It's been 10 years since the Gardens on Tenth four-storey residence, The Gardens, opened its doors and, since then, it has grown into a vibrant cornerstone of senior living in Altona.
Taking shape
In 1999, David Wiebe became the organization's Board Chair, a time when the vision for an independent seniors living facility started to take shape.
Initially, the Board of Directors took ownership of the old Ebenezer Care Home and converted the 43 rooms into 23 suites of independent living with meals, a first in rural Manitoba, according to Wiebe.
"We did that knowing people wouldn't necessarily be living independently very long. So, in 2007 we instituted supportive housing [...] and that has worked extremely well. But then we said, what is the next need? There is a need for seniors housing."
"Seniors wanted more services and they wanted more space, and they even suggested that they might be able to pay a little more," added Wiebe.
A bigger vision
In 2010, the Board met with about 55 stakeholders including the organization's supporting churches, Southern Health-Sante Sud, the Town of Altona and Municipality of Rhineland.
"We needed a building," said Wiebe, noting the Board went on to purchase land to the north of the former care home for $250,000.
Out of the discussions came a plan for three phases of a building to attach to the Ebenezer Home, now known as The Apartments. However, Wiebe said community response prompted the Board to move ahead with Phase 1 and Phase 2 in one swoop.
"It was the right time for our community. We had the right Board, and we had some of the right people in the right place at the right time."
That certainly rang true when it came down to fund raising. With an estimated total project cost of $18 million, the Board got to work raising its portion of the bill - $3 million.
"The support we got from the churches, from the community, that was no small feat," said John Falk, current Board Chair.
To this day, Wiebe credits the supporting churches and the community as the strength behind Gardens on Tenth organization.
(File video)
Standing the test of time
Nearly two years after the sod was turned on the project, the doors to the residence opened on August 27th, 2015. A decade later, Wiebe believes it has stood the test of time.
"I'm just amazed by it every time I walk through," he said. "It's just an amazing facility for people who can age in place with dignity and comfort and with support services."
Since opening its doors, the facility has grown into a vibrant hub that supports independence, affordability, and quality of life for seniors.
Thanks to ongoing collaboration with government partners, The Gardens now offers rental subsidies on 56 of its 66 suites, making affordable housing a reality for more seniors in our region.
(File video)
Looking to the future
Additionally, programming at The Gardens is ever-expanding to offer enhanced services and activities, promoting independence and well-being.
With residents in over half of the building's suites accessing home care, Falk believes it won't be long before the Board will extend the organization's in-house program, Pathways, to The Gardens. That is where staff provide adult daily living care, support, safety, security, and assistance with medication to tenants.
"People need the services and I think our job is to provide those services," said Falk. "If that's what's needed then we should be providing it in this building. The people living here get very comfortable in their suite, so they want to stay there as long as possible."
“This building has become much more than just housing; it’s a place where seniors feel secure, supported, and part of a thriving community," he added.
While the logistics of implementing the 24/7 supervised care program in The Gardens have yet to be worked out, Falk says staffing will be a question of staffing. The Board is still working to offer the full program at one of its other facilities on campus, The Manor.
As The Gardens looks to the future, the Board remains committed to innovation, inclusivity, and meeting the evolving needs of aging adults in Southern Manitoba.