‘I’m going to be so well taken care of’: Ground-breaking for new long term care home on former McCormick property

A groundbreaking was held for a new long-term care home being constructed behind the former McCormick's cookie plant. CTV's Bryan Bicknell reports.

A longstanding eyesore in east London is getting a makeover and fulfilling a community need at the same time.

Dignitaries broke ground Thursday on a new long term care home located behind the former McCormick cookie and candy factory on Dundas Street.

“I get my own room,” said an excited Sharon Winslade.

The senior will be among the first residents at the new Extendicare long term care home on Ashland Avenue.

“My daughter is going to be very excited to know that I’m going to be so well taken care of, and it’s a safe and happy place,” Winslade told a crowd on hand at the ground-breaking ceremony.

The new home will have 192 beds, including 170 redeveloped beds and 22 net new beds. The redeveloped beds will replace beds being decommissioned at an existing Extendicare home on Waterloo Street.

“Square footage per resident will nearly double, resulting in huge increases in space,” said Amie Vahrmeyer, Extendicare VP of Operations.

The new $77 million facility is being funded in part by a provincial construction subsidy of up to $35 per bed for 25 years.

Dawn Gallagher Murphy, the Parliamentary assistant to the province’s Minister of Long Term Care, was on hand for the announcement.

“We are committed to ensuring that we have homes for our seniors when they need them,” said Gallagher Murphy.

Before construction began, the property, along with the adjoining property fronting onto Dundas Street, had been a sore spot for the community.

“It’s kind of a nuisance because people come and throw garbage there, and for us, we are so close to it,” said Gertie Parra, who lives next door to the site on Ashland Avenue.

London Mayor Josh Morgan said he’s glad to finally see some positive activity at the site, “It’s been an eyesore for a long time, and now it’s transitioning into beautiful new spaces for seniors in our community.”

Morgan added the former McCormick building, a separate property, is also slated for redevelopment, but he couldn’t say where the project stands.

The new Extendicare home is scheduled to open summer of 2027.