- Mon Sheong Foundation’s 2025 Radiothon raised $240,000 for new long-term care centres in Stouffville, Markham, and Richmond Hill.
- The nearly completed Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre in Stouffville will open in July 2025.
- Ontario has approximately 48,000 people on long-term care waitlists, with more than half waiting six months or longer for placement.
- The province will need over 30,000 new long-term care spaces by 2029 to meet growing demand, according to the Ontario Long Term Care Association.
- Mon Sheong’s three new facilities will introduce 832 care beds, helping address the region’s urgent need for senior care services.
The Mon Sheong Foundation held its 2025 Radiothon last month, hosting an 11-hour program on Sing Tao A1 Chinese Radio to raise funds for three new long-term care centres.
The Feb. 13 event raised $240,000 for the nonprofit foundation’s Because We Care capital campaign. Proceeds will facilitate development projects in Stouffville, Markham, and Richmond Hill, including the nearly completed Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre at 168 Sandiford Dr.
Construction of Mon Sheong’s newest Stouffville facility is expected to finish in May. Interior work is underway, and occupancy will begin in July — roughly one year ahead of schedule. Once open, it will bring the organization’s total care bed count to more than 1,000.
The new Markham facility will add 320 beds and is expected to open in spring 2026. Meanwhile, construction of a 288-bed long-term care home in Richmond Hill will begin as soon as possible.
According to the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA), approximately 48,000 people are currently on long-term care waiting lists across the province. More than half will wait six months or longer for placement, and projections indicate Ontario will need over 30,000 new long-term care spaces by 2029 to support the growing senior population.
“Nearly half of Ontario’s long-term care homes need to be redeveloped to meet current demand,” OLTCA’s website states. “To redevelop, long-term care homes need faster provincial and municipal approvals and stabilized operating funding.”
Ontario has more than 76,000 long-term care spaces across 620 municipal, nonprofit, and private facilities, OLTCA data shows. In addition to helping seniors with complex care needs, the sector is a significant economic driver. In 2024, it contributed $12.43 billion to Ontario’s GDP and $8.86 billion in labour income while supporting nearly 175,000 jobs.
Mon Sheong has more than 8,500 resident applications across its four existing facilities, with wait times ranging from five to seven years.
“Our three new care homes, which will introduce 832 new care beds, are crucial to easing the high demand in our community,” event co-chairs David Li and Michael Wong said in a statement. “The generous support from different sectors is not only a testament to Mon Sheong’s efforts, but also an affirmation of quality care for our seniors.”
More information about Mon Sheong’s Stouffville care complex can be found on their website. Those interested in applying for residency in the new Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre will soon be able to do so through Ontario’s Health atHome website following Ministry of Long-Term Care approval.
Randy Barba is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Bullet Point News Stouffville