peopleCare Delhi celebrates grand opening
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Chris Abbott
Editor
The peopleCare Delhi Long-Term Care Home celebrated an exciting milestone on June 23, marking the grand opening of their new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It was always a vision of ours to do this, a new home, and create a continuum of care community right here in Delhi on this site,” said Brent Gingerich, chairman and CEO of peopleCare Communities. “A vision for a larger home that can serve more seniors, close to home in their communities.”
The new peopleCare Delhi LTC opened in June 2025, replacing their former 60-bed LTC home, originally Delhi Long-Term Care built in 1972 by Bill Gheysen, which joined the peopleCare community in 2011.
“Today’s ribbon-cutting is really a culmination of that journey - a celebration of what can be achieved through collaboration, perseverance, and sharing the belief of the importance of providing exceptional care for our older adults,” said Gingerich.
“Today, as third generation owners, our family is proud to lead peopleCare through this time of growth in senior living, and as we build and open new homes across Ontario, we stay focused on our mission – it’s to create beautiful communities with life-enriching experiences.
“We thank the Government of Ontario, the Ministry of Long-Term Care, and our local municipal and community partners for their support in making this project possible.”
The newly constructed 128-bed home, located on the same Delhi property at 173 Dalton Road, has four 32-bed ‘resident home areas,’ creating more intimate and familiar living spaces for residents with their own dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms. The new home features an enclosed landscaped courtyard – providing a scenic outdoor view from the balcony - a bistro, chapel, salon, family laundry, therapy rooms, and a family stay-over room.
“All of which were designed with residents in mind,” said MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, MP Natalia Kusendova-Bashta.
“With the construction now complete, peopleCare Delhi will help support 180 career opportunities for positions such as nursing, personal support work, nutrition services, programming and administration,” said Gallagher Murphy.
Gallagher Murphy noted the Delhi project was the recipient of a construction funding subsidy, part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by creating good jobs and building for the future, while ‘ensuring long-term care residents get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve.’ The project is part of the Ontario government’s continued progress toward its commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care spaces across the province, as outlined in the 2026 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario.
“As we build more homes across this province, the long-term care is a growing field within our health system, with numerous pathways to develop new skills, and build a fulfilling career centred on caring for others. And what an amazing career… to care for others. And that’s why I love peopleCare.
“The building looks amazing, and I can’t wait for the tour shortly, but I have to say it’s the people who work here,” Gallagher Murphy added. “The people who help the residents, that is what really makes a home. So to all of the staff and volunteers, you all are the essence of this home for your residents.”
“Today marks one year since we opened our doors,” said peopleCare Delhi executive director Kristine Mitchell. “Our opening day was June 16th, 2025, so we were able to have a fantastic family celebration just last week.
“While we’re here today for a ribbon cutting, what we are really celebrating is the community that is built inside these walls,” said Mitchell. “When we moved into this building a year ago, there was a lot of excitement, but there was also a lot of challenges. We have learned to adapt and grow together. Through it all, our residents, families, and staff showed incredible patience, flexibility, and commitment, and for that I am truly grateful.
Mitchell said peopleCare’s mission is ‘changing the world of senior living.’
“To me, that does not mean doing something extraordinary once in a while. It means showing up every day, doing the little things well. It means treating people with dignity and respect. It means building relationships, creating meaningful moments, and making sure our residents feel truly at home.
“This building is beautiful and we are fortunate to have such an incredible space. But what makes this home special isn’t the building itself, it’s the people within it. Thank you all for being part of this journey. We’re proud of how far we have come and we are excited about what lies ahead,” Mitchell concluded.
“I am a Delhi girl, and this community has shaped who I am,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady, “and because of that, this project is especially meaningful to me and to so many others.
“For years, here in Delhi we have talked about the need for a new long-term care home. Families hoped for it, they advocated for it, and they waited patiently. Today that long awaited vision has become a reality. I know many residents are excited and proud to call this place home, and their enthusiasm when you take the tour is absolutely contagious. You can see it in their smiles, you hear it in their stories, and you feel it in the atmosphere throughout this building.
“And what stands out most is that peopleCare clearly understands that long-term care is much more than providing a service. When you walk around, you see the tobacco and agriculture heritage displayed on the walls. They tell a story. They tell the story of all the residents here, and it tells the residents that their lives mattered. That their experiences mattered. And that the community that they helped build has not been forgotten.
“Those displays, they reflect generations of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance,” said Brady. “They honour the men and women who worked the tobacco fields, farmed the land, raised families, and built the Delhi we know today. We know this home has been set up and curated to create familiarity, to spark memories, and to foster connections. That attention to detail proves that peopleCare sees this as far more than a business model. You understand that creating a sense of belonging is just as important as providing care. You understand that when people feel connected to their community, and their memories, they feel more comfortable, more secure, and more at home.
“Today we celebrate a place where our parents, grandparents, neighbours, families and loved ones can spend their golden years surrounded by dignity, compassion, and comfort. We celebrate the dedicated staff who will provide care each and every day, many of whom live right here in town.”
“Today marks an important milestone for both Delhi and Norfolk County,” said Norfolk Deputy Mayor Kim Huffman, who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony with Mike Columbus, Norfolk Ward 3 Councillor. Huffman also thanked the Ministry of Long-Term Care for their investment in the community.
“This new home represents a significant investment in the future of seniors care, and demonstrates a commitment to ensuring our residents can age with dignity, comfort and a connection to their community,” said Huffman. “For decades, long-term care has been an important part of Delhi. This new 128-bed facility allows more seniors to remain close to their families and support networks, while receiving the quality care that they deserve.
“Projects like this strengthen our community in many ways. They support local jobs, they enhance healthcare services, and they help ensure that Norfolk County remains a place where people can live very well at every stage of their lives.
“Most importantly, today is about the residents who will call this home,” said Huffman. “We hope these walls are filled with friendship, comfort, laughter and exceptional care for many years to come.
“On behalf of Norfolk County Council, congratulations to everyone involved in this remarkable achievement. We with the residents, the families, the staff, the volunteers, and the entire peopleCare team continued success in this beautiful new home.”
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