News Release

SAINT JOHN (GNB) – Shannex has been the successful proponent for the construction and management of a new 60-bed nursing home in Saint John.

“Shannex has a strong background as a service provider for seniors in New Brunswick, as well as in Nova Scotia,” said Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch. “The new facility to be built in Saint John is in keeping with the provincial Nursing Home Plan which aims to add 600 beds to the system to respond to the increasing demand of the province’s aging population.”

The home will be built in the Millidgeville area. It will be part of the existing Parkland Saint John campus, which offers a full continuum of care including retirement living options, in addition to this new nursing home. Construction will start this summer, and opening should take place in 2023.

“The Saint John community holds a special place in our hearts,” said Jason Shannon, president and chief operating officer of Shannex. “It is an honour to be chosen to create a new home for residents here in the city. This will be a place where they receive the care and support they need to live fulfilling lives, surrounded by our team members who are dedicated to keeping them safe and well.”

The two-storey home will have neighbourhoods for 30 residents on each floor. Neighbourhoods will have their own dedicated nursing station, dining room and living room, library and activity space. Each resident will have their own private suite and washroom to help ensure privacy and to support infection prevention and control standards. A landscaped courtyard with plants, flowers and places to sit will also be available to residents and their visitors.

The new home will also have an indoor Main Street, a feature now in place at a number of Shannex nursing homes in the province. This concept allows residents to enjoy the experience of spending time on a small-town street complete with a multi-purpose room that will serve as a chapel and theatre space, a hair salon, café and town hall.

There are currently 70 licensed nursing homes across New Brunswick that provide 4,925 nursing home beds. The provincial government plans to increase this to 80 licensed nursing homes, which will see the addition of 600 beds. There are two requests for proposals currently in process; one for a new 60-bed facility in the Acadian Peninsula and the second is for the replacement of an existing 190-bed facility in Shediac.

The provincial government also plans to increase the hours of care in nursing homes to 3.2 hours per resident in October 2021 and to 3.3 hours per resident in April 2022. This initiative will include an increase of $15 million in the annual budget for nursing homes services.

Today’s announcement in Saint John was the result of a request for proposals launched in 2018. All nursing homes are subject to the licence and inspection requirements of the Department of Social Development.