The second annual Valentine’s Day Gala for Carefor Hospice Cornwall at the Agora Catholic Centre, raised $9,000 to support end-of-life care across Cornwall and SDG.

Guests enjoyed a champagne reception, formal dinner, live and silent auctions, and a Heads and Tails game. Tickets were $150, with tables of ten available for $1,500. Ghislain Mayer of Country Catering said, “We chose to run a fundraiser for hospice because it’s one of those organizations that quietly support families during the most difficult moments of their lives.” Jackie Lafave of Seaway Valley Entertainment added, “We felt it was important to give back and help ensure Hospice services remain available to other families.”

Rhonda Simpson of Carefor noted that with 40 per cent of operating costs funded by the community and 205 admissions in 2025, “events like this are vital” to sustaining hospice programs. “Every dollar raised stays right here in our community,” Simpson added. “It helps ensure that patients and their families receive compassionate, dignified care when they need it most, without having to leave Cornwall for support.”

A new hub for mental health, addictions and housing support services has opened in Pembroke. 

A grand opening ceremony for the Renfrew County Mesa HART Hub was held on Thursday, February 5th.  

The facility, located at the Carefor Mackay Centre in Pembroke, will provide services to people struggling with homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse. 

Renfrew County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Craig Kelley, spoke at the event saying it was something people within the county and other levels of government have been working towards for a long time.

Many figures involved at various stages in the process of opening the facility were in attendance.  

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault spoke about the provincial government’s investments in expanding housing, mental health and addictions services.

Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan was also in attendance on behalf of Associate Minister of Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam, who Jordan works as a parliamentary assistant to. 

Jordan spoke about the government’s work to expand healthcare access provincially.

Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy said the opening of the hub is an important milestone, because the work it represents reflects the needs of people in the community.

Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais said he believes the city and the surrounding area needs more serivces like this, and that he was proud to be in attendance.

Pembroke Regional Hospital CEO and President Sabine Mersmann said that collaboration has always been one of her team’s top priorities, and she’s pleased to see so many different groups join forces to open the Mesa HART Hub.

Representatives from Carefor were also in attendance. 

The hub is built on the “Mesa” model, described as a “collaborative, multi-sector approach” to providing care for people in need of its services. 

(Written by Steve Berard)

John Street intake centre connects range of services

CBC News · Posted: Feb 05, 2026 2:40 PM EST | Last Updated: February 5

Renfrew County is unveiling its take on Ontario’s HART Hub treatment model: a web of agencies and services tied to a starting point near the Pembroke waterfront.

The intake centre at 156 John St. is open 24/7 and can refer people looking for housing, job or mental health support, including addictions, to a number of options for help.

That includes 10 supportive treatment beds at a local motel, and 12 short-term beds at the Carefor Mackay Centre retirement home and support centre that have been available since October.

Among the groups involved are the Pembroke hospital, The Grind non-profit café and nearby Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. The province is spending $6.3 million over three years on the project.

County and provincial officials held the hub’s official opening on Thursday, but the work to get there stretches back many months.

Renfrew County started its Mesa project in 2024 to try to find a co-ordinated solution for the causes of its mental health and substance use problems. Its HART Hub was approved last January.

WATCH | CBC follows the mesa project in its early months:

Eighty-four Renfrew County residents died of opioid toxicity from 2020 until the end of 2024, according to Public Health Ontario. There were 316 emergency room visits during that time for the same reason.

Those numbers don’t account for health emergencies from other types of drugs, nor other downsides of addiction the county is trying to address.

When it comes to housing, Renfrew County’s community housing waitlist has more than 2,000 households.

• Nearly 85,000 people homeless in Ontario, up 8% in one year: report
• More than 2,200 died of opioids in Ontario in 2024 as numbers trend downward

Ontario’s ruling Progressive Conservatives have turned to HART Hubs instead of supervised drug consumption sites, saying they’re a better way to get people treatment. Hubs do not offer supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.

Renfrew County’s hub is the fifth in eastern Ontario, along with Belleville, a joint Brockville-Smiths Falls location and two in Ottawa.

Province supporting community safety and addiction recovery with 28 HART Hubs delivering care across Ontario

February 05, 2026

PEMBROKE — The Ontario government is expanding access to high-quality mental health and addictions care with the launch of a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Renfrew County. This is part of the province’s almost $550 million investment to open 28 HART Hubs across Ontario to protect the safety of children and families, while improving access to recovery and treatment services for people facing housing instability, mental health and substance use challenges.

“We are building a stronger, more connected system of mental health and addictions care that better reflects the needs of communities and focuses on lasting recovery,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The opening of this new HART Hub will ensure that people struggling with mental health and addictions challenges in Renfrew County can get the care they need on their path to recovery.”

