By Tracey Arial
The Centre d’hébergement Champlain in Verdun officially launched its newly-designed inner courtyard and outdoor patio with a red-ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday.
Features of the new decorated spaces include raised garden boxes, flowers, an awning, and a swing that’s big enough to hold a wheelchair.
The outdoor spaces are welcoming havens for residents and visitors,” said Solange Choquette, a Crawford Park neighbour who serves as a volunteer residents’ committee member. “The raised beds are particularly helpful for some of our residents in wheelchairs who can’t participate in tending regular low-to-the-ground gardens. We even have someone doing workshops using the raised beds. It’s such a wonderful space.”
The new décor is a welcome addition to the long-term, rehabilitative and palliative care hospice at 1325 Crawford. The structure was built in 1976, and then updated and expanded continually through 1996. In 2004, it became part of the Centre de santé et de services sociaux (CSSS) du Sud-Ouest–Verdun.
Today, the Centre d’hébergement Champlain houses 228 people, most of whom are in their long-term care program. There are also 32 people with intellectual disabilities and 27 people who need functional rehabilitation. Five people reside in the palliative care wing. All of the residents have limited mobility and rely on a building and services that require continual maintenance and improvement.
The ribbon to officially open the courtyard last week was cut by Champlain Centre resident John Gallagher, who served Verdun citizens as city councillor for 16 years, cut the ribbon, which was held by Verdun mayor Jean-François Parenteau. Sterling Downey and Luc Gagnon, who represent Crawford Park on the city and borough councils, also attended.
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