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Approximately 60-plus community members in the hamlet of Fort Vermilion voted to create a board with a mandate to research the options for building a DSL facility. The community member’s vision is to incorporate indigenous healing standards as well as other local cultures in a way that contributes to all levels of health (spiritual, physical, emotional and mental). The Board – the Fort Vermilion & Area Seniors & Elders Lodge Board 1788 (‘FVASELB1788’) has structured itself with nine members from the region and four members who are appointed by each represented First Nation- Dene Tha’, Tall Cree, Beaver First Nation…

Boreal Housing Foundation and Mackenzie County have endorsed the DSL in principal. Land has been donated by Alberta Health Services, Tallcree Tribal Government and a private citizen and formal fundraising for a DSL facility is underway. As of July 2017 over $85,000 has been raised.

Municipal Affairs partnered with Mackenzie County and the towns of High Level and Rainbow Lake to conduct a regional housing needs assessment study. The government allocated $100,000 to complete a comprehensive review of all current housing needs and projected needs up to 2031. The Mackenzie Regional Housing Needs Assessment (‘MRHNA’) clearly states there is an existing and projected need for an additional 117-200 senior’s care beds between 2014 and 2031 in the region. In 2014, the MHRNA report indicated “approximately eight to 13 assisted living beds/units are currently needed in Fort Vermilion. By 2031, there will be a need for…

There is unmet need for seniors’ and elders’ care beds in the Mackenzie region. The waitlists for senior’s care is forcing residents to seek care in other areas, away from family and friends. For over 10 years, the hamlet of Fort Vermilion has actively advocated for a seniors’ and elders’ Designated Seniors Living (DSL) care facility in the Fort Vermilion area.