The Ontario government has announced the start of construction work on two long-term care homes.

In Sarnia, the Trillium Villa Nursing Home will replace an existing 152-bed long-term care home. It will bring eight new and 152 upgraded and redeveloped beds to the community and is expected to welcome its first residents in mid-2026.

Meanwhile, Extendicare St. Catharines’ new 256 bed long-term care home will consist of 104 new and 152 redeveloped beds across four floors, with two resident home areas (RHAs) on each floor.

RHAs are designed to create a more intimate and familiar living space for up to 32 residents each, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms.

Extendicare St. Catharines is expected to welcome its first residents in early 2027.

Both projects received funding from the recently extended Construction Funding Subsidy top-up program as part of the Ontario government’s commitment to build more than 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.

The province says that as of October 2024, 115 projects representing a total of 18,823 new and redeveloped beds are completed, under construction, or have ministry approval to construct.