Less than a year after we were notified about the planned closure of Manoire Montefiore, an upscale private kosher seniors' residence on Mackle and Cavendish in Côte Saint-Luc, comes the stunning news that the Castel Royal Retirement residence will suffer the same fate.
Residents and their families were told today by officials from Chartwell Retirement Residences that the 250-suite retirement home located at 5740 Cavendish Boulevard will cease operation effective May 3, 2017. This affects approximately 157 residents and 75 employees. It is too early to speculate what the building will be used for in the future.
"We bought this site in 2006 and continued to invest in it over the last decade in the hopes of offering high quality and respectful Jewish retirement living to the seniors of Côte Saint-Luc," wrote Karen Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, Chartwell Retirement Residences. "However, over time, and despite significant investments in capital initiatives, we have continued to be plagued by a number of major maintenance issues in this building, from ongoing plumbing and water pipe issues that frequently cause flooding and water damage, to aged ventilation, elevator and electrical systems that have frequent break-downs and that we struggle to find replacement parts for."
Ms. Sullivan said that Chartwell deeply regrets the impact of this decision to the residents, their loved ones and their staff. She said they will be working with all impacted individuals to support and assist them through this transition. Every effort will be undertaken to assist residents with their move to the retirement residence of their choice, including nearby Jewish retirement residences, and all moving details, from locating an alternate residence, to packing and unpacking as well as transportation of personal items, will be managed by a reputable seniors relocation company at no cost. Staff will also be supported with this transition with fair severance packages consistent with union agreements and years of service as well as the possibility of transfer to alternate Chartwell residences.
We appreciate the fact that Chartwell is providing this one year's notice. But it is very sad for the residents, staff and our community.
Very sad news. We have an Ageing population and too many residences are closing rather than adapting to the needs of our seniors. Not enough resources for Jewish seniors.
I trust that the management will bring in the Clsc and professional who have experience working with our Jewish seniors.
Bonnie Sandler BSW
Housing expert for seniors
Terrible news – our senior Jewish population is on the increase and the closing of residences seems to be dwindling. There is a lack of affordable senior residences and hopefully, something will be done to correct this situation.
The Jewish aging community is slowly being abandoned by the powers that are allegedly in place to serve them. The senior aging community in Cote Des Neiges just experienced the same abandonment when the sephardic community sold their sole existing senior residence, Residence Salomon, to a third party who stripped it of all its Jewish content and Kashruth; some seniors were so devastated and felt helpless that their only comment was, that if there was no more kashruth nor Judaism left in their old age, they may as well die; that was so heart wrenching to hear. The sad reality is that the Jewish community in Montreal has elected to abandon them “for fiscal reasons” and so far, no one of that esteemed community, such as Chabad nor CSUQ, has stepped up to claim this frail and deserving group. Such a shame that this is what we have to look forward to in our future.
Surprising and sad news!
I was the managing Director at the Castel for many years until Chartwell purchased the residence.
Great memories of a fantastic team of staff and so much fun with the residents!
First the Manoir Montefiore (where I was also the Director) and now the Castel.
Private owners sell these projects to huge corporations who finally close them down.
Maybe it’s my time to get involved again for our wonderful seniors and Jewish community.
So sad especially considering that many of the residents, including my father, are elderly Holocaust survivors. But my dad is resilient and optimistic. FYI On two visits this winter to the Castel Royal (I live out of town) I witnessed severe flooding and major leaking. It was like Noah’s Ark. Elderly frail people in walkers being shuttled into the dining hall, no access to their apartments, etc. I’ve never seen such a disaster.
The question now is: where will all the residents go? The other Jewish residence in the area has a waiting list that may be longer than the life expectancy.
That is really sad to read about this. Is there no way that the Jewish community and I know it’s a big one, go and build one and or buy a building that is already built for the Jewish Seniors? I live in Ottawa and there is a fairly large Jewish community and we do not really have a Jewish/kosher building for seniors to live in, unless you are really ill and then you have to go there, if there is room. Being in Ontario, they also have to allow non-Jewish people in there also. But it’s strictly Kosher. But that is all we have, And you don’t get your own place, it’s usually two in a room. There are lots of new seniors retirement places in Ottawa, but not Kosher that I’ve heard of. I just pray that I never have to go to that place. The newer places are similar to small apartments, you live in it, they do everything for you and you may go downstairs for dinner or make something small in the apartment. The new ones are beautiful, but again, you pay for what you get.
my father who is almost 93 has lived there for the past 3 years. The building has had many issues lately, including several major floods/bursting pipes that caused extensive damage within a few months of each other. Many residents had to switch units since their apartments were ruined by the floods. Entertainment and services were often scaled back because of the problems, but the rent continued to increase every year. Its difficult to relocate everyone in the same neighbourhood with limited options.
Residents with children in the neighbourhood will not want to go to the west island, where there are many beautiful, new senior residences.
My mother is a long time resident at the castel. They have hired a company to help relocate the residents which is comendible except that are not familiar with the Jewish community and the fact that nearly all these residents have resided in Côte st Luc for most of their lives and wish to remain in this area. The agent in charge of my mother’s relocation has told me they will be taken to see other residences in the area. There is NO availability at one and just a couple at another residence. She told me they have to be open maybe to move further out of the area. Most of these people are well into their 80s and 90s this is not the time for them to be going to an area they are not familiar with.. There are VERY few kosher residences for these “modern” seniors. A very big disappointment for the residents and staff.