04/09/2025
The much-anticipated start to construction of an Assisted Living seniors housing building, and an indoor swimming pool for Springfield, now has the green light to proceed with the signing of a $29M construction contract with Bird Construction. “The development of Dugald Place, a 54 unit assisted living facility, will create Springfield’s first aging-in-place campus setting,” stated RM of Springfield Mayor Patrick Therrien, who also noted the indoor pool connected to Dugald Estates will be available for broad community use.
“I would like to commend Council for its confidence in this project,” said Springfield Heritage Housing Inc. (SHHI) Chair Lesley Thomson who, in signing the contract along with Mayor Patrick Therrien enabling the project to proceed, noted the project had unanimous support from all Springfield councillors. Dugald Place is expected to be completed September 2026. “There is a long waitlist of over 80 people for Dugald Place, an assisted living residence is desperately needed, and our seniors have waited long enough,” said Thomson.
“The support of Council demonstrates our commitment to keeping Springfield seniors in our community where they want to stay as they age,” said Deputy Mayor Glen Fuhl who shared his personal experience. “My mother lived many years of her life in Springfield. She wanted to stay here but had to move away to Winnipeg when she needed assisted living. We don’t want that to happen to anyone else.”
The Dugald Place Assisted Living Residence fits many Springfield priorities. There is a strong need for seniors housing, a swimming pool is the number one requested recreation facility in the municipality, and Springfield Council and SHHI are focused on environmental leadership.
“When completed, we expect Dugald Place will be one of the greenest seniors housing complexes in Manitoba,” said Councillor Mark Miller. “It will be constructed to environmentally sustainable standards, resulting in long term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and lower utility and operating costs for years to come.” Miller also noted the project is independently financed by SHHI with no expense to taxpayers.
The project includes an indoor community pool that will include three lanes, have a depth of 1.8m, provide private lockers, spacious seating for guests, accommodate 50 swimmers and incorporate a large lobby for various celebrations. The pool will be available to all Springfield residents. SHHI and Council will have a shared use agreement to ensure the RM will be able to provide guaranteed times to deliver early year swim lessons, adult aquacise, and family swim times. The pool will also be available to the community for special events and birthday parties.
Dugald Estates and Dugald Place residents will also have use of the pool. There are 82 applicants on the Dugald Place $1,000 deposit waitlist. Combined with the Dugald Estates seniors housing coop waitlist of 116 resident applications, it leaves no doubt the RM of Springfield’s strategic decision to form SHHI will support the long-term fiscal and social sustainability of our municipality for decades to come.
Members of the SHHI Board have been meeting for many months with MMP Architects and Bird Construction to finalize the building design and budget. Plans for the building, as well as information on applying to the waitlist, are available at www.dugaldplace.com.
SHHI was formed to provide a range of safe, affordable, and quality housing to encourage residents of the municipality to remain in their community, enabling seniors to age in place, and to stimulate economic development throughout the municipality as Canada’s population ages. SHHI is a non-profit entity of the RM of Springfield; its board of directors is comprised of 3 councillors and 3 community members.
