The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte celebrated the official opening of Tsi Thonwatíhsnye’s Elder Care Home on Tuesday, marking a major investment in Indigenous long-term care and community health.
The new 128-bed facility on Old Highway 2 will provide 24-hour nursing care, personal support, cultural programming and modern private rooms designed to keep Elders connected to family, language and traditions.
The name Tsi Thonwatíhsnye’s means “where they take care of them (support them).”
Photo by Emily Chatwood / myFM News
“This licensed long-term care facility is more than a building. It is a promise to our Elders,” said Chief R. Donald Maracle. “Today, we celebrate a place where Elders will be cared for with dignity, respect, and cultural connection.”
The 95,000-square-foot home is described as the largest on-reserve long-term care facility in Ontario. Residents will live in smaller home areas with shared dining and activity spaces to create a comfortable, community-focused environment.
“The opening of Tsi Thonwatíhsnye’s Elder Care Home paves a path for the expansion of quality care infrastructure and long-term care home standards,” said Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson.
The federal government contributed more than $30 million toward the project through several funding programs, while the Province of Ontario also supported construction.
Photo by Emily Chatwood / myFM News
“The opening of Tsi Thonwatíhsnye’s Elder Care Home marks a major milestone in our government’s plan to protect residents and increase access to world-class health care across the province,” said Long-Term Care Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta.
Community members, Elders, staff and government partners gathered for the ribbon-cutting, celebrating a project years in the making that will allow Elders to age close to home.
Photo supplied by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte
