Construction and remediation of the rooms impacted by the flood in Houses 3 and 4 will commence tomorrow, March 15. We will keep you informed of further progress on the project.
Due to safety reasons, we are unable to allow residents or families to access spaces that will be under construction. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time, and we assure you that we are doing our best to complete the necessary work as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact the CSM if you have any questions or concerns.
We are pleased to inform you that the flooring work in Tecumseh is scheduled to be completed by Friday. Before returning the resident’s belongings to their rooms, we will conduct a deep cleaning of all the rooms and hallways. Our tentative plan is to begin admitting residents to the house in the week of March 20.
We have also almost completed the flooring replacement on Vimy. Dieppe is currently being prepped for flooring replacement, and we will keep you updated on the progress as soon as we receive information from our contractors.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this process. Thank you for your continued cooperation.
If you have any immediate questions, please speak to your respective Client Services Manager.
Thank you to all families, residents and staff, for your patience and understanding as we work through assessment of the flood damage and subsequent remediation plan.
The five rooms that were affected by the flooding will remain out of commission, pending repair and remediation.
The one resident room in House 4 that was initially impacted, has been cleared for reoccupation.
By the end of the day tomorrow, all residents will have been relocated in permanent spaces while work is being done on their rooms.
Please refrain from accessing the water-damaged areas, as they are considered unsafe for access until remediated.
We will be working closely with our partners/contractors to remediate the damage caused by the burst pipes as quickly as possible and working to ensure that a similar situation does not happen again.
Due to the continuing cold weather over the last week, a second rupture of a water pipe occurred at Carewest Signal Pointe on February 25th, causing water damage to five rooms in House 3 and the dining area. As a precautionary measure, three residents at Carewest Signal Pointe were moved to temporary accommodations within the site while the water damage is being assessed and the pipe is being repaired. A risk assessment is also being completed to identify any other potential risk areas on site.
The site was able to accommodate the three residents in existing vacant rooms and temporary spaces. To ensure resident privacy and comfort, safety checks will occur regularly throughout the day and privacy screens will be in place where required. Affected areas will be secured for resident and staff safety. Carewest has scheduled extra staff and onsite security assist over the next few days.
We are working with contractors and Carewest Facilities team, who are currently on site, to repair the pipe and remediate the damage as quickly as possible. They have already begun remediation work including removing excess moisture and removing damaged materials. Complete remediation timelines will be shared once they are available. Domestic and potable water is back up and running throughout the site, except for the affected rooms. The fire suppression system is currently offline, with fire safety checks being completed around the clock.
We will do everything we can to keep everyone up to date in the hours and days ahead. Please visit here for updates about the pipe repair work.
We understand this will cause some disruption to residents and their families. The safety and comfort of our residents is our number one priority at this time.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while we remediate the damage.
Due to the cold weather on Feb. 23, the water pipes in the fire suppression system at Carewest Signal Pointe ruptured, causing water damage to three rooms in House 4. As a precautionary measure, two residents at Carewest Signal Pointe were moved to temporary accommodations within the site while the water damage is being remediated and the pipe is being repaired.
The site was able to accommodate the two residents in vacant rooms temporarily. To ensure resident privacy and comfort, safety checks will occur regularly throughout the day. Carewest has scheduled extra staff and onsite security assist over the next few days.
Calgary Fire Dept initially responded to the emergency and shut down all water supply on site. Since then, regular water service to the building has been restored and all services are working normally throughout the building with the exception of an isolated area in the affected hallway. Fire watch will commence in the affected area 24/7. Pipe repair and pressure testing of the fire suppression system will occur next week, with the plan to fully restore the system as soon as possible.
We are working with AK Brown technicians, who are currently onsite, to repair the pipe and remediate the damage as quickly as possible. They have already begun remediation work including removing excess moisture and removing damaged materials.
We will do everything we can to keep everyone up to date in the hours and days ahead. Please visit here for updates about the pipe repair work.
We understand this will cause some disruption to residents and their families. The safety and comfort of our residents is our number one priority at this time.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while we remediate the damage.
Thank you to all our staff, who have proven time and again, their willingness and ability to come together during challenging times.
Atlantic unit remediation process is complete. We are beginning to move items back into the units and are planning the order of readmission of residents to Atlantic.
While we await final inspection for the unit, the moving company will begin to retrieve labelled resident items from storage and place in resident rooms. To support this we will be assigning additional care staff and maintenance staff in addition to the hired moving teams beginning next week.
The Client Service Manager will be contacting residents and family of the residents who will be returning to the unit. Moves will occur over a period of 5 to 10 days to ensure that the unit/room is correctly prepared and there is minimal disruption of care for the resident. If family wish to be involved in set up or organization of the rooms please voice this request during the conversation with the Client Service Manager who can help coordinate your involvement.
The unit will be ready for readmission prep work by Feb 24th. Manager calls to families will occur over the week of Feb 20th.
