The Rekai Centres has announced plans for a new 348-bed long-term care home in downtown Toronto.

The Rekai Centre at Cherry Place will be a 13-storey campus of care designed to meet the growing demand for long-term care beds in Ontario, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Rekai has entered into an agreement in principle to finance the project. The new Building Ontario Fund Ontario fund is making its first investment, through a $176.1 construction-financing provision.

Rekai is a Toronto-based not-for-profit, charitable long-term care corporation. The Building Ontario Fund aims to accelerate infrastructure investment across the province.

Other partners on the project include the Jackman Foundation, Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care, George Brown College, LifeLabs, and Benjamin Moore.

“The need for long-term care beds, especially among the city’s most vulnerable populations, is critical,” said Sue Graham-Nutter, CEO of The Rekai Centres during a news conference. “Today’s announcement has been a long time in the making, and with the Building Ontario Fund’s financing support, we are delighted to finally be able to expand our capacity and ensure more of our community’s seniors receive the care and support they deserve.”

The new centre will incorporate an emotion-based, community-centred approach to care. The facility will feature several specialized services and amenities, including:

• A dialysis centre spanning 7,510 square feet;
• Alzheimer’s and dementia care on foor floors;
• An infection-control zone;
• Rainbow Wing, which will offer culturally competent care for 2SLGBTQI+ residents.
• Respite Care in the form of two beds reserved for temporary care, offering relief for caregiving families;
• The Rekai Centre for Education, in partnership with George Brown College, will provide classes, workshops, and training opportunities for healthcare students and professionals;
• On-site laboratory services operated by LifeLabs;
• A green roof on a rooftop that will include a children’s play area and outdoor dining space with cityscape views, and,
• Cultural and community spaces: A town hall, arts hub, and social spaces will foster engagement for residents and the waterfront community.

“The Building Ontario Fund’s investment in Rekai Centre at Cherry Place marks an important step forward in our commitment to finance new infrastructure in Ontario and support the development of a resilient long-term care system,” said Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025, with the first residents expected to move in by December 2027.

Photo Credit: Rekai Centres