Ontario Breaks Ground on New 288-Bed Long-Term Care Home in Stratford

Construction begins on peopleCare Stratford, part of province’s push to modernize elder care

STRATFORD — The Ontario government has officially broken ground on the new peopleCare Stratford long-term care home, a 288-bed facility designed to provide modern, safe, and comfortable housing for seniors in the Stratford community. The home is expected to open its doors to residents in 2027.

The project is part of the province’s broader commitment to expand and improve long-term care through the creation of 58,000 new and upgraded beds across Ontario, as outlined in the 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario.

“Our government has a plan to improve long-term care, and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe, and comfortable homes,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today marks a significant milestone for the community of Stratford. When construction is complete, 288 residents will have a modern, comfortable place to call home.”

Modern Amenities for Dignified Living

The new facility will feature nine Resident Home Areas (RHAs), each offering a more intimate living environment for up to 32 residents. RHAs will include both private and standard rooms, with access to dedicated balconies. Other on-site amenities will include therapy rooms, a chapel, a barber/salon, outdoor walking paths, and spacious dining and activity lounges.

“peopleCare is thrilled to have the opportunity to rebuild in Stratford and deliver a beautiful new 288-bed long-term care home,” said Brent Gingerich, Chairman and CEO of peopleCare Communities. “We sincerely thank the Ontario government for enabling leading organizations like peopleCare to help meet the growing need for long-term care in Ontario.”

Community Leaders Welcome the Project

Local leaders joined in celebrating the start of construction. “It is great to welcome peopleCare back to Stratford and celebrate the ground-breaking of their new 288-bed home,” said MPP for Perth—Wellington, Matthew Rae. “This redevelopment will ensure that more of our seniors have access to health care close to home.”

Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma also praised the project as a key part of the city’s long-term planning. “The residents of Stratford continually remind me of the need for quality housing for our seniors, along with the onsite care needed to serve the unique needs of each resident,” said Ritsma. “This type of partnership allows us to address the housing needs in our community.”

A Broader Strategy to Fix Long-Term Care

As of May 2025, Ontario has 147 projects representing nearly 24,000 new and redeveloped long-term care beds either completed, under construction, or approved to proceed. The province has also committed to launching a new construction funding support program to help providers like peopleCare keep pace with the growing demand for elder care.

The government’s long-term care strategy is built around four key pillars:

• Increasing staffing and care

• Strengthening quality and enforcement

• Building modern homes

• Improving access to health services for seniors

The peopleCare Stratford project is among the latest examples of this vision being realized.

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