By Randy Barba, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Bullet Point News Stouffville
● Mon Sheong Foundation's Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre begins phased resident admissions on Oct. 14.
● Final inspections by the Ministry of Long-Term Care delayed the opening from the summer.
● The Foundation stated the home will serve residents of all backgrounds, not just the Chinese community.
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● The waiting list opened in March and already includes 1,400 applicants, many in crisis situations.
● More than 48,000 people are on Ontario's long-term care wait list; Mon Sheong's combined lists top 10,000.
● Mon Sheong is fundraising to construct additional LTC beds through its "Because We Care" capital campaign.
After months of anticipation, Mon Sheong Foundation is celebrating a major milestone this month: the new Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre in Stouffville is set to welcome its first residents.
Located at 168 Sandiford Drive, the eight-storey facility adds 224 new long-term care beds to the community. With its opening, Mon Sheong, Ontario's largest non-profit operator of long-term care beds, now manages five facilities with a total of 1,001 beds.
The Foundation had initially hoped to open earlier this summer after receiving its final permit from the Town in July. However, a final inspection from Ontario's Ministry of Long-Term Care was still required. While the review process took longer than expected, the Ministry has now approved phased admissions beginning Oct. 14.
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"After receiving the Certificate of Occupancy from the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, the Home was scheduled for the inspection by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, which is rigorous," Stephanie Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Mon Sheong Foundation, told Bullet Point News. "We are delighted to share that the Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre has successfully passed extensive inspections by both provincial and municipal governments."
In a recent press release about the opening, Mon Sheong emphasized that "the new centre is not limited to serving only the Chinese community; it aims to meet the needs of diverse groups within the broader community, ensuring that those in need have access to quality long-term care services." The clarification directly addresses a question frequently raised by local residents on social media about who the facility would serve.
Construction of the Dr. Paul Woo Centre began in fall 2023 and was completed by the end of May 2025, a full year ahead of the Province's original schedule. The expansion comes as demand for long-term care continues to outpace supply across Ontario.
The waiting list for the new Dr. Paul Woo Centre opened in March and already includes over 1,400 applicants, many of whom are considered crisis cases in need of care they cannot access at home. According to the Ontario Long Term Care Home Association, more than 48,000 people are currently waiting for a long-term care bed. Mon Sheong's combined wait list now exceeds 10,000 individuals, roughly one-fifth of the provincial total.
"This pressing situation has motivated Mon Sheong to continue pushing forward to actively plan and build more long-term care centres," the Foundation stated. "One such project -- a new Markham centre with 320 beds -- is expected to be completed next year. Another new centre in Richmond Hill, offering 288 beds, is also ready to proceed pending government approval."
"Each new facility requires a significant amount of funding to develop," they added. "Mon Sheong urgently needs the support of the community to help drive forward its Because We Care capital campaign, so that more people in need can benefit as soon as possible."
Cover image provided by and used with permission from Mon Sheong Foundation
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