The flooring contractor will be on site next week to start the removal of the carpet in Vimy, Dieppe and Tecumseh in all resident room and common areas. This work is expected to take place through to middle of March. We are hopeful that Atlantic will be completed by the end of February or sooner as it does not require carpet removal and replacement.
All clients who are currently displaced by the flood to other Carewest sites including those in temporary semi-private rooms will be prioritized to return to the newly opened spaces in Atlantic. We will continue to work directly with residents and families on individual basis once the spaces become available to ensure smooth transition back to a private room at Colonel Belcher. We truly appreciate your patience as we continue to work through this project.
Here are some images from the remediation at Carewest Colonel Belcher.
We are pleased to inform you that the construction and remediation for the houses affected by flood has officially begun. According to the timelines provided by the remediation team, the construction is expected to be completed by the end of February, pending any unforeseen circumstances. We will keep you updated on any changes or progress made on the project. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
We wanted to update you as to the progress of the water remediation work at our care centre. Construction and remediation will start on the second floor, in the Dieppe and Vimy houses. The exact start date is still to be determined. Prior to the constructions starting, we will be taking great care to box up personal belongings for storage onsite while the rooms are being remediated.
Once the items are packed up they will be stored in safe locations on site until constructions is completed. All furniture (e.g., recliners, desks, beds, etc.) will be labelled and stored along the walls of the dining rooms of each respective house.
Due to safety reasons, we are unable to allow residents or families to access spaces that will be under construction.
The site is also in the final stages of testing the fire suppression system and we are optimistic it will likely be back online in the next few days.
The safety and comfort of our residents is our number one priority at this time. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work ensure everyone’s safety while we remediate the damage.
Fire suppression system:
- The fire suppression system has been repaired and pressure testing has started.
- We are planning for further testing and inspections including an external review of the system prior to fully restoring the fire suppression system back online.
Attic insultation:
- Thermal scanning is being conducted of the attic space to ensure no cold spots and a consistent insulation R-Value. This inspection will be done in conjunction with an insulation company, who will backfill areas that require top-ups.
Water damage remediation
- A scope of work is being developed to remediate areas that held moisture for longer than 48 hours.
- As areas are successfully remediated, residents will be move back into their rooms.
- Air quality testing has been completed and there are no concerns noted at this time.
Due to persistent cold weather, there was a second pipe rupture in the early morning hours on Dec. 25 at Colonel Belcher. This is in addition to the rupture that was reported on Dec 21. This second rupture effected the units of Vimy, on second floor, and Tecumseh, on first floor, directly affecting a total of 29 residents.
Emergency services such as the Calgary Fire Department, Administrative on-call personnel, Physical Plant Services, Housekeeping, and site leaders responded to the emergency. All responding staff in the building were coordinated to assist with the building emergency and were effectively able to remove residents on those units to temporary areas within the building. During the evacuation process, additional security was assigned to monitor exit doors, rooms and common areas and additional staff were deployed to care for residents.
After assessing the status of the units and the appropriateness of the temporary resident locations, it was determined that in order to ensure safe and comfortable care, a number of the affected residents would be relocated to other Carewest facilities.
A total of 17 Vimy and Tecumseh residents were successfully relocated to the Carewest facilities of: Rouleau Manor, Sarcee, George Boyack, and Signal Pointe where they will remain until remediation of the damaged areas can be completed. Several staff were sent with the residents during transport to the other Carewest locations. Staff from Colonel Belcher will support the receiving facilities teams as needed to ensure a smooth and safe transition. In addition, the physicians providing medical care for those who have temporarily been relocated will not change.
The remaining 12 affected residents have been either relocated on site to safe temporary accommodations or have been able to continue to access their room on the unit.
Since the flood, regular water service to the building has been restored, and all services are working normally throughout the building with the exception of the fire suppression system which is currently offline.
Colonel Belcher is working with the Calgary Fire Department, AHS Disaster Management, Alberta Public Health, Carewest Infection Prevention and Control, and local contractors to ensure the site is safe while repair to the pipe and remediation of the units continue. Security staff are on-site for additional fire watch support until the fire suppression system is fully operational and the system is cleared for operational use without further risk of leaking or breakage.
We will be providing further updates over the coming days. Please visit here for communication updates.
We understand this will cause some disruption to residents and their families. The safety and comfort of our residents is our number one priority. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while we remediate the damage.
Below are the action items and plans for care of the residents who have been displaced from Dieppe and Atlantic units due to the water damage.
Updated lists of where displaced residents are now posted at the nursing station desks for reference.
We have only one client who is not assigned to a room. That individual resides in the first floor family dining room which has been converted to a resident room. Please do not access this room or access the fridge.
There are three residents who have been placed into already occupied rooms. Churchill 12, Churchill 13, Atlantic 10. Double occupancy requires that beds remain 6 feet apart. Double occupancy was deemed an appropriate action to allow residents easy access to shower/washroom rather than being housed in temp common areas.
