Dufferin Villa staff call time since opening “a rollercoaster”

Dufferin Villa has been open for just over a year, and its staff are glad to see its success.

Administrator Adrienne Matthews-McCulley says since opening, the assisted living centre has been able to fill nearly all of its apartments. She says the residents feel like they're becoming a part of a community when they move in.

"It's been a good ride, but it's definitely a roller coaster," explains Matthews-McCulley. "We celebrated our anniversary in February, and we aren't quite full at the moment, but I would say we've ironed out most of our kinks now. We are in a really good place to achieve what we've set out to provide for our community."

She adds that anyone interested in Dufferin Villa is more than welcome to schedule a tour, as she believes that the best way to experience it is to see it in person, as opposed to photos online or word of mouth.

One of the things Matthews-McCulley is most proud of is the resident council.

"Every single person is encouraged to attend," notes Matthews-McCulley. "It's only the residents in that meeting, so there are no board members, and there's no staff. They may talk about opportunities or things they would like to see done differently. Their executive will bring those concerns to me as the administrator."

Once any issues are brought forward, Dufferin Villa's staff checks to see which are feasible. The administrator is glad to have this option, as it means the residents can look to improve their situation without moving out.

While there are currently no plans for a second building at the moment, Matthews-McCulley says they have the land ready to go. They're waiting for the first building to be fully occupied before considering the new building.