The committee charged with the task of raising $500,000 to accommodate a major expansion of the Creighton Lodge senior living complex, was heartened with the results of its travel/cash raffle and fundraising dinner.
"We will realize about $45,000 from those two," said Creighton Lodge co-manager Judy Pratt.
A total of 86 people sat down for a full course meal on Saturday at Granby's on Ninth, part of the Days Inn group. That made it a full house for the fundraising meal that saw Days Inn partner with Creighton Lodge in the project.
Pratt said there had been 501 tickets sold on the money or travel voucher raffle, which ensured success with the draws being made during a dance and social in the Taylorton Room following the meal.
Once the targeted $500,000 is reached work can begin on the lodge expansion project that will provide additional space for recreational activities and general population gatherings at the lodge for the 60 or so residents.
The lodge is listed as a light care (Level I and II) facility, meaning residents are self sufficient with the occasional need of assistance by staff or home-care services.
The lodge did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the regional health structure that came into existence in the early 2000s, but the Southeast Health District board saw the facility as one that was needed and continued to operate it until amalgamation with two other health districts to form the Sun Country Health Region. The region continued to provide basic funding for the lodge until 2010 when a group of rural municipalities consisting of the RMs of Estevan, Cymri, Coalfields, Benson and Cambria took over the governance and administration.
Renovations to provide more space began almost immediately and upgrades to the kitchen facilities were also implemented and carried out. Improvements were made to the aging heating and cooling systems and the plumbing network along with most of the windows and some roof repairs. Those were all carried out through a series of RM contributions, resident rental fees and donations from local businesses.
The expansion of the common living and activity areas, the most ambitious plan, is now nearing reality.
The lodge is managed by the dual team of Shelly Veroba and Pratt who are assisted by four full-time kitchen and maintenance staff and five casual employees, giving the lodge 24-hour per day coverage.
Creighton Lodge features 22-one bedroom suites and five suites that have one bedroom plus a den. There are 17 enriched living suites with no kitchens and two bachelor suites, with one of those dedicated for use by visiting family members. Most of the suites have undergone extensive refurbishments over the past four years, aided by community contributions.
The winners of the cash or voucher raffle were Barbara Fornwald, Lampman - $5,000; Kathy LaFrentz, Bienfait - $3,000; and Bob Scott, Estevan - $1,500.
