Keys to Lakeridge Gardens LTC handed over to Lakeridge Health to operate

With the official opening of Lakeridge Gardens Long-Term Care Home mere weeks away, Lakeridge Health, Infrastructure Ontario, and PCL Construction celebrated a milestone event Thursday – the handing over of the keys of the home to Lakeridge Health to operate.

March 2 marked what’s called ‘substantial performance’ in the construction timeline for Lakeridge Gardens, the new long-term care home located next to Ajax Pickering Hospital.

Yesterday also marked the culmination of a series of milestones. Last month, Lakeridge Health announced the home’s name, Lakeridge Gardens, after completing a community consultation that included feedback and perspectives from more than 600 Durham Region residents. The Ontario government also celebrated the state-of-the-art long-term care home on February 1 during an event with Premier Doug Ford and several cabinet ministers and other dignitaries in attendance.

Yesterday it was PCL Construction and Infrastructure Ontario’s turn to sign off on their part of the job, with ‘substantial performance’ signifying the completion of all major construction and that the responsibility for opening the facility to the public is now in Lakeridge Health’s hands.

“Lakeridge Gardens’ progress over the last year, and especially in the last few weeks, has been a remarkable achievement,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO of Lakeridge Health. “Our partnerships with PCL Construction, Infrastructure Ontario, local and provincial governments, the Durham Region community, and countless other skilled workers, tradespeople, and team members made this possible.”

To showcase the innovative collaboration behind the project and to provide insight into the strategy that enabled the home to be built in months instead of years, PCL Construction released a short documentary along with a complementary timeline.

“Collaboration is key to success on any project, but the outcomes achieved on the Lakeridge Health Accelerated Build project truly personify what strong partnerships can achieve,” said Marc Pascoli, Vice President and District Manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. “The successful outcome on this project is only possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of every individual who committed to the goal of delivering Ontario’s first Accelerated Build project in only 13 months, as promised.”

Michael Lindsay, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario, agreed, noting that it was through modular construction, rapid procurement and the use of hospital lands that the facility was built faster than the traditional timeline. “This project is a resonant example of what can be achieved when innovation, modern solutions, and great partnerships come together.”

With the home’s opening planned for late March, the 320-bed Lakeridge Gardens facility will provide Durham seniors with care and comfort in a modern environment that is connected to a campus of care operated by Lakeridge Health.