Two long-term care homes in Barrie: the Grove Park Home for Senior Citizens; and the Coleman Care Centre, have each begun construction that will upgrade existing facilities and add new beds.
Each project received funding through the Construction Funding Subsidy top-up. The funding is part of the Ontario government’s $6.4 billion plan to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province. Eligible projects receive a top-up of $35 per bed, per day, for 25 years, with additional supports for not-for-profits.
“As Ontario continues to grow, our government is making historic investments to protect families and their loved ones,” said Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care Natalia Kusendova-Bashta in a news release. “Today’s announcement is great news for Barrie and will ensure that 337 residents will get the care they need, in modern and safe homes.”
Barrie's News Delivered To Your Inbox
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
GROVE PARK HOME
Two new beds will be added, bumping the facility's total to 145, while also upgrading 62 existing beds.
A café and community hub space will be included in the home, as well as mechanical lifts being added to resident rooms. The nursing call system, fire detection and suppression systems and resident monitoring features will also be improved.
"Upon completion, the project will serve Barrie and the surrounding area for many decades to come," Grove Park Home executive director Paul Taylor said in a news release. "We look forward to the completion of our project and reopening our doors to these newly constructed beds as we continue to provide excellent care in a secure environment with family and community support."
COLEMAN CARE CENTRE
Redevelopment of the home involves the Village of Innis Landing project that aims to add 80 beds. The addition would lift the facility's total to 192 beds.
As with Grove Park, larger common spaces will be added that include air conditioning throughout. The projects revolve around the idea of 'resident home areas’, each of which creates a more intimate and familiar living space for up to 32 residents.
"Schlegel Villages has had strong connections in Barrie since Coleman Care Centre first joined us 13 years ago, and we’re grateful to partner with the province and city to bring our vision for a full continuum of care at the Village of Innis Landing to life," Schlegel Villages president and CEO James Schlegel said in a news release.
The Ontario government says its plan to improve care for long-term care residents is built on four pillars:
- staffing and care
- quality and enforcement
- building modern, safe, and comfortable homes
- connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need
"By upgrading these existing facilities, residents will be able to choose care in places they know and trust while still receiving the qualify of care they have come to expect," said Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey in a news release.
As of July 2025, 148 projects representing a total of 24,101 new and redeveloped beds are completed, under construction, or have ministry approval to construct.