HART Hubs connect people to a range of comprehensive treatment and recovery services, including primary care, mental health services, addictions care, social services and employment supports. The County of Renfrew MESA HART Hub is now operational and delivering services in collaboration with partners including the Renfrew Pembroke Regional Hospital and the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, working together to connect people with the supports they need, when they need them.

The Hub brings together a collaborative network of clinical, social service and care providers working to deliver services tailored to local needs, including:

• Primary care
• Mental health services
• Addictions services
• Case management for mental health and addictions
• Supportive housing
• Indigenous services
• Basic Needs (food, showers, and clothing.)
• Life skills and employment counselling

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and building on the Roadmap to Wellness, the province is connecting individuals to integrated mental health and addictions services, where and when they need it.

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Quick Facts

• The Renfrew County MESA HART Hub is located in Pembroke at the Carefor Mackay Centre (700 Mackay St).
• The HART Hub delivers services in partnership with the Pembroke Regional Hospital, the County of Renfrew, Carefor, the City of Pembroke, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, MacKay Manor, Addictions Treatment Service, the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (OATC) – Pembroke, Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, the Renfrew County Youth Wellness Hub, The Grind Pembroke, Renfrew County and District Health Unit, local municipalities, the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment, first responders and other community organizations.
• The Hub offers a unique network‑based model of support, connecting a 24/7 intake centre with existing community access points so people can move easily between services based on their needs.
• As of April 1, 2025, nine Consumption and Treatment Services sites successfully transitioned to HART Hubs, delivering expanded recovery and treatment services to ensure timely, high-quality care for vulnerable individuals while keeping communities safe. More HART Hubs are now opening across Ontario.
• HART Hubs will also add close to 900 supportive housing units across the province. This is over 300 more than originally planned, helping people transition to stable, long-term housing.
• In March 2025, the government announced an investment of almost $550 million to open a total of 28 HART Hubs across the province, nine more HART Hubs than initially planned.
• This includes two Indigenous-led Hubs in Kenora and Sault Ste. Marie/Blind River/Sagamok Anishnawbek, delivering culturally relevant care in partnership with Indigenous service organizations.
• With a focus on treatment and recovery, HART Hubs will not offer safer supply, supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.
• Through the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to close gaps in mental health and addictions care and build a world-class system. This investment is helping create new services and expand programs across the province.
• As part of Budget 2025, Ontario is investing $303 million over the next three years to support community-led and delivered mental health programs.

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Quotes

“The MESA HART Hub is a welcome addition to health services in the County of Renfrew. The HART Hub will bring together mental and primary health services, transitional housing, social supports and employment counselling, all under one roof. It will provide a safe and welcoming space for those who need immediate support, so they can have positive long-term results.”

– John Jordan
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston

“The opening of the HART Hub reflects the province’s commitment to expanding integrated, community-based supports that connect people to care, reduce pressure on emergency services and improve safety and well-being across Ontario. This is about coordinated, accountable solutions that deliver better outcomes for communities. We thank the province for its annual investment in delivering these essential services closer to home.”

– Billy Denault
MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke

“The opening of this HART Hub represents a shift in how we respond to complex needs in our community: from fragmented supports to a coordinated system of care. Through strong partnerships across health, social services and community agencies, Renfrew County is building a model rooted in compassion, accountability, and results. The HART Hub brings together the right partners, in the right place, to connect people with support when it matters most. This is a community led solution, made possible through the Mesa initiative, collaboration and an unwavering belief that everyone deserves the chance to be well.”

– Jennifer Murphy
Warden, County of Renfrew

“As a county-wide provider of mental health services and a leading partner in this initiative, we couldn’t be more proud of the work that has already been done to address the needs of those in the vulnerable sectors of our communities. Now, more than ever, there is great value in being able to draw on collective expertise by working closely with others. Ontario’s investment in this work is reflective of that and we are very pleased to be part of this and the outcomes that will be achieved.”

– Sabine Mersman
President and CEO, Pembroke Regional Hospital and Co-lead, Renfrew County HART Hub

Northern Credit Union has donated thousands of dollars to various Ottawa Valley-based charities and organizations. 

The bank announced on Friday, December 19th that it had donated $130,000 to various causes across Ontario through its “Giving for Good” initiative, supporting the various communities the bank operates out of. 

“Giving back is part of who we are year-round, but there’s something especially meaningful about running our Giving for Good campaign during the holiday season,” explains Jessie Wright, a Communications and Community Investment Specialist with Northern Credit Union.  

“This time of year, needs become more visible, pressures increase, and community connection matters more than ever. Each donation is a step toward a brighter future for people in our communities, and we are proud to play a role in that.” 