Who will provide HCA care for the displaced residents?
- the care team for the House will provide direct care.
- Residents relocated to a House are encouraged to eat in the dining area if space allows, and stay in the house common areas like the TV lounge during day/eve if prefer.
Who will provide medication/nursing care for the displaced residents?
- The nurse assigned to the House the resident now resides in will provide medications/care
- Meds/MARs/Charts/Care plans have been moved to the new location.
- Room identifiers have been relocated to outside the room entrance.
- For ex. Dieppe client now located in Normandy CMH – cared for by CMH HCA and provided med by CMH nurse, and will eat in the dining area of Normandy if able.
- LTC staff will be flexible and provide support as needed. We are one team!
Who will provide care to the one resident in the first floor dining room?
- The Atlantic/Churchill team will provide main care. But other first floor LTC and even 1st floor CMH as needed will support when asked. We are one team!
- Safety rounds will need to be conducted for this client as per standard routine.
The House care team/nurse team will review and revise shower schedules to accommodate the relocated residents. Please be patient as your teams work through these details.
The restoration work will take a number days to complete. There is no identified time line yet. Please “adopt” the displaced resident into the new House/unit community. We want to continue to provide quality care while they are in their new environment.
Dieppe and Atlantic:
Dining area is OFF LIMIT for all residents and staff. Staff do not use this area for breaks or allow a resident in the area. The area is hazardous and only suitable for contractors or staff who need to get a residents personal item from a room.
Hoarding has been placed at the end of the hallways on both units. This will ensure residents do not access the unsafe area, and that air circulation is contained in the affected area for the most part.
Additional security: will continue throughout the next 4 days. One guard is assigned to monitor the Atlantic and Dieppe areas.
The damage caused by a water pipe rupture at Carewest Colonel Belcher last night is currently being assessed and contractors are onsite today doing testing on the fire suppression system to ensure no further leaks occur.
Of all the residents displaced into common area spaces last night, will be offered improved accommodations in vacant resident rooms, our two family dining rooms and adult day support program space based on clinical requirements. All these rooms will create interim care spaces that have privacy and space to ensure resident comfort and safety, while the existing spaces are being remediated.
Currently fans and drying equipment are set up to dry out affected areas and remediation will proceed in an expedited fashion. It is estimated it may take 2-3 weeks for full remediation to occur. We understand this will cause some disruption to residents and their families. The safety, comfort and continuity of care of our residents is our number one priority at this time.
There was no interruption to food service delivery last night or this morning and kitchen operations at the Belcher are now running at full capacity. Regular water service to the building is not impacted and all services are working normally with the exception of the fire suppression system, which we anticipate will be back online within the next 48 hours. Regular safety checks are ongoing in this area to ensure fire safety.
We are working with our contractors who are currently onsite, to repair the pipe and remediate the damage as quickly as possible. They are currently working on remediating affected areas including removing excess moisture and removing damaged materials. An assessment of the facility is being conducted to ensure no other areas of water piping are susceptible to freezing.
We are extremely grateful to all our staff, who have proven time and again, their willingness and ability to come together during challenging times. We also very much appreciate the patience and flexibility from the residents and their families during this challenging time.
Check back here for updates about the pipe repair work. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while we remediate the damage.
Due to the cold weather on Dec. 21, the water pipes in the fire suppression system at Carewest Colonel Belcher ruptured, causing water damage to 18 rooms on Carewest’s Dieppe and Atlantic units and in the basement-level kitchen area. As a precautionary measure, 17 residents at Carewest Colonel Belcher were moved to temporary accommodations within the site while the water damage is being remediated and the pipe is being repaired.
The site was able to accommodate nine residents in vacant rooms and six residents in common area spaces temporarily. Additional beds and privacy curtains/walls have been secured to ensure resident privacy and comfort and safety checks will occur hourly throughout the evening. Carewest has scheduled extra staff assist over the next few days.
Calgary Fire Dept initially responded to the emergency and shut down all water supply on site. Since then, regular water service to the building has been restored and all services are working normally throughout the building with the exception of an isolated area in the affected hallway. Fire watch will commence in the affected area 24/7 and the plan is to fully restore fire suppression system by end of day tomorrow.
Regular kitchen operations will resume tomorrow and contingency plans are in place to ensure continuity of food service delivery until then.
We are working with AK Brown technicians and AHS Disaster Management, who are currently onsite, to repair the pipe and remediate the damage as quickly as possible. They have already begun remediation work including removing excess moisture and removing damaged materials.
We will do everything we can to keep everyone up to date in the hours and days ahead. Please visit our website often for updates about the pipe repair work.
We understand this will cause some disruption to residents and their families. The safety and comfort of our residents is our number one priority at this time.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while we remediate the damage.
We are extremely grateful to all our staff, who have proven time and again, their willingness and ability to come together during challenging times.