Our History

Villa Providence (incorporated May 16, 1968)

 

Villa Providence Shediac Inc. continues the work of the Sisters of Providence and replaces Providence St-Joseph.

 

Providence St-Joseph was the fruit of hard work, dedication and unheard-of sacrifices – the dream of Father Donat Joseph LeBlanc to provide care for the poor and orphans who were, in those days, publicly sold to those who asked the least to care for them.

 

Father LeBlanc, after a long period of solicitation, obtained permission to bring in a community of nuns to care for the poor, and to take charge of building the hospice as it was then called.

 

In 1911, the first three nuns arrived in Shediac, where they actively cooperated in the founding of Providence St-Joseph. The necessary funds were raised through house-to-house collections in the surrounding parishes. Later in 1911, four more nuns joined the community.

 

The building was completed in 1912 and housed 50 orphans and 32 elderly people.

 

In 1957, Providence St-Joseph was transformed into a 178-bed home for the elderly. The few remaining orphans were placed in other institutions or homes.

 

By 1968, Providence St-Joseph was in a state of deterioration, and the religious community of the Sisters of Providence, unable to afford the required repairs, entered into talks with a group of citizens interested in continuing the work.

 

In 1969, a contract was signed to transfer the buildings and grounds to the new corporation, Villa Providence Shediac Inc.

 

Villa Providence Shediac Inc. opened its doors in May 1970, and all residents of Providence St-Joseph were transferred to the new home.

 

We continue the work of the Sisters of Providence with a 190-bed home, serving the citizens of this town and surrounding areas.

 

Since 1981, the Board has been considering expanding the home to add administrative offices and services for residents. Discussions began in 1982 with the Ministry of Health, and construction began on November 26, 1984. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 14, 1984, and construction was completed in 1985.

 

On June 8, 1998, a new unit called the Colombe Unit opened its doors. The Colombe unit is designed to meet the specific needs of residents with Alzheimer’s disease. The physical spaces have been planned in relation to the needs of residents with irreversible dementia, and to compensate for their limitations. It is necessary to go beyond aesthetics; the environment in the Colombe unit ensures safety, reduces confusion and facilitates the potential of residents, their loved ones and staff.

 

The modern building includes 24 private rooms, subdivided into 4 groups of 6 rooms; 2 open living rooms, one for each of the 2 groups of rooms; a living room in the center of the unit for intimate moments; an alcove at the exit of the rooms providing a place to rest; a home-like kitchen serving as a cooking workshop; a workshop for laborer’s work; a workshop; fenced and protected outdoor courtyards; a dining room; limited entrances and exits, corridors to allow residents to wander at will; sufficient lighting to eliminate shadows; bathrooms with grab bars; floors with a matte finish; doors camouflaged with the same color as the walls for rooms to which the resident does not need access, and doors accented with bright colors for rooms reserved for them. Residents can also decorate their rooms to their own taste. Places where dangerous things are kept under lock and key.

 

On November 14, 2016, an agreement was signed between Villa Providence Shediac Inc. and the Department of Social Development for the creation and funding of a 16-bed psycho-geriatric unit. The new bed designations will be 134 regular beds, 24 Alzheimer beds and 16 psycho-geriatric beds, for a total of 174 beds.