REGINA, Sask. — The courtyard at the Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home in west Regina has been getting a major upgrade.
On Thursday, the facility officially opened the new courtyard area, which included a new walkway, new visiting areas along it, including new brickwork, as well as a larger patio to host concerts or group games.
Kelly Chessie, executive director at Santa Maria, said the project came about more or less by necessity.
“We had a sewer line crumble, and we had to replace it,” Chessie said.
“In doing that, we lost our walkway, so the foundation that works with us, Santa Maria Foundation, got behind us and said, well, let's use it as an opportunity to refresh the courtyard.”
They went looking for grants and secured two. One is $30,000 from the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation through Saskatchewan Community Foundation, which went toward new brickwork, the extra visiting stations, the repouring of concrete and some of the levelling and topsoil work.
They then received a second grant from Green My City for $4,400, which went toward putting in 62 new plants, trees and shrubs around the edges.
“We had a planting day two weeks ago, had a bunch of people come out and help dig holes and plant and put all of that in the ground,” Chessie said.
Now the plan is to raise another $30,000 to finish the project, which will include shade, underground sprinklers and lights for function and ambiance, as well as levelling the ground. They are looking to replace an area of crushed rock next year with grass to further enhance the look of the courtyard.
So far, they have raised about $4,000 of that remaining $30,000.
While the area is still under some construction, it is now open for use. Chessie said the area will be mostly used by residents and their families.
“It's just a nice place to come and enjoy the nature and be outside,” said Chessie, who described the area as a safe, contained space where families and residents can come and enjoy group activities or more intimate times with family.
Santa Maria opened its doors in 1968 and is a special care home serving those with Level 3 and 4 needs. The Santa Maria Foundation came on board as a registered charity in 2011.
