Press Releases

GEM Health Care Group Acquires Two Long Term Care Homes

January 19, 2021 - For Immediate Release

GEM Health Care Group is pleased to advise the public that on today’s date our company closed a deal to acquire the assets of the Milford Haven Home for Special Care in Guysborough, NS and Canso Seaside Manor in Canso, NS.  Both Long Term Care Homes were acquired from the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.

GEM Health Care Group is a Nova Scotian, family run business which has been enhancing the lives of seniors in the communities where they operate since 1979. GEM currently operates long term care and retirement living facilities throughout Nova Scotia and Ontario.

“We are proud to welcome the skilled and dedicated professionals at Milford Haven Home for Special Care and Canso Seaside Manor to the GEM Family. We look forward to working with our new team members and will continue to provide the same high standard of care to the residents who call these two facilities their home”, says Syed M Hussain, CEO of GEM Health Care Group.

From the Municipality’s perspective, today’s deal was more than eight years in the making.  Back in 2012, the Council of the day initiated the research and examination phase that eventually led to Council starting a formal process in January of 2019.  After an extensive RFP undertaking, the list was narrowed to four potential suitors, and eventually a decision was made to negotiate the transfer of assets to GEM Health Care Group.

“Providing Long Term Care Services to our aging population is a challenging task in today’s environment”, states Warden Vernon Pitts, Chair of Milford Haven Home for Special Care/Canso Seaside Manor, “We have chosen the best operator in the long term care business to continue to operate our homes in the best interests of our long term care residents, our employees, and indeed our Community as a whole!”  He concludes “GEM has proven over and over that they are a distinguished operator and a distinguished employer, and we are very pleased to welcome them to our Municipality!” 

For more information, please contact GEM Health Care Group at communications@gemhc.com, 902-429-6227; or Warden Vernon Pitts at vpitts@modg.ca, 902-870-6795.

Re: MODG Touts Renewable Energy Potential

January 16, 2017 (Guysborough, NS)

The Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) is, once again, seeking to expand its renewable energy investment portfolio as a result of Emera Inc.’s recent call for parties interested in supplying access the New England Renewable Energy market.

Emera Inc. is proposing the Atlantic Link Project as an opportunity to build a high voltage direct current (HVdc) transmission line that will deliver 900 megawatts (MW) of clean energy from Atlantic Canada directly to Massachusetts. 

On January 11, 2017, Emera issued a “notice of energy solicitation” to parties “willing to offer energy for purposes of establishing a bundled offer into the Massachusetts RFP”. The MODG has registered as an interested party with the intent of promoting the Melford area as a potential site for a large-scale windfarm to supply the Atlantic Link Project.

The Melford location is strategic in terms of its proximity to the transmission system and proven wind resource. 

Benefits of a Melford development:

  • Proximity to transmission system, including upgraded Maritime Link;
  • Proven Wind resource – existing windfarms operational data;
  • 14,500 acre Melford Industrial Land Reserve
    • Pre-zoned for Wind development;
    • Significant set-backs from residential development;
    • Potential opportunity to combine wind and Hydro;
  • Located within MODG – stable investment climate and supportive community.

The MODG was an early supporter of renewable energy in the Province of Nova Scotia, having owned and operated 5 small-wind turbines through the Nova Scotia Community Feed-in Tariff (ComFIT) program since 2012. In 2015, the MODG became the first municipality in Canada to become the majority owner / operator of a large-scale windfarm – Sable Wind.

“The proposed Atlantic Link is an exciting opportunity for the Municipality and we intend to pursue this opportunity with our usual vigour” said Warden Vernon Pitts.

“If there are interested parties that have not looked at the opportunity to develop a large-scale windfarm at our Melford location we will be encouraging them to do so” said CAO Barry Carroll.

For more information contact:

Barry Carroll, CAO

MODG
Office: 902.533.3705 Ext 228

Or

Gordon MacDonald, Director of Economic Development

MODG
Office: 902.533.3705 Ext 245

MODG Welcomes Announcement on New Building Canada Fund; Releases Final Plans for New Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex

April 27, 2016 (Guysborough, NS)

On Monday of this week, the Federal Government announced that the New Building Canada Fund will now include recreational works as part of the $13 Billion dollar fund that is set to be spent over the next two years.

Earlier this year, the Municipality of the District of Guysborough announced plans to build the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex in the Shiretown of Guysborough.  The $10.92 Million dollar facility will include a 17,000 square foot community center, an artificial turf soccer field and four lane track, a refrigerated outdoor shinny rink, and a 1,000 foot refrigerated skating trail.  The Municipality awarded a $600,000 contract to Catalyst Consulting Engineers earlier this year to have the facility designed and engineered; with the lead architects being Architecture 49 out of Halifax.

“We’re excited to see that the Federal Government has added recreational infrastructure as a component to the New Building Fund”, says Warden Pitts, “Prime Minister Trudeau and his team recognizes the need to provide recreational facilities that cater to every demographic and in so doing, will help to improve the health and well-being of our citizens thus helping to reduce the cost of health care through prevention.”

Today, at an open house at MODG Municipal Offices in the Shiretown, Council revealed the final plans for the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex.  A copy of the funding proposal and design development report can be viewed below. The Municipality has had discussions with both our MP and MLA and will be approaching both levels of government officially in the coming days for funding.

“This is a proud day for our Municipality”, Warden Pitts added, “Discussions have been ongoing for 15 years on all types of iterations of a project like this, but finally we have a facility concept that caters to every demographic, a project that the Municipality can afford, one that will not see taxes increase, and most importantly one that will offer our residents and visitors enhanced low cost recreation programming.”

The Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex is ‘shovel ready’ with documents ready for tendering in late summer or early fall of this year.

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Funding Proposal
Design Development Report

For More Information:

Vernon Pitts, Warden

Tel: 902-533-3597
902-870-6975 (c)

Barry Carroll, Chief Administrative Officer

Tel: 902-533-3705 ext. 228
902-870-0121 (c)