Mayor Joe Hordyski plans to run for re-election in 2024. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Into fruition

Year in Review: Long-term care facility becomes reality in La Ronge in 2023

Dec 25, 2023 | 9:00 AM

As 2023 draws to a close, larongeNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

Years of hard work and lobbying paid off for La Ronge in 2023 with the start of construction of a three-storey, two-wing per-floor long-term care facility with 80 rooms.

The new long-term care home is being built adjacent to the La Ronge Health Centre and will likely be the largest infrastructure project in the town’s history. The facility will include living areas, tub rooms, family rooms, a traditional healing space, a serenity room, a commercial kitchen, and space for other health services.

The site of the new long-term care facility in December 2023. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Renovations to the existing space will improve several program areas, including therapies, an adult day program, and a new hemodialysis unit. Construction, which began in June, is expected to be substantially complete by late 2026.

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“It’s been such a long time coming. We have been in great need of long-term care for a number of years and it’s really great to see it is actually in progress of being built, but it also creates some challenges for the community,” La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski said.

“We are facing some stretched housing, trying to provide housing for existing businesses and bringing new employees into town and now, within three years, we are going to be looking to provide space for 137 positions.”

Moving into 2024, residents of La Ronge will be faced with a 2.5 per cent tax increase, which Hordyski explained is necessary with the planned capital expenses coming in the next few years. There are plans to spend $14 million in capital expenses next year, which will include wastewater plant treatment upgrades, residential and commercial land development, and road repairs. Some of the work involved will be installing sewer lines and a lift station to service the Co-op Marketplace area.

“The reason behind that (tax increase) is we know we have an extensive 10-year capital plan and we want to get ahead of the game a little bit,” Hordyski said. “Rather than do a big tax increase down the road, we will work our way up and we are transferring that money directly into the reserve fund to build up for some of the capital expectations we have over the next number of years.”

In 2023, town council also voted to attempt to recover more than $1.2 million from the RCMP for breach of contract. The contract, which ended in November 2022, was in regards to a three-year enhanced policing agreement signed by the previous council that was supposed to bring three additional officers to La Ronge.

“It’s quite difficult to get it all back based on the fact there are so many vacancies,” Hordyski said. “We are continuing to pursue it, even if we can get a portion of it, we would be OK with that. As a result of that contract, the RCMP have three additional positions that are going to be ongoing because they realize they needed the additional positions in order to service the area adequately.”

Next year will also be an election year for municipalities and the province. Town council recently chose Oct. 2 as the election date and Hordyski noted he plans to run for re-election. He said the town has a lot of projects on the go and he would like to continue being involved and see some of them finished.

“I am looking forward to an exciting 2024 and I would just like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best to everyone in the New Year,” Hordyski said.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com