The following Renfrew County-based charities received funding through the initiative this year: 

• Arnprior and District Food Bank 
• Barry’s Bay Senior Citizens Home Support Services’ Meals on Wheels program 
• Carefor Health and Community Services in Pembroke 
• Deep River and District Health Foundation 
• First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre in Pembroke 
• Hospice Renfrew Community 
• Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living 
• Ontario SPCA Renfrew County 
• St. Joseph’s Food Bank in Pembroke 
• The Longer Table in Arnprior 

A total of 57 charities benefited from the Giving for Good campaign this year, in communities like Thunder Bay, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie. 

(Written by Steve Berard) 

Former Domtar employees turned a recent reunion into a way to give back, raising funds for Carefor Hospice Cornwall while reconnecting with former co-workers. The gathering, held at the Army, Navy, Air Force Club (ANAF) in Cornwall, became a Domtar reunion-fundraising event, with all proceeds directed to the local hospice.

In total, $2,805 was raised and presented to Rhonda Simpson, Fundraising Manager with Carefor Hospice Cornwall. “We are grateful to the former Domtar employees for choosing Carefor Hospice Cornwall as the beneficiary of their reunion fundraiser. Support from third-party events like this makes a meaningful difference to the families we serve, and we truly appreciate their generosity,” said Simpson.

Domtar’s former pulp and paper mill once dominated Cornwall’s waterfront and economy, employing close to 1,500 people at its peak before closing in 2006. Today, Carefor Hospice Cornwall, a 10-bed residential hospice on Second Street West, continues to rely on community support to provide free, compassionate end-of-life care for residents and their families.

As the president and CEO of Carefor Health & Community Services, I often reflect on the profound impact of housing not just as shelter, but as a cornerstone of one’s overall health and wellness, especially for seniors in Renfrew County. November 22nd was National Housing Day and an opportunity for society to reflect upon the impact that safe, affordable housing and supports has on the lives of vulnerable seniors and aging adults.

As the cost of living continues to rise, many older adults in our region find themselves at a perilous crossroad: unable to safely remain in their own homes, yet unable to afford the costs of living in a congregate living setting. The story of Melanie Freeman, one of our residents at Carefor Civic Complex, underscores exactly what’s at stake — and what’s possible when we can help people in need.

Melanie’s Journey: From Caregiver to Being Cared For

For 10 years, Melanie cared for her mother, Lucille, after a brain aneurysm left her incapacitated. She gave up much of her own independence to manage her mother’s daily needs: cooking, cleaning, dressing, and providing companionship. When her mother passed away in 2022, Melanie was, in her words, “lost” and ended up moving in with her brother’s family. Despite being embraced in this manner, she still somehow felt alone.

A turning point came through a conversation with her doctor, who told her that while it was good that she was getting support from her brother, she needed a permanent place to live and recommended Carefor’s Civic Complex. She went for a tour, moved in that October, and slowly started to build a new chapter in her life.
Today, Melanie is more than a resident: she’s a leader. She helps coordinate activities, socializes with other residents, and shares something quite profound: “For the first time in years, I’m living for myself.”

Her story is deeply emblematic of what supportive, non-profit housing can do. At Carefor, we don’t just provide people with a place to sleep at night, we give people a community to be a part of, a purpose, and a chance to start a new chapter in life.

Why a Housing Crisis in Renfrew County Hits Seniors Especially Hard

Across Renfrew County, seniors represent more than 23.2 percent of the population (higher than the Ontario rate of 18.5 percent). Yet, affordable, safe and appropriate housing options for seniors are very limited. Most seniors live on limited and fixed incomes, and as housing costs skyrocket, they are increasingly faced with other risks:
food insecurity, social isolation, and premature hospitalization.

Without appropriate affordable and supportive housing, there will be a ripple effect across the healthcare system. Seniors living in unstable or unsafe housing are far more likely to experience chronic illness, mental health struggles, or repeated hospitalizations. These are all major contributors placing increased pressure on Ontario’s emergency departments, hospital beds, and long-term care facilities. For low-income seniors, traditional retirement homes are often financially out of reach.

Monthly fees can run well into the thousands, making them prohibitive for someone who depends on a pension or limited savings. With no viable alternative, many delay leaving home even when their health deteriorates, and that delay comes at a cost, both human and systemic.

The Value of Supportive Housing

As a not-for-profit charity, Carefor’s Civic Complex and Mackay Centre retirement care homes in Pembroke are operated on a cost recovery basis. That means that all fees paid to reside in one of our residences are reinvested right back into the operations of the facilities. For residents like Melanie, that translates into tremendous value and social impact:

• Three meals a day, so no one worries about going hungry.
• edication management, to reduce risk of missed doses or dangerous
  interactions.
• Regular check-ins and housekeeping, to help residents live safely and with dignity.
• Recreation programs and social engagement, so people don’t just live – they thrive.

