The St. Joseph Continuing Care Center in Sudbury celebrated the official opening of phase 1 of the Lasalle site project on Monday.

Several dignitaries were in attendance, including Health Minister Sylvia Jones.

“Congratulations on behalf of Premier (Doug) Ford and our entire government,” Jones said.

“I want to thank Kari and the team at Saint-Joseph Health Center, as well as your volunteers and donors, for everything you have done to bring this project to life.

The state-of-the-art facility features large windows, wide hallways, a full gym and assessment areas.

“We can help them rehabilitate as far as preparing meals and working in the kitchen,” said Vicki Lejambe, chief nursing officer.

“They now have this dining room where they can actually start socializing with other patients. And like I said, the care is still high quality from a really good team, but now they’re going to be much better.”

The Lasalle site was built to replace the 60 beds currently offered at the Clarion Hotel, which were only supposed to be open for three months as a temporary solution to what officials believed was just a COVID surge.

“What we realized was that the need for rehabilitation beds was actually greater than we had anticipated,” said Kari Gervais, president and CEO of St. Joseph Continuing Care Center.

“Our average occupancy rate has remained around 97 percent year over year, so it was clear that we needed a permanent, purpose-built space. And that’s what we’re opening today .”

Gervais said phase 1 means 36 beds have been opened, with five patients already in their rooms.

“We will gradually welcome the remaining 31 patients over the next week,” she said.

“As patients are admitted, we close the Clarion beds behind them.”

Gervais said with construction of Phase 2 well underway, it is hoped a grand opening will take place this time next year for that portion of the building, bringing the facility to a total of 72 beds.