A new $224-million long-term care facility will take over an unused lot in Royal Bay, the province confirmed in its latest budget.
The 306 bed Western Communities Long-term Care Project officially got the green light this week after the province committed $157 million towards it in the budget, with the Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) providing the remaining $69 million.
The CRHD said it included the the project in its 2023 provisional budget, taking over 30 per cent of the costs, adding Island Health will build and operate the facility.
“We’ve been short seniors beds in the western communities for a long time, so this is great news,” Doug Kobayashi, Mayor of Colwood, said. “It enables people that have lived here all their lives to actually age in place with dignity in our own home community.”
A map rendering shows the plan for the southern addition of Royal Bay, including the CRD assisted living facility along Metchosin Road. (Colliers)
The CHRD bought the former quarry site on Metchosin Road for $8 million 10 years ago.
Kobayashi since then plans have been in the works for this facility, with the goal of alleviating wait times for long-term-care across the Greater Victoria region.
“We only have one facility out here in Langford and there is a waiting list for that right now,” Kobayashi explained. “This will free up beds not only in downtown Victoria, but it will certainly help with the issues that we have out here in the western communities.”
The plan is to build a three-storey facility with a seniors village attached.
The village will include hair salons, coffee shops, restaurants and a child-care facility.
The province said it will also include a hospice, a specialized unit for younger people suffering from brain injuries and an adult day program.
The land is across the street from the Royal British Columbia Museum’s new collections and archives building, set to start construction in the summer and open by summer 2026.
Kobayashi said it is also near the new Royal Bay shopping centre which should have stores like Quality Foods opening in the spring.
He added all this development is great for the area.
“There’s going to be a lot more job opportunities out here in the western communities and the economic spin offs. There’s going to be a lot more business,” Kobayashi explained.
In a statement to CHEK News, the Ministry of Finance said procurement for the project is underway.
Construction is expected to start in 2025 and be completed in 2027.
Mackenzie Read
