Fairvern Redevelopment

Fairvern Redevelopment Project

Work to build a new 160-bed Fairvern Long-Term Care Home in Huntsville is well underway, following the Province’s commitment to fund additional long-term care beds.

The new home will replace the existing Fairvern and is designed to feel more like home. It will focus on resident choice, independence, and quality of life, while also supporting staff in a safe and comfortable environment.

The design includes a “small house” layout, based on a social model of care. This approach supports more personalized, home-like living for residents. The building also incorporates best practices in infection prevention and energy efficiency.

Project Highlights

160-bed long-term care home
Located on a 7.32-acre site
East side of Centre Street North, between West Road and Hanes Road
Frontage on Paisley Avenue
Backing onto protected greenspace

Timeline

Projected completion: Fall 2026
Projected move-in: End of 2026

Work currently underway

Finishing the inside of the building, including painting and installing flooring in resident rooms and shared spaces
Installing key building systems on the main floor, including heating, electrical, and the main kitchen
Preparing outdoor areas for landscaping (weather permitting), including building a retaining wall on the east side
Starting interior work in the child care centre
Residents are beginning to plan their move by reviewing floor plans and images, and choosing their preferred home areas and rooms

What’s ahead in 2026

Fairvern is transitioning to a MuskokaCare model. A model grounded in respect, relationship, purpose, and belonging—supporting people living with dementia to live meaningful lives, every day, in a community that truly feels like home.

Staff have been working together to define what daily life will look like in the new home. This includes shaping routines, identifying training needs, and building the supports required to deliver a more personalized, home-like experience.

This work will help ensure residents feel comfortable, supported, and truly at home.

Fairvern Redevelopment Project

Work to build a new 160-bed Fairvern Long-Term Care Home in Huntsville is well underway, following the Province’s commitment to fund additional long-term care beds.

The new home will replace the existing Fairvern and is designed to feel more like home. It will focus on resident choice, independence, and quality of life, while also supporting staff in a safe and comfortable environment.

The design includes a “small house” layout, based on a social model of care. This approach supports more personalized, home-like living for residents. The building also incorporates best practices in infection prevention and energy efficiency.

Project Highlights

160-bed long-term care home
Located on a 7.32-acre site
East side of Centre Street North, between West Road and Hanes Road
Frontage on Paisley Avenue
Backing onto protected greenspace

Timeline

Projected completion: Fall 2026
Projected move-in: End of 2026

Work currently underway

Finishing the inside of the building, including painting and installing flooring in resident rooms and shared spaces
Installing key building systems on the main floor, including heating, electrical, and the main kitchen
Preparing outdoor areas for landscaping (weather permitting), including building a retaining wall on the east side
Starting interior work in the child care centre
Residents are beginning to plan their move by reviewing floor plans and images, and choosing their preferred home areas and rooms

What’s ahead in 2026

Fairvern is transitioning to a MuskokaCare model. A model grounded in respect, relationship, purpose, and belonging—supporting people living with dementia to live meaningful lives, every day, in a community that truly feels like home.

Staff have been working together to define what daily life will look like in the new home. This includes shaping routines, identifying training needs, and building the supports required to deliver a more personalized, home-like experience.

This work will help ensure residents feel comfortable, supported, and truly at home.

What is the MuskokaCare Model?

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MuskokaCare is care grounded in respect, relationship, purpose, and belonging—supporting people living with dementia to live meaningful lives, every day, in a community that truly feels like home.
Purpose and Vision
MuskokaCare is a made-in-Muskoka, person-centred model of care that guides how we treat people, make decisions, and deliver care and services every day. It reflects the values, strengths, and unique characteristics of Muskoka’s communities and long-term care homes.
The purpose of the MuskokaCare Social Model of Dementia Care is to support people to live well with dementia by focusing on relationships, identity, inclusion, and meaningful daily life—rather than solelyContinue reading
MuskokaCare is care grounded in respect, relationship, purpose, and belonging—supporting people living with dementia to live meaningful lives, every day, in a community that truly feels like home.
Purpose and Vision
MuskokaCare is a made-in-Muskoka, person-centred model of care that guides how we treat people, make decisions, and deliver care and services every day. It reflects the values, strengths, and unique characteristics of Muskoka’s communities and long-term care homes.
The purpose of the MuskokaCare Social Model of Dementia Care is to support people to live well with dementia by focusing on relationships, identity, inclusion, and meaningful daily life—rather than solely on medical needs or task-based care.
MuskokaCare aligns with Ontario’s direction under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act (2021) and the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act (2024). This model represents the District of Muskoka’s living, locally grounded response—co-created with our staff, residents, persons of importance, and families.
Our guiding question: How do we support people to live meaningful, connected lives while living with dementia?
Context and Population
Residents in Muskoka’s long-term care homes come from a range of rural, small-town, and culturally diverse backgrounds. This includes Indigenous peoples, long-time local residents, newcomers, and individuals who have chosen to make Muskoka their home later in life. Although Muskoka’s aging population is smaller and less urban than large cities, our model of care must still respond to:

Different life experiences and identities

Cultural traditions and spiritual practices

Language preferences and communication styles

The values of close-knit rural and community-based living

MuskokaCare was intentionally developed to reflect this context while incorporating proven best practices from existing dementia care models, with a strong focus on respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
What is the Social Model of Dementia Care?
Within MuskokaCare, dementia is understood through a social model of care, which:

Recognizes dementia as a disability shaped by environment, relationships, and social structures—not just a medical condition

Prioritizes meaningful connection, choice, belonging, and inclusion

Values who a person is, not just the care tasks they require

Emphasizes everyday life, social engagement, and participation in community

This approach shifts the focus from managing behaviours to understanding unmet needs and supporting quality of life.
Core Principles
Personhood and Identity
Every person living with dementia has a unique history, identity, and set of strengths. What this means to practice:

