Everyone agreed it was a long time coming but they were all happy to see the golden shovel in the ground for an expansion to Fischer Place/Mill Site Lodge in the District of 100 Mile House.

Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA and former district mayor, said she was so happy construction is starting.

“The more health care services we can provide in the Cariboo-Chilcotin for our people, senior citizens in particular who are most vulnerable, is absolutely wonderful,” she said.

The 29-bed expansion will provide 14 additional residential care beds at the completion of construction and 15 more beds will be held for future use.

“Our residents will receive professional care 24 hours a day from some of the best health-care professionals in Canada in a comfortable home-like environment,” said Barnett.

She said the number of seniors in BC is expected to double from 637,000 to almost 1.3 million over the next 20 years and the provincial government is strengthening the health care system for seniors.

“We’re building for the future, our future, our childrens’ future,” said Barnett.

The groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 11 filled Rick Mumford, Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District

chair, with pride and accomplishment.

“Since 2004 the Regional Hospital District along with the District of 100 Mile House has been lobbying the provincial government to improve the facilities at Fischer Place and Mill Site Lodge,” he said.

Mumford acknowledged the different levels of government and various politicians for seeing this project through.

He said the facility will provide a safe comfortable home for those seniors who have reached a stage where they need a helping hand in their day to day lives.

Al Richmond, Cariboo Regional District chair, said the expansion wouldn’t have been possible without the vision of the Community Health Council as far back as 1993 who decided a site master plan was needed to allow for expansion.

Andrew Neuner, Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap Health Services Area chief operating officer, said building new, modern residential care beds to meet the growing needs of seniors is an important part of building and maintaining a community.

“Seniors helped make 100 Mile House the community it is today. We need to provide them housing and care options that allow them to remain in the community,” he said.

The $7.2 million addition is being shared 60 per cent by the Province of BC through Interior Health and 40 per cent by the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District.

The project was to start in 2007 but was delayed when tender calls

for significant components of the project went unanswered due to peak market conditions.

The project is expected to be completed in

August 2010.