When people have a safe, stable place to call home, broader healthcare indicators
improve. Emergency department wait times drop. Hospital admissions are reduced. The
burden on our already stressed healthcare system eases, not because we’re limiting
access, but because we’re preventing avoidable crises.

The Bottom Line

Housing in Renfrew County is more than a social policy issue; it’s a public health issue. Without affordable, supportive housing:

• Our seniors face isolation, illness, and declining quality of life.
• Emergency departments carry a heavier load.
• Families are left without options for their loved ones.
• More seniors end up at food banks, hospitals, long-term care facilities and
  homeless shelters.

But as Melanie’s story shows, there is hope. With the right kind of housing, not just a roof
over one’s head, but a caring, connected community, we can help people rebuild
purpose and dignity in their later years.

As Carefor continues to advocate for and provide non-profit housing options, we do so
with concrete proof: stable homes save lives, cut healthcare costs, and restore
community. That’s the vision I carry as CEO — and seeing residents like Melanie thriving
is the greatest validation of all.

To learn more about Carefor’s housing options for seniors in Renfrew County visit
www.carefor.ca/retirement

Steve Perry,

Carefor President & CEO

Melanie Freeman is a bonafide local celebrity. And with good cause. Melanie is a tireless fundraiser and she has just recently kicked off her latest effort which she calls “Care For Seniors With Melanie”

Melanie has been a resident at the Carefor Retirement Home since 2021. She recently celebrated a birthday and she shared with myFM what her birthday wish was…

The money Melanie is raising will support a range of activities and comforts at Carefor, including pet therapy, swimming sessions, music and art supplies, and seasonal celebrations.

Two years ago Melanie created an event that she called “The Grand Parade” which in her first year took her from the marina in Pembroke to Riverside Park and back again. It should be noted that Melanie walks with the assistance of a cane so this is no small feat. Melanie can’t help but show her pride and her accomplishments:

A familiar face at Carefor Civic Complex in Pembroke is stepping up to support seniors living at two local retirement homes.

Carefor Health & Community Services has launched the Care for Seniors with Melanie campaign, inspired by Civic Complex resident Melanie Freeman, who has set herself the ambitious goal of walking every day between now and the end of 2025 to raise $12,000 in support of residents at Carefor Civic Complex and Mackay Centre.

Freeman moved to the Civic Complex three years ago after the death of her mother, finding both support and a renewed sense of connection among fellow residents and staff.

“I’m so grateful to the staff at Carefor that I want to do something to give back and to help my friends. I don’t know where I’d be without them,” said Freeman.

The campaign kicked off on Oct. 29 at Mulvihill Pharmacy where owner Brian Mulvihill presented Freeman with a $2,500 donation to help start fundraising momentum.

“We’re so impressed with Mel’s spirit and commitment to helping seniors in her community that we couldn’t help but be involved,” said Mulvihill.

Carefor’s two retirement homes offer affordable living options for Ottawa Valley seniors, though rising living expenses continue to challenge those on fixed incomes. As a not-for-profit organization, Carefor maintains affordability but depends on community support to enhance day-to-day life at the homes.

“Melanie is a well-known and well-loved person around Carefor,” said Steve Perry, Carefor president and CEO. “She’s always making people’s days brighter. The money Melanie raises will go toward things like entertainment, pet therapy, and art supplies that make our residents’ lives more joyful, helping them enjoy the retirement they deserve.”

Carefor has been caring for seniors in Eastern Ontario since 1897 and currently supports more than 20,000 seniors each year through retirement living, assisted living, meal delivery and transportation programs.

The Care for Seniors with Melanie campaign continues until Dec. 31, 2025. Donations can be made online at carefor.ca/careforseniors.

Seaway News – JASON SETNYK

Habitat for Humanity Cornwall & The Counties has wrapped up its new Critical Repairs Program with a meaningful beautification project at Carefor Hospice, made possible through a $32,300 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

This marked the first time Habitat Cornwall launched a Critical Repairs Program, aimed at helping low-income homeowners stay safely in their homes.

Local MPP Nolan Quinn praised the initiative, stating, “Safe homes and support spaces are critical for the wellbeing of our community. We’re proud to support this important work.”

The program’s final project involved revitalizing the Memorial Rock Garden at Carefor Hospice. Painted memory rocks will now be arranged in a heart-shaped design surrounded by river rock landscaping, a walking path, and a bench recognizing Habitat’s donors.

Funding from OTF and community support made the program possible. Since its founding, Habitat Cornwall has built 21 homes and supported nearly 90 individuals. More info at www.habitatcornwall.org