Ontario Opens New Francophone Long-Term Care Home in Welland
Foyer Richelieu Welland adds 128 modern long-term care beds to serve Niagara’s Francophone seniors
WELLAND — The Ontario government is celebrating the grand opening of the new Foyer Richelieu Welland, a Francophone long-term care home adding 128 modern beds to the Niagara Region. The newly built home reflects the province’s ongoing commitment to expand long-term care capacity, strengthen culturally appropriate services, and improve quality of life for seniors across Ontario.
“The opening of the new Foyer Richelieu Welland marks a significant milestone in our government’s plan to protect residents and increase access to world-class health care across the province, including here in the Niagara Region,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “It’s also an important day for Ontario’s Francophone community, as Foyer Richelieu will offer all 128 beds to Francophone residents so they can receive care that is tailored to their cultural and language needs.”
A Home Designed for Comfort, Dignity, and Connection
The redeveloped Foyer Richelieu Welland provides 66 new and 62 upgraded beds, offering seniors a safe, modern space that promotes independence and community connection.
The home’s design features four “resident home areas” (RHAs), each accommodating up to 32 residents with shared dining, activity, and lounge spaces. Amenities include:
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A bistro and social room for family and community engagement.
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A beauty salon to enhance personal well-being.
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Spacious private and semi-private bedrooms in bright, accessible layouts.
These improvements create an environment that supports both personalized care and cultural identity, ensuring Francophone seniors can age in a space that feels familiar and welcoming.
Aujourd’hui, nous avons célébré l’inauguration officielle du Foyer Richelieu Welland, un nouvel établissement de soins de longue durée francophone de 128 lits.
Ce nouveau foyer offrira des soins de calibre mondial adaptés aux besoins culturels et linguistiques de ses nouveaux… pic.twitter.com/WXQrFrpqxS
— Natalia Kusendova-Bashta (@NatKusendova) October 31, 2025
Supporting Ontario’s Francophone and Senior Communities
The new home is operated by Foyer Richelieu Welland, a not-for-profit organization designated under Ontario’s French Language Services Act, ensuring residents can access services in French.
“The brand-new Foyer Richelieu Welland represents our government’s commitment to delivering high quality care to residents in their language of choice,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs. “This investment expands access to care while strengthening Ontario’s Francophone culture, population and economy.”
The Not-For-Profit Loan Guarantee Program played a crucial role in enabling this redevelopment by helping secure financing for eligible non-profit operators. The province also invested $4.6 million in Hospice Niagara’s Walker House, a new 10-bed hospice residence co-located on the same site, which began providing palliative care in August 2025.
Local Leaders Welcome the New Facility
Local officials and community partners called the new Foyer Richelieu Welland a milestone for both Welland and Ontario’s Francophone seniors.
“Seniors across our province and in Niagara deserve to receive quality care with dignity and respect,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. “This new home will help ensure our local Francophone seniors have a safe and modern space to call home.”
“The new Foyer Richelieu home is a milestone achievement for Welland and Francophones across Niagara,” said Frank Campion, Mayor of Welland. “Made possible through the vision and dedication of many, this home will deliver quality care for generations to come.”
Sean Keays, CEO of Foyer Richelieu, added, “This home provides a warm and compassionate environment for residents, offering a true sense of belonging while honouring dignity, independence, and community connection.”
Part of Ontario’s Long-Term Care Expansion
The new Foyer Richelieu Welland is one of 148 long-term care projects representing more than 24,000 new and redeveloped beds completed, under construction, or approved across the province.
The government’s ongoing plan — outlined in the 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario — commits to building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds through its Capital Funding Program (CFP). The CFP modernizes funding to reflect regional construction costs and operator needs, further accelerating long-term care development.
“Our government is making historic investments to ensure that more people can connect to convenient care where and when they need it most,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Today’s opening supports a more inclusive health system that respects Ontario’s Francophone community and ensures seniors can access compassionate care closer to home.”
Building for the Future
The Foyer Richelieu Welland project is part of the province’s plan to fix long-term care through four key pillars:
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Staffing and care — hiring more staff to improve resident-to-caregiver ratios.
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Quality and enforcement — strengthening inspections and accountability.
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Building modern homes — expanding access through new construction.
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Connecting seniors — improving integration with local health and social supports.
Through these efforts, Ontario continues to protect seniors, support frontline caregivers, and build a stronger continuum of care for future generations.
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