Social Services Minister Paul Merriman, La Ronge Mayor Ron Woytowich and Northsask Special Needs Housing Executive Director Deri Ann Ratt participate in a sod-turning ceremony. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

social housing

Leaders, residents celebrate opening of Spruce Manor in La Ronge

May 3, 2019 | 2:04 PM

It was a day of celebration in La Ronge as various leaders and community members came together to observe the grand opening of a senior’s complex called Spruce Manor.

The development consists of two buildings along Robertson Drive with the first being a 10-unit one-level building with six two-bedroom suites and four one-bedroom suites. The second is a semi-detached building across the street consisting of two two-bedroom units. Social Services Minister Paul Merriman, La Ronge Mayor Ron Woytowich and Northsask Special Needs Housing Executive Director Deri Ann Ratt also participated in the sod turning of an eight-bedroom group home with four self-contained suites for adults with intellectual disabilities located just down the street.

“We’re very happy we have the money and we just broke ground on that, and hopefully it will be up and running very soon,” Merriman said. “We’re glad we’re trying to address the needs in La Ronge and the needs in the North.”

In total, the federal and provincial governments invested more than $2.6 million to build Spruce Manor, which is intended for low-income seniors. Another $1.8 million was recently invested for two projects serving victims of domestic violence in La Ronge including renovations of the existing women’s centre, as well as the construction of Sapohtewan House, a four-unit rental property for families fleeing domestic violence.

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Merriman stated some seniors have already begun moving into Spruce Manor, adding there are plans to repatriate some residents who were forced to live outside of the region due to the lack of housing for seniors. He said those people will now be back within their own community and closer to their families.

Social Services Minister Paul Merriman speaks to the public in a common area of Spruce Manor. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“We’re trying to address the needs in the North piece by piece,” Merriman said.

Woytowich thanked the federal and provincial governments for coming together to fund the developments. He noted without the governments allocating the money to complete such projects, the town would never be able to do build such facilities on its own. He also talked about how tri-community residents look out for one another and how the new units will benefit all communities.

A kitchen in a two-bedroom unit in Spruce Manor. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible in Spruce Manor. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“The truth is we’re trying to grow, we’re trying to keep people in our community and a senior residence is fantastic,” Woytowich said. “We’re all going to use these facilities and it really doesn’t matter where it’s built. We really are one community that works together to ensure all of us are looked after.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno