Grant Lukin, president of Neepawa Kinsmen Senior Citizens Housing, and Dana Menzies, Executive Director of Neepawa Kinsmen Kourts I & II, spoke at a luncheon about the journey the project has taken and the need it fills in the community.

When the organisation first started investigating building a new facility in addition to Kinsmen Kourts I in the late 2000s, a feasibility study and needs assessment discovered that not only was an assisted living residence such as Kinsmen Kourts 2 needed, but it would accommodate only about 35% of the market. That was a definite sign to go ahead. Finding an appropriate site and securing funding was a long-term project, but they finally were able to break ground on the $10 million project in 2020.

Kinsmen Kourts 2 residents receive housekeeping and laundry service as well as three meals a day and recreation opportunities, with the goal that there is not a pressing need to leave the facility for day-to-day requirements. Fifteen of the 48 units are subsidised for lower-income seniors, nine of which are already spoken for.

Outside of the construction of the building, $300,000 is needed for furnishings, decor, recreation supplies, and other essentials. They have raised a portion of this goal but fundraising is currently ongoing.

The pandemic impacted the construction in terms of delays from accommodating teams from different industries or organisations inside the construction site, but they have been fortunate in that they did not encounter any of the significant supply chain issues that are being seen on other projects and in other industries.

While there is still road construction to be completed on two sides of the building and some amenities yet to get into place, move-in is scheduled to start on November 1 and all suites are ready. Menzies says they are at 25% capacity with people who were ready to go sight-unseen, and there is already a long waiting list of people who wanted to see the completed building before signing on the dotted line.