News & Updates

St. Andrews – Your support is necessary in our quest to replace the aging and sub-standard seniors’ long-term residential and the childcare facilities in Saint Andrews, NB. Neither building meets current government requirements, not through any fault of their own. A new complex would meet four vital needs in our community:

1. 1. The replacement of Passamaquoddy Lodge’s long-term care facility to meet today’s needs and standards.
   2. Purpose-built space for programs to support aging in place. Facilities and equipment that enable our healthcare and volunteer teams to provide wide-ranging Aging in Place/Nursing Home without Walls services to all the people of Charlotte County.
   3. Additional beds in our existing building for transition from hospital or for those requiring special care outside of a hospital.
   4. An enlarged, modern childcare facility with appropriate and sufficient space for the growing childcare needs in our community.

Principal contacts:
Premier Susan Holt: susan.holt@gnb.ca
Cindy Miles, Minister for Social Development cindy.miles@gnb.ca
Lyne Chantal Boudreau, Minister for Seniors LyneChantal.Boudreau@gnb.ca
John Dornan, Minister of Health John.Dornan@gnb.ca

Copies of the Statement of Support can be picked up at the Saint Andrews Town Hall, Passamaquoddy Lodge or the Passamaquoddy Childrens Centre during regular business hours. They can be dropped off at any of the following places: Saint Andrews Town Hall, Passamaquoddy Lodge, or Passamaquoddy Children’s Centre at 390 Montague Street or their satellite location in the basement of the Catholic Church at 212 Parr Street.

Open houses planned to build support in push for provincial approval

St. Andrews – With the provincial government still withholding approval for a new, modern Passamaquoddy Lodge long-term residential care, support to aging in place and early childhood education facility, the development committee behind the project is appealing for public support to get it over the line.

The committee, which has spent seven years advancing the plan, has organized two open houses to update residents and gather backing from the communities served by the current Lodge. As part of these meetings, the committee will outline potentially serious economic effects on the area from continued setbacks to construction of the long-term care facility. They will also discuss how the on-hold daycare expansion could affect local families and reduce childcare options for working parents.

“We have spent years on research and raised more than $600,000 for in-depth studies required to jump through hurdles continuously thrown at us by the province,” says committee chair Caroline Davies. “We have heard great praise for our design concepts and received solid support from several ever-changing cabinet ministers, yet no one will give the final approval to move forward.”

A full update, as well as detailed plans, renderings, and schematics for the residential-style complex, will be available Nov. 25 from 2:00–3:30 p.m. with a presentation at 2:30 p.m. A second open house will take place the same day from 5:30–7:00 p.m. with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the dining room at the W.C. O’Neill Arena in Saint Andrews.

In addition to 60 long-term-care beds, the complex includes space for 118 child-care spots and a community activity hub to support aging in their homes for local seniors. Several other provinces have adopted a similar model.

With the current 53-year-old lodge no longer meeting provincial standards and the daycare bursting at the seams, the development committee encourages the public to sign letters of support, which will then be delivered to Premier Susan Holt, members of her cabinet, and the local MLA Kathy Bockus.

“Until the government agrees to negotiate a per diem rate and says, ‘Yes, you can begin construction,’ we cannot put that first shovel in the ground,” says Davies. “Delays have put potentially $20 million in fundraising at risk.”

Regional residents will have the option of viewing the plans and schematics at https://passamaquoddylodge.ca. Copies of the Statement of Support can be picked up at Saint Andrews Town Hall or Passamaquoddy Lodge during regular business hours, or on-line at https://passamaquoddylodge.ca. They can be dropped off at any of the following: Saint Andrews Town Hall, Passamaquoddy Lodge, or Passamaquoddy Daycare at 390 Montague Street, or at its satellite location in the basement of the Catholic Church at 212 Parr Street.

St. Andrews – Bob Carney and his wife Jean were celebrated at a delicious luncheon served at Passamaquoddy Lodge. The Carneys, shown here with their son Rob, right, and daughter-in-law Joanne, generously purchased two state/ of-the-art food serving carts, so that residents at the Lodge can enjoy meals served at optimum temperatures ensuring the highest safety standards.

This certificate of appreciation was presented to the Carneys by Gary Groom, president of Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation on behalf of MLA Kathy Bockus for their generous gift of two food carts to Passamaquoddy Lodge. 

St. Andrews – Residents and staff enjoyed our Ice Cream Social featuring our new Ice Cream Machine, thanks to the donations from the Kiwanis Group St. Andrews and The Bergmann Charitable Gift Fund.

New Equipment Improves Life At Passamaquoddy Lodge

ST. ANDREWS – A wish list of much-wanted new equipment not paid for by government has been fulfilled for residents at Passamaquoddy Lodge, which serves seniors in southwest New Brunswick. The purchases were made possible through donations to  our 2024 Fall/Winter fundraising campaign, which raised $77,000.

The money was used to purchase a soft-serve ice cream machine, 2 Broda chairs and 2 meal carts.

“Our residents have their spoons at the ready,” says Yolande Jay, Administrator at the nursing home in St. Andrews, “We are now able to serve a treat that they have been wanting for years.”

Broda chairs are wheelchairs that are engineered with patient safety and ergonomic support in mind. The food carts  deliver food at the exact correct temperature while attaining the highest food safety standards.

“We rely on the generosity of donors to supply many of the ‘extras’ required for our residents,” said Gary Groom, chair of the Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation. “The Fall/Winter campaign has once again renewed our faith in those who support the Lodge with their generosity.”

The campaign also generated $6,000 toward the “New Build” Fund.

Please follow our website page and monthly newsletters for future updates.

The following Annual General Meetings will be held June 11, 2025 at Passamaquoddy Lodge
230 Sophia St., St. Andrews, NB

4:00 p.m. Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation Inc.
4:30 p.m. Passamaquoddy Lodge Inc.

St. Andrews – The dedication and commitment of nursing home staff and operators are being recognized during Nursing Home Week, June 8th to 14th, 2025.

St. Andrews – Passamaquoddy Lodge proudly awards an annual bursary at NBCC in memory of Jana Muxworthy, a beloved LPN who passed away two years ago. This bursary honors her dedication and lasting impact on our community. This year, we are deeply moved that the award has been granted to one of our own employees who had the privilege of working alongside Jana. It is a fitting tribute to her legacy and a testament to the values she embodied.