Ontario has begun construction on two new long-term care homes in Oakville that will add 640 modern spaces for seniors while creating hundreds of construction and health care jobs. The development is part of the province’s broader effort to expand long-term care capacity by repurposing unused government-owned land.
The two Schlegel Villages facilities, collectively known as The Village of Heritage Trails, are expected to welcome their first residents in summer 2028. The project will include 554 new long-term care spaces and 86 upgraded spaces across two 320-bed homes.
Ontario Uses Surplus Government Land for Long-Term Care Expansion
The Oakville development is being advanced through Ontario’s Surplus Lands program, which repurposes underused government properties for long-term care, housing and other public infrastructure.
Provincial officials say the approach is particularly important in larger urban areas, where available land can be limited and expensive.
“Our government is improving long-term care by building more homes, hiring more staff and making historic investments to support families and protect their loved ones,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “By developing unused provincial lands in the GTHA, we are finding innovative solutions to meet increasing demand. Today marks a significant milestone for the Schlegel Villages projects in Oakville. Once construction is complete, 640 residents will have a new home where they can receive the care they need, when they need it.”
Village of Heritage Trails Designed Around Smaller Resident Areas
Each of the two homes will contain 10 “resident home areas,” with each section accommodating up to 32 residents. The smaller living areas will have their own bedrooms, dining spaces and activity areas, an arrangement intended to provide a more familiar residential environment.
The two buildings will be connected at the first floor and will include a “main street” featuring a library, spiritual center, café and common areas for activities and social engagement.
Plans also call for a health center, spa, corner store and pharmacy. Schlegel Villages intends to develop retirement housing at the site in the future, potentially giving seniors additional housing and care options within the same community.
“Our vision is to build a place where every resident is known, every family feels welcomed and every team member has the opportunity to build meaningful relationships. The family culture that has always defined life in a Schlegel Village will be at the heart of Heritage Trails from its very first day. We thank the Ontario government for their support in enabling this vision to come to life,” said James Schlegel, President & CEO of Schlegel Villages.
Oakville Project Expected to Support About 1,700 Jobs
Construction of The Village of Heritage Trails is expected to support approximately 700 construction jobs. Once completed, the facilities are projected to support about 1,000 jobs in nursing, personal support work, nutrition services, programming and administration.
“As part of our government’s plan to build and protect Ontario, we are repurposing underused provincial properties to save taxpayer dollars, create more jobs and accelerate the delivery of key infrastructure priorities like building more long-term care homes across the province. The ground-breaking of two new long-term care homes is an important milestone for seniors and families in Oakville and brings us one step closer to providing an additional 640 long-term care beds and high-quality care,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure.
The homes will also participate in the Living Classrooms training program in partnership with Sheridan College. The initiative integrates education with long-term care operations, allowing students to gain practical experience while working with residents.
Ontario Targets 58,000 New and Upgraded Long-Term Care Beds
The Oakville development forms part of Ontario’s commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
As of July 2026, 165 projects representing 26,421 new and redeveloped beds had either been completed, were under construction or had received ministry approval to begin construction.
The province has also revised its long-term care funding approach to account for regional construction costs and varying operator needs. Other strategies include selling unused government land with requirements for long-term care development and using hospital-owned properties for new facilities in urban areas.
“Today’s ground-breaking is a special milestone for Oakville, building on our government’s collaboration with the Town of Oakville and Schlegel Villages. The Schlegel family has demonstrated a deep commitment to our community through Tansley Woods and its innovative campus of care and living classroom. The Village of Heritage Trails will continue to build on that commitment, bringing 640 long-term care spaces – including 554 new and 86 upgraded spaces – as well as approximately 700 construction jobs and 1,000 long-term care-related jobs. I am proud to see this vision becoming a reality and look forward to welcoming Oakville seniors to their new home. Our government’s plan to protect Ontario includes ensuring that seniors have quality of care and quality of life close to their families and community,” said Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North—Burlington.
With construction now underway, The Village of Heritage Trails represents a significant addition to Oakville’s senior-care infrastructure. If the project remains on schedule, its first residents are expected to move into the new homes in summer 2028.