When Bette Pollon moved into a self-contained unit at Chateau Mission Court, she never questioned if there was a fire sprinkler system.
Not until January, when a fire broke out in a Quebec seniors' home and killed 32 residents.
"I think we're a little naïve and that's probably why it hasn't been brought up until now," said Pollan.
The provincial government announced Wednesday that $70-million would be committed to upgrading sprinkler and fire safety systems in older seniors' care facilities across Alberta.
The funding comes from the financial reserves of the Alberta Social Housing Corporation.
Many of the 24,000 government-owned and supported seniors units in Alberta were built between 1960 and 1990, before fire sprinklers became mandatory under fire and building safety codes.
North Ridge Place, a 48-unit affordable housing apartment, is the only facility under the operation of the Sturgeon Foundation that is equipped with a fire suppression system.
The rest of the facilities – seniors' lodges and self-contained units in St. Albert, Morinville, Legal, Redwater and Gibbons – are only equipped with sprinkler systems in the kitchen.
Each has fire detection systems including smoke detectors, heat sensors as well as hoses and extinguishers, said Jim Fowler, director of accommodation services at the Sturgeon Foundation.
All of the buildings are eligible for the provincial funding.
"This has been on our wish list for the last five years," he said. "We're excited. This is a good start."
Housing Management Bodies are asked to submit property and operations assessments before Dec.1. Projects will then be prioritized based on safety risk.
"This is a first step. We need to know about the status of the buildings, what their needs are, and the kind of community emergency response available to ensure facilities meet current requirements," said Jeff Johnson, minister of seniors, in a statement.
"This isn't going to happen overnight but these assessments will help map out a long-term strategy to get the work done."
Just the beginning
There has been no information on how the retrofits are going to take place, said Marjorie Bungay, housing administrator for the Sturgeon Foundation.
Depending on the extent of upgrades and whether they are done in an "aesthetically pleasing" manner, they could cost between $1 million and 1.5 million on the low end, explained Fowler.
Getting approved for the funding will just be the first hurdle.
"Hypothetically we're approved, then we are in a line-up for the funding. Then we may be in a line up for a good contractor as well," he said.
"We're envisioning that this could get complicated very, very quickly."
Low water pressure in rural areas may also be a challenge for the installation of fire suppression systems and come at an additional cost, said Fowler.
About 455 of the province's 657 seniors' facilities are not fully equipped with sprinkler suppression systems.
It is estimated it will cost $250 million to bring all of the seniors' facilities up to current fire code standards.
The current funding announcement does not include privately-owned seniors' care centres, hospitals or health-care centres.
Youville Home, a continuing care facility run by Covenant Health, was retrofitted with a fire sprinkler system in 2008.
The majority of residents are pleased with the announcement, said Fowler, however some don't think enough funding has been allotted.
"One said: 'I can win more money in the lotto max than the province is giving us. It doesn't sound like much.'"
Even without sprinklers, Ray La France, a resident in the seniors lodge of Chateau Mission Court, feels safe in the building.
"If there was a fire, we are well taught where to go and what to do."
Evacuation drills are done once a year while fire drills are done at least once per month.
It will be exciting if the funding comes through, added Pollan.
She also feels safe in her apartment.
"But I am a lot more capable than many to get out," she said.