Life stories are embedded into care planning

Preferred names, routines, and communication approaches are respected

Residents continue meaningful roles such as helper, greeter, gardener, or mentor

Care is individualized, not one-size-fits-all

Relationships First
Strong, trusting relationships are central to wellbeing. What this means in practice:

Consistent assignment of care teams where possible

Staff are supported to spend time listening and connecting—not just completing tasks

Emotional safety is valued equally with physical safety

Families and persons of importance are partners in care, not visitors

Meaningful Daily Life
Life in long-term care is about living, not simply receiving care. What this means in practice:

Engagement in real, everyday activities such as folding laundry, setting tables, or watering plants

Flexible daily rhythms instead of rigid schedules

Choice and control over waking, eating, bathing, and resting times Opportunities for purpose, contribution, and routine

Inclusion and Citizenship
People living with dementia remain citizens of their home and community. What this means in practice:

Shared spaces and meals that promote belonging Inclusive programming rather than separation

Ongoing connections with the wider community, including children, volunteers, pets, and faith groups

Avoiding language and practices that divide “us” and “them.”
Care Careers: Be There From the Beginning

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Help create a place where residents feel truly at home.
Join the team at the new Fairvern Long‑Term Care Home in Huntsville.
Why work at Fairvern?

Resident-centred approach to care

Brand-new, modern long-term care home

Small-house, home-like design

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for both new graduates and experienced staff

Childcare centre on-site

Work where you live, in beautiful Muskoka

Opening in 2026, the new Fairvern will welcome 160 residents and offer a fresh, home-like approach to care.
Recruiting:

Personal Support Workers (PSWs)

Registered Nurses (RNs and RPNs)

Dietary, housekeeping, and support staff

Interested in working at the new Fairvern?

Click here to join our list and be notified when positions open.

View current job postings: www.muskoka.on.ca/carecareers
Help create a place where residents feel truly at home.
Join the team at the new Fairvern Long‑Term Care Home in Huntsville.
Why work at Fairvern?

Resident-centred approach to care

Brand-new, modern long-term care home

Small-house, home-like design

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for both new graduates and experienced staff

Childcare centre on-site

Work where you live, in beautiful Muskoka

Opening in 2026, the new Fairvern will welcome 160 residents and offer a fresh, home-like approach to care.
Recruiting:

Personal Support Workers (PSWs)

Registered Nurses (RNs and RPNs)

Dietary, housekeeping, and support staff

Interested in working at the new Fairvern?

Click here to join our list and be notified when positions open.

View current job postings: www.muskoka.on.ca/carecareers
Fairvern Child Care Centre

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As part of the Fairvern redevelopment, a new Early Learning and Child Care Centre (ELCC) will be co-located on the campus, offering licensed care for up to 64 children aged 0–4. The centre is anticipated to open in late 2026, helping to meet the growing need for high-quality, affordable child care in Huntsville.
Embedded within the long-term care home, the child care centre will create a unique intergenerational environment where children, residents, and families can interact through both casual encounters and planned programming. This approach fosters community well-being by reducing social isolation for seniors, promoting a sense of purpose and connection, and offering meaningful learning opportunities across generations.
In addition to supporting a vibrant campus community, the Fairvern ELCC will contribute broader community benefits, including:
Improved access to licensed child care, including extended hours and days of care
Enhanced intergenerational programming for both children and Fairvern residents
Support for recruitment and retention of long-term care staff

Families interested in joining the waitlist for the Fairvern Early Learning Child Care Centre can visit: muskokafamilyfocus.ca/waitlist-inquiry/. Muskoka Family Focus will contact families in the coming months. Families are asked not to contact Fairvern directly.

The Fairvern Early Learning Child Care Centre is part of the broader Fairvern campus redevelopment, which is designed to support residents at every stage of life.
As part of the Fairvern redevelopment, a new Early Learning and Child Care Centre (ELCC) will be co-located on the campus, offering licensed care for up to 64 children aged 0–4. The centre is anticipated to open in late 2026, helping to meet the growing need for high-quality, affordable child care in Huntsville.
Embedded within the long-term care home, the child care centre will create a unique intergenerational environment where children, residents, and families can interact through both casual encounters and planned programming. This approach fosters community well-being by reducing social isolation for seniors, promoting a sense of purpose and connection, and offering meaningful learning opportunities across generations.
In addition to supporting a vibrant campus community, the Fairvern ELCC will contribute broader community benefits, including:
Improved access to licensed child care, including extended hours and days of care
Enhanced intergenerational programming for both children and Fairvern residents
Support for recruitment and retention of long-term care staff

Families interested in joining the waitlist for the Fairvern Early Learning Child Care Centre can visit: muskokafamilyfocus.ca/waitlist-inquiry/. Muskoka Family Focus will contact families in the coming months. Families are asked not to contact Fairvern directly.

The Fairvern Early Learning Child Care Centre is part of the broader Fairvern campus redevelopment, which is designed to support residents at every stage of life.
Fundamental Principles of the New Fairvern Home

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Fundamental Principles of the New Fairvern Home
A high-quality building made for generations (including best-practice Infection Prevention and Control)
A design based on a social model, not a medical model
A building that supports resident independence and quality of life
Desirable work environment
Technology to be harvested at every opportunity
Small House design concept
Fundamental Principles of the New Fairvern Home
A high-quality building made for generations (including best-practice Infection Prevention and Control)
A design based on a social model, not a medical model
A building that supports resident independence and quality of life
Desirable work environment
Technology to be harvested at every opportunity
Small House design concept

Page last updated: 11 Jun 2026, 11:49 AM