The Ontario government is marking the opening of Oakwood Commons Community, a new 160-bed long-term care home in Brantford that anchors a broader seniors living campus designed to deliver multiple levels of care in one location.
The facility, which welcomed its first residents in October, is part of the province’s strategy to expand and modernize long-term care capacity while supporting job creation and health infrastructure development. Oakwood Commons is a recipient of the province’s construction funding subsidy top-up and replaces the existing Fox Ridge Care Community, adding 70 new beds and upgrading 90 others.
“This project is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by creating good-paying 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 Ministry of Long-Term Care said in a statement announcing the opening.
The new home is located within the Oakwood Commons Seniors Living Campus, which also includes Brants Landing Retirement Living. The campus model is intended to bring together a continuum of services, from independent and active retirement living to specialized long-term care for seniors with dementia or complex medical needs.
“The opening of the new Oakwood Commons Community marks a significant milestone in our government’s plan to protect residents and increase access to world-class health care across the province,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care. “Now that construction is complete, 160 residents have a safe and modern place to call home with nearby access to other supports for seniors within a campus of care.”
Raymond Cho, Ontario’s Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, said the new facility reflects the province’s broader focus on seniors’ health and well-being.
“Our government is continuing to protect the health and well-being of seniors across Ontario and we are delighted to celebrate the opening of Oakwood Commons Community,” Cho said. “This facility will provide the high-quality long-term care our loved ones deserve and deliver comprehensive support services that will greatly benefit Brantford seniors.”
Oakwood Commons Community is designed around five “resident home areas,” each accommodating up to 32 residents. The model is intended to create smaller, more familiar living environments, with dedicated dining and activity spaces, lounges and private bedrooms. The building also includes rehabilitation and therapy rooms, a country kitchen and lounge, a beauty salon, a tuck shop, activity rooms, an outdoor terrace and two interior courtyards.
The home is licensed to Sienna Senior Living Inc., one of Canada’s largest seniors housing and care providers. According to the company, the campus design allows couples with different care needs to remain close to one another while accessing appropriate levels of support.
“At Sienna Senior Living, we believe caring for seniors is both a privilege and a deep responsibility, a view shared by our 15,000 dedicated team members who support more than 13,000 seniors across Canada every day,” said Nitin Jain, CEO of Sienna Senior Living. “We appreciate the Ontario government’s commitment to modernizing care and investing in communities like Brantford. This new Seniors Living Campus will benefit residents and families, allowing spouses with different care needs to live close together and, in some cases, transition from retirement to long-term care seamlessly. Together with our sector partners, the City of Brantford, and the many local tradespeople whose skill and commitment helped make this vision a reality, we are proud to deliver modern, welcoming homes that will serve generations to come.”
Local representatives also highlighted the project’s significance for the Brantford area.
“I am pleased to be part of a government that prioritizes long-term care and seniors’ well-being. This new, state-of-the-art long-term care home will provide comfort and convenience to residents who have for decades helped to build Ontario,” said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford—Brant.
The Brantford project forms part of Ontario’s broader commitment to build and redevelop 58,000 long-term care beds across the province, as outlined in the 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario. As of December 2025, the province reports that 151 long-term care projects, representing 24,613 new and redeveloped beds, are completed, under construction or have received ministry approval.
The government has also introduced a new Long-Term Care Home Capital Funding Policy and Capital Funding Program, replacing the earlier construction funding subsidy top-up. The updated framework is intended to better reflect regional construction costs and support a wider range of long-term care operators, as Ontario continues its push to modernize seniors care infrastructure provincewide.
