concepts board member Hector McLeod, who is responsible for the Phase One expansion construction. 

“The profile of the new single occupancy rooms will be the same as the current single rooms, and the outside of the building will look the same,” he added.  The builder is R & R Construction, selected through a tender process.  

“The cost of the new addition is less than $100,000,” Mr Haslam stated, and the financing is being handled internally except for a $10,000 grant from the Island Community Fund.