The province's strategy to add 12,000 personal care home beds in Manitoba by 2024 is good news for a Carman-area group. The plan would see the 'Niverville' funding model applied to future personal care home projects, an example that Boyne Care Holdings Inc. has been following for a few years now in an effort to replace the aging PCH in Carman.

"Boyne Care Holdings is extremely excited about the mandate letter to Minister Goertzen from the Premier," said Gordon Daman, a consultant with Boyne Care Holdings Inc.. and says the group is looking forward to assisting in meeting that mandate. "Boyne Care is well positioned because of all the work that they have to done to be able to be prepared for this."

While the plan for a new personal care home in Carman isn't an exact copy of what unfolded in Niverville, Daman says the Carman model is a solution that is community-based like the Niverville model and is sensitive to the specific needs of the region.

He does note that the aging in place concept is something Boyne Care Holdings is working on very specifically after Niverville.

Daman adds however, the aspect that has Boyne Care Holdings directors most excited is that the 'Niverville' model will require funding partnerships in order to get new facilities built. "...at its heart (the plan) recognizes the importance of collaboration amongst community partners."

Over the past twenty-four to thirty months Boyne Care Holdings Inc. has seen funding commitments come in from the Town of Carman and rural municipalities of Dufferin, Grey, Roland and Thompson for a total of $3.5 million of the $5.5 million dollar project with the difference being raised locally. Southern Health-Sante Sud has also approved the project business plan and governance structure and will assume operation of the new facility once it is built, hopefully in 2019.

"Coming together they originally recognized the benefit of community involvement through the Niverville project," explains Daman, "And so, while they are not mirrored images there are reflections of what Niverville went through."

Daman adds the project is now entering the fund raising stage is Boyne Care Holdings Inc. is looking at a construction to start in 2017.

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