By Cecilia Nasmith
Community Care Northumberland board of directors is pleased to announce that they have received five construction tenders for the building of the Northumberland Hospice Care Centre that will be known as Ed's House.
The subsequent step of forwarding all tenders and supporting documentation to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for review (and approval of the selected contractor) has been completed, the press release noted. Once the ministry signs off, Community Care will award a construction contract for the 10-bed 18,000-sq.-ft. hospice facility to be built on Ontario Street north of Cobourg.
Community Care board chair Ray Lobban shared their excitement at this significant step in the journey to Ed's House in the agency's press release.
“The community has shown their strong support for this project, and we look forward to breaking ground in the early spring,” Lobban said.
Fundraising chairs Gord and Patti Ley have often shared touching tales of the reception they get when approaching agencies, businesses and individual for support. It's not unusual to hear poignant stories of the need that exists for a beautiful, supportive, homelike facility that will allow families to pour all their focus on a loved one completing a life's journey.
In 2018, they announced a number of significant gifts, including $1-million from Brian and Kym Read and another $1.5-million from Ed and Diane Lorenz (which is why they began calling the hospice Ed's House).
The board conveys its thanks to the project's building committee and the architectural firm Barry Bryan Associates for their diligence in planning for the construction, as well as the campaign cabinet for their enthusiasm in garnering community support.
In coming weeks, Community Care expects to have exciting news to share of the awarding of the contract. Construction will begin when conditions permit shovels to break the ground.
